If there’s anything Brits enjoy more than watching unsuspecting members of the public do terribly on quiz shows, it’s when celebrities are the ones in the hot seat.
With the rise of TV game shows came the addition of celebrity charity versions, and throughout the years many stars have shown why they should stick to their day job.
From Casualty star Amanda Henderson thinking Greta Thunberg’s name was Sharon on Mastermind, to Corrie actress Hayley Tamaddon suggesting it was in fact Margaret Thatcher who sat on the British throne at the start of the 20th century, celebs have been known to give some downright ridiculous quiz answers.
And the most recent quiz show gaffe came from actress Helen Flanagan who, when asked by The Weakest Link host Romesh Ranganathan what the White Cliffs of Dover are made out of, replied: ‘Cheese.’
takes a look back at some of the most bizarre celebrity quiz show answers from celebrities to grace our screens.
takes a look back at some of the most bizarre answers to quiz questions from celebrities after actress Helen Flanagan’s cheese gaffe
Helen Flanagan on The Weakest Link: Cheese
The Weakest Link fans were left in hysterics after Helen Flanagan gave a hilarious answer to an easy question.
The former Coronation Street star, 33, appeared on the celebrity quiz show on Saturday night, alongside fellow stars Kaye Adams, JB Gill, Adam Pearson, Toyah Willcox, Davood Ghadami and Ivo Graham.
Unfortunately the nerves seemed to be getting to Helen and she didn’t get off to a great start with several wrong answers.
Host Romesh Ranganathan then asked her: ‘In geology the White Cliffs of Dover are principally formed from what substance – chalk or cheese?’
Helen hesitated and then answered: ‘Cheese?’ before Romesh informed her the correct answer was chalk.
The actress later explained that she had thought Dover was in Cornwall, and then automatically thought of cheese.
Amanda Henderson on Mastermind: Sharon Thunberg
Casualty star Amanda Henderson left Celebrity Mastermind viewers in tears of laughter in 2020 when she wrongly thought Greta Thunberg was named ‘Sharon’
Casualty star Amanda Henderson left Celebrity Mastermind viewers in tears of laughter in 2020 when she wrongly thought Greta Thunberg was named ‘Sharon’.
The actress, 37, was asked by quiz show host John Humphries the name of the Swedish climate change activist who penned the book, ‘No-one is Too Small To Make A Difference.’
But the perplexed actress, who stars as nurse Robyn Miller on the BBC soap, had the audience howling as she answered, ‘Sharon?.’
Henderson appeared alongside actor Paul Chuckle, TV chef Levi Roots and comedian Geoff Norcott on the celebrity edition of the show.
She excelled at her specialist subject, songs from animated Disney films from 1989-1999, but faltered in the general knowledge round.
John Humphries asked: ‘The 2019 book entitled No-one is Too Small To Make A Difference is a collection of speeches made by a Swedish climate change activist. What’s her name?’
She answered simply, ‘Sharon.’
Hayley Tamaddon on Tipping Point: Margaret Thatcher
Hayley Tamaddon shocked Tipping Host Ben Shephard when she guessed that the monarch sitting on the British throne at the start of the 20th century was Margaret Thatcher
In 2014, Tipping Point: Lucky Stars saw The X Factor winner Sam Bailey competing against Coronation Street actress Hayley Tamaddon.
Despite going on to win the show after gymnast Louis Smith, 34, was knocked out in the first round and Sam, 46, in the second, Hayley gave one very memorable wrong answer.
Host Ben Shephard asked Sam: ‘Which monarch was on the British throne at the beginning of the 20th century?’
The singer was perplexed and passed the question on to her competitor Hayley.
‘I’m sorry Ben, I don’t know,’ Hayley, 47, said, to which Ben replied: ‘We just need a monarch.’
‘Is it Margaret Thatcher?’ Hayley asked, before the audience erupted into laughter and the camera panned to Ben – who was in complete and utter shock.
As the tipping point machine flashed red upon the answer being input, Ben cried ‘No’ and Hayley’s head dropped into her hands.
Brian Dowling on Family Fortunes: Les Bean
Brian Dowling appeared on a range of reality and quiz shows in the years that followed one of which was Family Fortunes, giving one of the strangest answers the show had seen
Irish TV presenter Brian Dowling rose to fame when he won the second series of Big Brother in 2001.
He appeared on a range of reality and quiz shows in the years that followed – one of which was Family Fortunes, giving one of the strangest answers the show had seen.
In the final round, Brian, 45, had to choose the most popular of the following things: Something you wear around your neck, a sport that involves throwing something, a treatment you might have at the beauty salon, a type of bean and something people do when they’re bored.
When asked for a type of bean, Brian’s immediate guess was ‘Baked’. The buzzer sounded to say his brother had opted for that answer, meaning Brian would have to choose another.
‘Lesbian,’ Brian shouted as his second answer, before his jaw dropped at realising what he had said.
The crowd burst into hysterics and Brian said to Vernon Kay: ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
Later, while Vernon was reading out the amount of people who had said Brian’s answer, his ‘type of bean’ was displayed on the screen as ‘Les Bean.’
Rosemary Shrager on The Weakest Link: Mo Farah
Anne Robinson was left exasperated during 2017’s celebrity Children In Need special when chef Rosemary Shrager tied herself in knots answering a question about Olympian Mo Farah
Anne Robinson was known for being a complete task master when she was the host of The Weakest Link.
But she was left exasperated during 2017’s celebrity Children In Need special when chef Rosemary Shrager tied herself in knots answering a question about Olympian Mo Farah.
‘Rosemary, in 2017, the World Athletics Championships Mens 10,000 metres was won by runner Mo, who?’ Anne asked the Ladette to Lady chef.
Rosemary hesitated, before saying ‘Mo… Mo… Mo…’, to which Anne interrupted her to clarify: ‘Mo Farah.’ Rosemary replied: ‘Mo Farah yes, no?’
But she was shut down by Anne, who said: ‘It’s no good you saying yes once I’ve given you the answer.’
The TV chef burst out laughing before again shouting ‘Mo Farah’ at the quiz show host.
A rather unimpressed Anne simply said: ‘Quiet.’
That particular episode proved disastrous for all competitors, with Maya Jama, Kem Cetinay, Giles Coren and Rylan Clark all getting flustered.
Jimmy Carr, Ellie Symonds and Fay Ripley on Catchphrase: Pirated DVDs
Stephen Mulhern was left banging his head against a wall when comedian Jimmy Carr, Olympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and actress Fay Ripley royally screwed up a Catchphrase answer in 2018
When Catchphrase was rebooted in the early 2010s with Stephen Mulhern hosting, they had celebrities take to the podiums.
But the presenter was left banging his head against a wall when comedian Jimmy Carr, Olympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and actress Fay Ripley royally screwed up an answer in 2018.
The contestants had to decipher which catchphrase was depicted by a pirate selling a collection of movies with images of pirate-themed paraphernalia on them.
Jimmy buzzed in first, and answered: ‘Pirate videos. No! Pirate DVDs. I mean, what.’
‘We have to take your first answer Jimmy,’ Stephen replied, at which point the audience erupted into laughter.
But although it should have been an easy answer for either Ellie or Fay, things did not work out that way.
‘Pirate CDs, or movies’ Ellie said confidently, before Stephen screamed no and pretended to bang his head on the set.
Next up was Faye, who despite the reaction to Ellie’s faux pas, said: ‘Pirate movies.’
‘Nooooooo,’ Stephen yelled, staring at the camera in disbelief.