Arrogant millionaire contestant made to grovel for cheque
Richard Deeley, a contestant on the British version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? threw away a £32,000 cheque - then had to grovel for it again minutes later.
Host Chris Tarrant watched in astonishment as the 33-year-old screwed up the paper and hurled it across the studio, saying: ‘‘I won’t be needing that.’’
But the accountant, from Nottingham, then failed at the £64,000 level on last night’s show and was forced to go and pick the cheque up from the floor.
He asked the TV quizmaster for it back but Tarrant replied: ‘‘Well, I’m not getting it.’’
Mr Deeley said afterwards that it was a joke which backfired spectacularly and that he was too embarrassed to watch last night’s pre-recorded show on ITV.
Tarrant said the contestant, who got the first 10 questions right to scoop £32,000, had been arrogant to toss the cheque away.
The question Mr Deeley got wrong asked in which sport were white goose feathers an important feature, especially at international level: A Darts B Archery C Fly Fishing or D Badminton.
Mr Deeley phoned a friend, who said archery, but the correct £64,000 answer was badminton.
