The TV world is in meltdown after Jeremy Clarkson – the outspoken king of motoring mayhem and farming chaos – was hit with a ferocious fan backlash over his brand-new ITV quiz show Millionaire Hot Seat, with viewers branding it “awful,” “rubbish,” “boring,” and a “frustrating rehash” that has left audiences switching off in droves.

The 65-year-old legend, best known for Top Gear, The Grand Tour, and the smash-hit Clarkson’s Farm, stepped into the hot seat himself as host of this high-pressure spin-off from the iconic Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Launched in early January 2026, the show pits six contestants against each other in a ruthless battle for the chair, with just 15 seconds to answer each question – and the last person standing wins the cash.

But what was meant to be a fresh, fast-paced twist on a classic format has instead sparked outrage, with fans flooding social media and comment sections to slam the pacing, the format, the host’s style, and even the schedule shake-ups it caused. The backlash erupted within minutes of the premiere, and it’s only grown louder as episodes rolled out.

The caption that’s sent shockwaves through the TV community captures the raw fury: ‘Jeremy Clarkson hit with fan backlash over new TV show‘

From the moment the first episode aired, viewers didn’t hold back. “This is rubbish,” one furious fan posted on X. “Jeremy Clarkson hosting Millionaire Hot Seat is awful – bring back the original format!” Another raged: “Boring rehash. Why fix what wasn’t broken? Clarkson is out of his depth here.” Complaints poured in about contestants “nattering” too long before answering, dragging out the tension into frustration rather than excitement. “Can someone please explain to the contestants that they need to stop nattering and answer the questions as quickly as possible? So frustrating!” one viewer begged.

Jeremy himself addressed the gripe head-on, responding to fans online: “I do [tell them]. Before the show every time.” But that hasn’t quelled the storm – if anything, it’s fueled more debate about whether the 15-second rule is too strict, or if contestants are simply unprepared for the pressure.

The format itself has drawn the sharpest knives. Unlike the classic Millionaire where one contestant sits in the chair and climbs the ladder with lifelines, Hot Seat is a survival-of-the-fittest battle royale. Six players start, answering in turn; wrong answers eliminate them, and the last one standing takes the money. It’s meant to be tense and cutthroat, but many say it’s chaotic and unfair. “The last contestant gets £1,000 just for surviving? Rubbish,” one critic fumed. Others called it “daylight robbery” when strong players got knocked out early due to bad luck on questions.

Then came the schedule drama. The show’s late-night slot pushed popular evening soaps back by half an hour in some regions, sparking a separate wave of fury. “Change it back!” viewers demanded. “ITV messing with the schedule for this? No thanks.” One fan summed up the double whammy: “New show bad enough, but now my soaps are delayed? Clarkson, sort it out!”

It’s a bruising reception for a man who’s rarely short of controversy – or success. Clarkson built his empire on unfiltered opinions, petrolhead antics, and later, the wholesome-yet-hilarious Clarkson’s Farm, which turned his Cotswolds misadventures into global gold. Season after season, it’s drawn millions, humanized the gruff presenter, and even sparked real-world change in British farming awareness. Fans adore his blunt honesty, his bromance with Kaleb Cooper and the Diddly Squat crew, and his pub venture at The Farmer’s Dog.

But Millionaire Hot Seat feels like a gear shift too far for some. “This isn’t Top Gear or Farm – it’s Clarkson trying to be a quiz host, and it’s not working,” one viewer posted. Others miss his signature sarcasm: “Where’s the Clarkson wit? It’s all straight-laced questions and awkward silences.” The show’s mixed reviews highlight a divide – some praise the high stakes and Clarkson’s dry humor in handling contestants (he famously called one the “luckiest in human history” after a fluke win), but the majority online lean negative.

Social media is a battlefield. On X, hashtags like #MillionaireHotSeat and #JeremyClarkson trend with complaints: “Awful pacing,” “Contestants too slow,” “Not as good as the original Millionaire.” Reddit threads dissect episodes frame-by-frame, with users calling it “a boring rehash” and questioning why ITV handed the reins to Clarkson instead of a dedicated quiz host. Even loyal fans admit disappointment: “Love Jez, but this isn’t his wheelhouse.”

Jeremy, never one to shy from a scrap, has clapped back lightly. In interviews, he’s defended the format as “faster and tougher,” insisting it’s designed for modern attention spans. He’s also teased that the show evolves – perhaps tweaks to rules or pacing in future episodes. But the early backlash has ITV bosses watching closely; ratings are solid but not explosive, and viewer retention could decide its fate.

This isn’t Clarkson’s first backlash rodeo. Clarkson’s Farm Season 4 drew fire over the pub storyline overshadowing farming, with fans begging for more tractors and less tavern drama. Jeremy shut it down with a defiant 11-word response: “It’s my farm, my pub, my show – deal with it.” Earlier seasons faced eco-criticism, neighbor complaints about traffic, and his infamous Brexit rows. Yet each time, the show bounced back stronger.

Will Millionaire Hot Seat survive the storm? Or is it a rare misfire for the unstoppable Clarkson? Fans are split: some vow to stick with him no matter what, others have switched off, pining for the days of fast cars and furious rants.

For now, the hot seat is uncomfortably warm – and Jeremy Clarkson, ever the provocateur, is right in it.