Who Wants To Be A Millionaire viewers have slammed the show after airing a joke about late comedian Sean Lock.
During last night’s celebrity edition (November 17), Jimmy Carr, Christine Ohuruogu and Alex Beresford competed for their chosen charities.
The trio were asked a series of questions by host Jeremy Clarkson.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
The moment happened during Jimmy’s time in the hot seat.
When running through the lifelines, Jeremy explained: “You got two Phone a Friends because there’s no audience, because of COVID.”
Jimmy poked fun: “Oh, I thought that was just because people preferred [Chris] Tarrant.”
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As the crew gasped, the comedian added: “What?”
Jeremy went on to mention the late comedian.
He said: “That was because they were promised Sean Lock!”
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It comes months after Sean’s tragic death in August.
The 58-year-old comedian passed away following a battle with lung cancer.
However, viewers of the ITV programme were far from impressed with the gag.
ITV viewers slam show
Some took to Twitter to voice their complaints, with one saying: “Very poorly timed joke about the late Sean Lock on @MillionaireUK just now. Clearly filmed before he passed but could have been cut out of the edit surely.”
A second tweeted: “Jeremy Clarkson mentioning Sean Lock should have been edited out #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire.”
Another added: “I suspect some people are going to ask why that Sean Lock gag wasn’t edited out. I suspect this was filmed before his death but still… #WhoWantstoBeaMillionaire.”
Was that really a Sean Lock gag on #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire ? Bit too soon
— Faye Billington (@FayeBillington) November 17, 2021
Wow nobody thought it appropriate to edit out the Sean Lock comment🤦♂️ #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire
— Simon Halkyard (@DigitalTalentSi) November 17, 2021
I suspect some people are going to ask why that Sean Lock gag wasnt edited out. I suspect this was filmed before his death but still…. #WhoWantstoBeaMillionaire
— Richard Chester (or the angriest 30something Brit) (@RACNOAPOLOGIES) November 17, 2021
If filmed before Sean Lock's passing then it was a playful wisecrack at Jimmy's expense and the blame lies with ITV for not editing it out.
Obviously, if filmed after his death it's incredibly bad taste. #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire https://t.co/GULgFmYrsm
— Laura Lou (@LauJane_) November 17, 2021
Sean Lock was a comedian and a brilliant one at that. He would have found the @JeremyClarkson joke on #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire absolutely brilliant. Think about it that way. Sean Lock would applaud it. #seanlock
— Jason Beggs™ (@JasonBeggs1) November 18, 2021
I am sure Sean would have found it funny.
— Chris J (@c23YNWA) November 18, 2021
In addition, a fourth wrote: “Was that really a Sean Lock gag on #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire ? Bit too soon.”
A fifth commented: “If filmed before Sean Lock’s passing then it was a playful wisecrack at Jimmy’s expense and the blame lies with ITV for not editing it out. Obviously, if filmed after his death it’s incredibly bad taste.”
Another complained: “Wow nobody thought it appropriate to edit out the Sean Lock comment.”
Should have been edited out!
However, one tweeted: “Sean Lock was a comedian and a brilliant one at that. He would have found the @JeremyClarkson joke on #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire absolutely brilliant.
“Think about it that way. Sean Lock would applaud it.”
Another defended the joke, saying: “I’m sure Sean would have found it funny.”
ED! has approached ITV for comment.
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