Millionaire Contestant Loses Record £375,000 on Final

Nicholas Bennett, a data analyst and University Challenge alum, made history on the UK's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? by losing the largest sum ever after risking £375,000 on the £1 million question. Bennett had secured £125,000 and reached the final round without using his lifelines, but chose to gamble for the top prize. The final question asked which word, coined by a famous writer and derived from a fairytale about three princes, was correct; Bennett guessed 'Yahoo,' but the answer was 'Serendipity.' Despite using both his remaining lifelines—Ask the Host and Phone a Friend—neither provided the correct answer. Host Jeremy Clarkson expressed astonishment at Bennett's run and empathy for his risk-taking, saying he had never seen a contestant like him. Bennett left the show with £125,000, earning admiration for his bold approach.