Rugby tough guy Joe Marler was left red-faced and reaching for the exit on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? after a devilishly tricky Wimbledon question worth a whopping £125,000 had even die-hard sports fans howling in frustration from their sofas.

The England prop, 35, who’s built a reputation for fearless tackles on the pitch and hilarious banter off it, sailed through the early rounds of the ITV Christmas special on Boxing Day – banking a tidy £64,000 for mental health charity CALM.

But when host Jeremy Clarkson dropped the bombshell tennis poser, Marler threw in the towel faster than you can say ‘advantage Nadal’, declaring: ‘I want to leave immediately, if not sooner!’

Viewers branded the question ‘the hardest ever’ on the iconic quiz show, with social media erupting as armchair experts admitted they’d have been clueless too.

The fiendish query that stopped Marler – and stunned the nation – in his tracks?

‘Which of these multiple winners of the Wimbledon men’s singles titles has NOT been victorious in consecutive years?’

Options: A) Pete Sampras B) Roger Federer C) Rafael Nadal D) Novak Djokovic

Marler, admitting he’s ‘not a hardcore tennis fan’, confessed: ‘I wouldn’t even know how to try and work it out.’

After agonising on the hot seat, the Harlequins star – fresh from starring on The Traitors – wisely chose to quit while he was ahead, locking in £64,000 for his cause.

But Clarkson, ever the tease, couldn’t resist twisting the knife.

‘I’m going to tell you!’ the Grand Tour host grinned, revealing Marler had been leaning towards Pete Sampras – a guess that would have slashed his winnings to just £32,000.

The correct answer? Rafael Nadal – the Spanish bull who claimed Wimbledon glory in 2008 and 2010, but never back-to-back, sandwiched by Federer’s dominance.

Sampras won consecutively in the 90s, Federer racked up five straight from 2003-2007, and Djokovic has multiple consecutive pairs.

‘Tough question for non-tennis fans!’ one viewer raged online. Another fumed: ‘Honestly the hardest WWTBAM question I’ve ever seen haha.’

Even the Tennis Weekly Podcast crew chimed in: ‘This question was worth £125,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’

Fans piled on: ‘I watch tennis a fair bit and I still don’t know the answer… the question is worth the money lol.’

‘This is tough if you don’t properly know your tennis. Guessable if you know enough about Wimbledon that Nadal was the least successful of the four there.’

The episode, part of a festive celebrity lineup also featuring comedian Katherine Ryan, exploded across social media – with clips of Marler’s dramatic walkaway racking up millions of views.

‘Joe Marler is an absolute legend,’ one fan gushed. ‘Walking away with £64k for charity – class act.’

Another joked: ‘Someone give Joe Marler his own show. Love him.’

But the real talking point? That brutal tennis brain-twister, proving once again why Millionaire? remains TV’s ultimate nerve-shredder.

Wimbledon’s Big Four have dominated men’s tennis for two decades, smashing records and filling trophy cabinets.

Roger Federer, the Swiss maestro, holds the all-time men’s record with eight Wimbledon titles – including an incredible five consecutive from 2003 to 2007.

Pete Sampras, the American powerhouse of the 90s, bagged seven, with back-to-back wins multiple times.

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian machine, has matched Federer’s eight – and notched consecutive victories on several occasions.

But Rafa Nadal? The King of Clay snagged just two gentlemen’s singles crowns – 2008 (beating Federer in that epic rain-delayed final dubbed the greatest ever) and 2010 (dispatching Tomas Berdych).

No consecutives for the Mallorcan matador on grass.

‘For casual fans, it’s a killer,’ a tennis insider told Daily Mail. ‘Everyone knows the Big Four won loads, but remembering exact years? Nightmare.’

Marler, no stranger to pressure – he’s faced down All Blacks haka and fronted rugby’s mental health campaigns – stayed cool under Clarkson’s glare.

‘I love my sport, I love a bit of tennis,’ he admitted. ‘But I’m not a hardcore fan.’

Wise move walking away – especially with charity cash on the line.

Clarkson, a self-confessed petrolhead rather than tennis buff, relished the drama.

The former Top Gear star has hosted since 2018, bringing his trademark sarcasm to the hot seat.

Viewers love him for it: ‘Jeremy insisting on telling Joe the answer anyway – pure evil!’ one laughed.

Marler’s appearance raised vital funds for CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably – a cause close to his heart after opening up about his own struggles.

‘£64,000! A nice win for Joe!’ fans cheered.

The Christmas special aired amid a bumper festive lineup, reminding us why Millionaire? – revived after the infamous coughing scandal – still pulls 5million viewers.

From Charles Ingram’s 2001 cheating fiasco to modern celebs risking it all, the show’s tension is unmatched.

But this Wimbledon whopper? It’s got everyone debating: Fair question or outright sadistic?

‘Pretty tough for people who don’t follow tennis,’ one admitted.

Another: ‘The tennis podcast finds the tennis question easy what a surprise.’

As 2025 ends, Marler’s safe play has him hailed a hero – while that £125k question lives on as the one that got away.

Would YOU have risked it? Or walked like Joe?

One thing’s for sure: Next time Wimbledon rolls around, we’ll all be double-checking those champions lists…