Comedian Michael McIntyre brought his popular BBC game show, The Wheel, to an abrupt halt during its latest episode to deliver what he described as some 'bad news' for a contestant and a celebrity expert.
Contestant's Inspiring Story
The Saturday night instalment, which aired on November 22, featured a panel of celebrity experts including Clare Balding, Zoe Ball, Bill Bailey, Lou Sanders, Konnie Huq, Tommy Fury, Sam Thompson, and Pete Wicks.
The first hopeful to face The Wheel was Luke from Southampton, a pharmacy delivery driver. Luke shared his powerful motivation for winning, explaining he wanted to start and support his family. He also planned to donate a significant portion of any prize money to Kidney Care UK.
Luke revealed a deeply personal reason for this choice, telling host Michael McIntyre that his own kidneys had stopped working. He was diagnosed around the age of 27 and has been on home dialysis for over seven years, connecting to a machine five times a week for three and a half hours each session, which limits his ability to work.
Unexpected Setback on The Wheel
Luke's first question fell under the musical instruments category, with comedian and musician Bill Bailey serving as the golden expert. The question was: "According to a 2024 YouGov survey, which musical instrument do the most Brits claim they can play?"
The multiple-choice answers were piano, recorder, violin, and saxophone. Both Luke and celebrity expert Tommy Fury correctly selected the piano, earning Luke a solid £3,000.
However, the celebrations were short-lived. McIntyre interrupted with his 'bad news', revealing that the category's expert, Bill Bailey, had incorrectly chosen the recorder. As a consequence of the expert's mistake, Bailey was shut down for the next spin of the wheel.
Viewer Reaction and Luke's Exit
The surprising error from the typically reliable Bill Bailey did not go unnoticed by viewers. Many took to social media platform X to express their shock.
One user wrote, "If you told me before this episode started that Bill Bailey would get his question in musical instruments wrong, I wouldn't believe you. He's a proper expert."
Another commented after a subsequent mistake, "Bill Bailey having an uncharacteristically bad night tonight? He’s usually the cleverest person in a TV Show."
Despite his strong and emotional start, Luke's journey on the show was ultimately cut short. He was later kicked off The Wheel after answering a question about the Glastonbury festival incorrectly.
Michael McIntyre's The Wheel continues to air on Saturdays on BBC One at 8:05pm.
