Jeremy Clarkson says stupid people shouldn’t play Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on TV.
A new series of the ITV hit series launches this weekend, and former Top Gear host Clarkson, 60, is hopeful that only intelligent people will make it into the chair.
Moaning he said: “Don’t waste my time! If you think you might be a bit stupid, just don’t bother making the phone call.
"Don’t waste my time, don’t waste the viewers time and don’t waste our time.”
Referring to the show’s ‘safety net’ where you can guarantee a certain amount of money even if you get your last question wrong, he added: "There’s no point doing the show and going away with £8,000. You’re just wasting the viewer’s time.
"You’re there to win a lot of money, that’s the whole point of the show. A lot of contestants set it at £32,000, I think the fact it was there historically plays a part in people’s thinking.
"It’s also a sensible place to set it for most people. £32,000 is a lot of money" he added.
Clarkson replaced Chris Tarrant as the host of the show in 2018.
In recent weeks it has been discussed by millions of TV fans as the drama Quiz re-enacted the famous episode in 2001 when Charles Ingram cheated his way to the jackpot thanks to correct answers being given to him via coughs from the audience.
Clarkson insists having knowledge – as you would need to win a million on the show - does not make you intelligent.
He added: “Knowing things doesn’t make you intelligent. You can know nothing at all, a dolphin knows nothing at all and is quite intelligent.
"Intelligence is the ability to look at point A and point B and then make an opinion out of those two things.
"That is what makes you intelligent!
"Knowing when the Battle of Agincourt was doesn’t make you intelligent but knowing the effects of the Battle of Agincourt does.
"I know lots of people who know a lot of things but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re intelligent.”
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? returns to ITV on Sunday, 7pm and all next week at 9pm.
