Aston Merrygold Stunned by £10k Celebrity Catchphrase Bet

A Star's Struggle on Celebrity Catchphrase

Aston Merrygold, the singer from the boyband JLS, found himself in a tough spot during an episode of Celebrity Catchphrase. The 37-year-old was aiming to win a £50,000 jackpot for charity but ended up leaving with only £10,800 after failing to answer a crucial question worth £10,000.

The show, hosted by Stephen Mulhern on ITV, challenges contestants to guess phrases or idioms based on short video clips. The competition is designed to be both fun and challenging, with players earning money as they progress through different levels.

Aston made it to the super catchphrase segment, where he had five chances to increase his prize. He started strong, accumulating £5,800 for Save The Children UK. However, things took a turn when he reached the third level, which offered £10,000.

At this point, Aston chose Box 11, which doubles the prize money for other celebrities who were eliminated earlier in the game. The riddle featured three mattresses at a bar, with two of them joined by a date and one sitting alone. Despite his best efforts, Aston couldn't figure out the answer.

He moved on to the next two riddles, which included a sign reading 'progress' in a building site and an archer shooting arrows at a hand pointing into the sky. When time ran out, Stephen had to reveal the answers. The first riddle was "single bed," the second was "work in progress," and the third was "missing the point."

Viewers were stunned, as many had already guessed the correct answers. Aston was visibly disappointed, holding his head in his hands. He admitted that the show was very popular in his household, but he found it quite different from what he was used to.

Instead of the £15,800 he could have won, Aston left with £10,800. This wasn’t the first time a celebrity faced difficulty on the show. Bill Bailey, the Strictly Come Dancing champion, also struggled with a riddle in a previous episode.

Bill, 60, was left scratching his head when he encountered a riddle that could have doubled his prize. He made several incorrect guesses throughout the game, and time ran out before he could get the right answer. He returned to his team with a smaller prize of £5,000.

Looking perplexed, Bill said, “Oh, I wanted to get the money for everyone.” Stephen responded with a light-hearted comment, reminding him not to beat himself up. The answers to the riddles he missed were "smile and the world smiles on you" and "the weak spot."

Bill still managed to walk away with £10,800 for his charity, SOS. His experience highlighted the challenge of the show and the pressure that comes with it.

Celebrity Catchphrase continues to captivate audiences with its mix of humor and difficulty. The show airs on Sunday at 9pm on ITV and is available to stream on ITVX.

Other episodes have seen various celebrities face similar struggles. For example, comedian Joe Lycett managed to overcome a difficult riddle and secured a large sum for charity. Meanwhile, some contestants have been flabbergasted by elementary errors that cost them significant prizes.

The show remains a favorite among fans, offering a blend of entertainment and suspense. Whether it’s the high stakes or the clever riddles, Celebrity Catchphrase continues to draw in viewers and keep them guessing.