Motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson was left cringing behind his computer screen after getting a question wrong on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? – about motorways.
And to make matters worse, he had joked with comedian Ronni Ancona just minutes before because she was playing on behalf of an environmental charity.
Ancona, who is known for her impressions, had been going well until she ran into the £8,000 question about which was the longest motorway in the UK.
She seemed confident former Top Gear presenter Clarkson, who is one of her near neighbours would know – but when she asked him he admitted he wasn’t certain but plumped for the M1 as his final answer.
However, it turned out to be wrong, costing environmental charity EIA £7,000, and Clarkson – known for regularly poking fun at Birmingham – ended up hiding behind a computer screen in embarrassment.
He said: “I’m ashamed of myself for not knowing the M6 is longer than the M1 but you are going away to help the environment with £1,000.”
Earlier in the show, Ancona said she suspected Clarkson would not approve of her chosen charity, which helps support environmental causes.
She said: “I know that this wasn’t a charity that you would…but when the World Wildlife Fund and various other charities come up with documentation and proof of our atrocities it’s the EIA that get it and proof of atrocities it’s the EIA that get it.”
The embarrassing moment comes a day after Clarkson’s former foe Piers Morgan appeared on the show and went away with £16,000.
Ancona eventually left with £1,000 after both Clarkson and another friend chose the M1.
The M1 is actually 193 miles while the M6 is more than 232.
