Jeremy Clarkson's future as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host in doubt
Jeremy Clarkson's role as host on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has been thrown into doubt.
ITV boss Carolyn McCall has hinted the forthcoming season of the popular quiz show, which is now currently in production, may be Clarkson's final series as host as his contract to present the show is up.
McCall said they have "no future commitments" to renew the contract with controversial host Jeremy, 62.
An ITV spokesperson told The Mirror: "As we have said before, ITV has a further series of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? contractually commissioned [which has now recorded], and no further commissioning commitments beyond that currently."
In a later statement shared by ITV, following speculation Jeremy had been axed, a spokesperson added: "As we have said for several weeks, ITV is contractually committed to a further series of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (which has now been recorded.)
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Jeremy Clarkson's future as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host hangs in the balance (Stellify Media)"There are no further commissioning commitments beyond that currently as is typical with such shows where we make commissioning decisions on a series by series basis."
They added: "Therefore for the avoidance of doubt neither Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? nor Jeremy Clarkson have been cancelled."
Following the reports, Jeremy tweeted: "So many kind messages about today’s reports. But relax. Lisa and I have not split up and I have not been sacked as host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."
The Grand Tour presenter was at the centre of a huge backlash over a column in The Sun in which he said the Duchess of Sussex should be forced to parade the streets naked with "lumps of excrement thrown at her".
Clarkson tweeted to insist he hasn't been sacked (Stellify Media)The highly controversial column is being investigated by British media regulator IPSO.
McCall reportedly discussed axing Clarkson as the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host in an interview as she was being honoured as Variety's International Media Woman of the Year as she referred to the broadcaster's "quick response" to Clarkson's column.
"We have a contract. We’re contracted to this [season], so we will do that," McCall said according Variety. "And then we have no future commitments."
She added: "There was no dissent internally. We came out much quicker than anybody else, Amazon included.
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"We just came out said, ‘Yes, we do not endorse a single word that he said on that. And there’s no place for that on ITV.’
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"So we came out very quickly and just said, you know, that wasn’t on ITV. But we don’t endorse that in any way. And there’s no place for that on ITV."
The Mirror revealed last month that three female stars refused to take part in the celeb version of the ITV quiz show following Clarkson's controversial column.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is currently in production (Stellify Media)At least three household names made it "very loud and very clear" that they did not want to take part with Clarkson as the host.
A source said: "ITV were left with no choice but to postpone the show. The feelings were made very loud, and very clear. Namely that they didn’t want to share a platform with Clarkson and, in doing so, risk being seen to legitimise his misogynistic comments.
"They were appearing on the show to raise money for charity, and they were acutely aware that they didn’t want causes special to their heart to be caught up in any backlash. It was a no-brainer to be honest, they had to walk away."
This story was updated post-publication after it was initially reported that ITV had axed Jeremy Clarkson as Millionaire host. ITV later clarified that a decision has not yet been made on future series.
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