Jeremy Clarkson looks to be returning to ITV quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire despite the furore over his comments about Meghan Markle. New episodes are being filmed soon - with the former Top Gear presenter apparently back in the hot seat.
Clarkson said he "hated" the Duchess of Sussex in a column for The Sun newspaper, prompting a huge backlash. It became the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s (Ipso) most complained-about article, prompting an apology from both the newspaper and the presenter.
The column attracted criticism from high-profile figures, politicians, and Clarkson's own daughter - but the row does not appear to have affected his role on the ITV quiz show. The Express reports that Lost in TV, a live audience service which allows fans to book tickets to sit in the studio has shared an advert for the ITV series confirming Clarkson as host.
It said Who Wants to be a Millionaire is filming new episodes in the next month. Fans are currently able to apply for tickets for filming taking place at Media City, Salford, on February 10, 12 and 13.
The advert says: "Britain's best-loved classic quiz, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is back with its host, Jeremy Clarkson, and you could be in the studio audience! How would you enjoy voting, when the ‘Ask The Audience’ lifeline is used?
"Would you like to see Britain’s brightest brains win Fastest Finger first and try and win a million pounds? Then, this is your chance to come and feel the atmosphere of the world's most famous quiz show.
"Age 18 years and over, terms and conditions apply. The length of the recordings are approximately 2 hours."
It comes after ITV boss Kevin Lygo stated he the broadcaster has “no control” over what the controversial host says. The PA news agency reported that, speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild event in December, Mr Lygo, managing director of ITV Studios, said: “I would say what he writes in a newspaper column… We have no control over what he says.
“We hire him as a consummate broadcaster of the most famous quiz on television, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? So it’s not quite in our wheelhouse but I don’t know what he was thinking when he wrote that. It was awful.”
Asked if ITV will keep Clarkson as host of the quiz show, a position he inherited from Chris Tarrant in 2018, Mr Lygo said: “Yes, at the moment we are.” Asked if Clarkson represents ITV’s values, Mr Lygo replied: “No, of course he doesn’t in that instance."
Clarkson took over from Chris Tarrant as the presenter of the long-running gameshow in 2018.
