In a dramatic turn of events during ITV’s celebrity special of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, viewers were left “shouting” at their screens as former footballer and TV host Dion Dublin lost out on a £32,000 question while playing for charity. The episode, which aired on Sunday, February 16, saw Dublin as the second contestant to take on the quiz, with high hopes of boosting his chosen charity’s funds.
With £16,000 safely in the bank, Dublin faced the pivotal £32,000 question: “Which of these events did not occur in the 1990s?”. The four options provided to him were: John Major becomes PM, Dolly the sheep is born, Eden Project opens, and FA Premier League founded. After careful deliberation, Dublin decided to use the 50/50 lifeline, which left him with just two remaining choices: John Major and the Eden Project, according to Liverpool Echo.
Opting to phone a friend for assistance, Dublin called his “money man” Marco. As the tension built in the studio, viewers held their breath, hoping for the right guidance. However, Marco steered Dublin toward the wrong answer. Amid mounting pressure, Dublin confidently declared, “I think, I’m pretty sure he said John Major. So I’ll go with Marco, I’m going to be confident because he knows his stuff.” His decision came as host Jeremy Clarkson dramatically held his hand to his face, emphasizing the gravity of the moment.
Unfortunately for Dublin, the answer turned out to be incorrect. Following the mistake, Clarkson broke the news with a touch of humor, joking, “you need a new accountant,” before awarding Dublin just £1,000 for his charity, in keeping with the show’s established precedent. Reflecting on the painful outcome, Clarkson described the experience as “torturous” while Dublin quietly walked off the set.
The misstep sparked an immediate reaction on social media. One X user vented their disbelief, writing:
“NOOOOOOOO! IT’S NOT JOHN MAJOR!” #whowantstobeamillionaire.
Another viewer questioned, “How does Dion Dublin not know this? It’s actually worrying!!” and a further comment added, “Oh no!!! He was doing so well up to that point…” Meanwhile, fan Joseph summed up the collective shock with a simple, “NOOOOO. Oh Dion…”
Earlier in the evening, the show also celebrated success for other celebrities. Journalist and TV host Steph McGovern managed to win a substantial £125,000 for her chosen charity, while newsreader Lucrezia Millarini secured £16,000. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire continues to captivate audiences and airs on ITVX every Sunday at 8pm, providing yet another reminder of the unpredictable thrill of live television quiz shows.
