The Phone A Friend option on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is always rife with tension – as contestants put their chances in someone else’s hands. 

But in on episode things took an even more dramatic man when a contestant called his wife to help him bag a huge cheque – only to hear another man’s voice.

In a resurfaced clip from 2020, JP Morgan from Lincoln, used the Phone a Friend option, hoping his wife would help him bag £16,000, but was instead baffled when another man apparently picked up the call. 

Seconds after JP hit dial, he was confronted with a man’s voice, although it appeared to be an automated message before Elizabeth finally picked up.

Alarmed, star presenter Jeremy Clarkson said: ‘That was a man who just answered your phone.’

Realising his remark had made JP panic, he continued: ‘But relax, it could be completely innocent’.

Millionaire player calls wife for Phone a Friend but another man answers the phone on Who wants to be a millionaire

Jeremy Clarkson didn’t help the hopeful player’s panic when he said ‘That was a man who just answered your phone’

When she answered, Jeremy asked: ‘Can I just confirm that you’ve got someone there with you?’

The science teacher was struggling with the question: ‘Which of these days is part of the weekend in Germany?’ when he decided to use the helpful calling feature.

The four options presented to him were Donnerstag, Mittwoch, Sonntag, or Dienstag, before he was prompted to call his wife Elizabeth, who has close family ties to Germany.

JP said: ‘My wife’s auntie has lived in Germany for over 50 years, my wife’s been there a few times. 

‘My wife, who at different times would probably have been in the audience, is at home as one of my Phone a Friends’.

Startled viewers were quick to take their thoughts on YouTube, where the clip has racked up just shy of 350,000 views.

One joked: ‘Cheers to all of us who gathered here just to find out if his wife is cheating’. 

Another added: ‘That was the most awkward Phone A Friend ever. When the host asked her to confirm if she has someone there with her I died’.

YouTube users were quick to chime in on the hilarious moment – with plenty left in hysterics as host Jeremy Clarkson jokingly alluded to an affair with player JP’s wife Elizabeth cheating on me, although it turned out the male voice was probably an automated message

A more practical user chimed in with their theory: ‘I think realistically it was an automated service and there was a bit of a connection issue lol’.

And a different user speculated: ‘Didn’t she say she was indeed with someone and also said sorry later on’. 

Another joked: ‘Looks like he’s worried the money he’ll win will go to alimony’.

Some were left unimpressed with host Jeremy:  ‘Really threw a couple under the bus for a cheap laugh. 

‘Now people will be bringing that up with the couple even after the show ends’.