Sir Stephen Fry has made history on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? after winning £250,000 in a celebrity edition of the show, with some assistance from host Jeremy Clarkson. Despite an impressive performance, Fry fell short of reaching the coveted £1 million prize but still made a significant contribution to charity with his winnings.
The ITV quiz show, originally hosted by Chris Tarrant and revived in 2018 with Clarkson at the helm, introduced a new lifeline called “ask the host.” This allowed contestants to seek guidance from the host when in doubt about an answer. In Fry’s case, Clarkson’s support on one key question helped him reach a quarter of a million pounds.
Fry, the former QI host and renowned actor, consulted with fellow TV personality Richard Osman during the £500,000 question using his “phone a friend” lifeline. However, Osman was unable to assist Fry with the challenging question about the longest gap between the original and cover versions of a song. Despite this, Fry’s quick decision to walk away with £250,000 ensured a significant payout.
Clarkson described the £250,000 win as “the biggest celebrity win” since he began hosting the show, calling it a “whopping win.” Fry, who was visibly delighted with his outcome, praised the lifeline system and Clarkson’s guidance throughout the game. Fry recounted how he and Clarkson narrowed down a geographical question to two potential answers. After careful consideration, Fry decided to take the risk and guess the correct city. This decision led him to a massive win of £250,000.
Reflecting on the process, Fry said, “Jeremy is very encouraging, and he was great with the question that took me to a quarter of a million. It was a geographical question, and you had to work it out. Jeremy has travelled so much, particularly in the area that the question was about. We kind of agreed that it was one of two answers, and I thought ‘I am going to risk it’, and fortunately, it was right.”
Fry’s time on the show wasn’t without its challenges, however. When it came to the £500,000 question, Osman was unable to come up with a correct answer in time. Fry admitted he had no choice but to take the £250,000 and walk away. “I said: ‘I am going to have to take the money,’” Fry recalled. When Clarkson later asked which answer Fry would have chosen had he pressed on, Fry explained, “I said: ‘B, Jonas Blue ft Dakota,’ only because they are the most recent band, so they may be likely to be the biggest gap.”
The £500,000 question referenced popular songs, including Tragedy by the Bee Gees, Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, Uptown Girl by Billy Joel, and Killing Me Softly With His Song by Lori Lieberman, later covered by Roberta Flack.
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Fry has announced that his winnings will be donated to the mental health charity Mind, which he has supported for many years. He has served as the president of the organisation since 2011 and is passionate about supporting those struggling with mental illness. “They have captured the attention of a whole new generation – either as something to support or indeed, to use its facilities and use its guidance on what it has to offer people who are in distress of mind,” Fry said.
As one of Britain’s most beloved TV personalities, Fry has been open about his own struggles with mental illness, particularly his bipolar disorder. He fronted the BBC documentary Stephen Fry’s The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive in 2006, which shed light on his experiences and raised awareness about mental health issues. His openness about his condition has helped break down stigmas around mental health, and in recognition of his contributions, Fry was awarded a knighthood in the recent New Year Honours list.
Fry’s victory on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is part of a series featuring other celebrities, including TV presenter Steph McGovern, Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke, and former Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh. These stars will also compete for a chance to win a million pounds for charity, all under the watchful eye of host Jeremy Clarkson.
For now, Fry’s £250,000 win stands as a testament to his knowledge, quick thinking, and the invaluable support of Jeremy Clarkson, marking a historic moment for the beloved quiz show.
