Anton du Beke charity hits £250k despite Who Wants to be a Millionaire? gaffe

Daily Mirror

a day ago

EXCLUSIVE: Strictly Come Dancing star Anton du Beke generously made up the £15k he lost on ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? from his own pocket
Anton du Beke has thanked the public for their generosity after his fundraising for The Sick Children's Trust hit £250,000.
The efforts from the Strictly Come Dancing judge include £15,000 of his own money, donated after he lost the same amount on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? after getting a question about musicals wrong.
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In a video for social media, he said he wanted to thank everyone for 'giving so generously' to the charity, which allows parents to stay in a 'home from home' while their seriously ill child receives treatment in a hospital nearby.
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Over the past two years, Anton, 58, has hosted sell-out golf days and glitzy afternoon tea events in order to raise cash for the cause.
He said: 'We've raised over the last couple of years with my golf days and my afternoon teas and my slightly embarrassing moment on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, we've reached a quarter of a million pounds. So I wanted to say a huge thank you. All that money's going to such a great cause, and I know everyone involved is eternally grateful. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.'
Appearing on the ITV quiz show in February, Anton was asked by host Jeremy Clarkson: 'Which Tony-Award winning musical features a mash-up called Elephant Love Medley?'
The options were A) Hairspray, B) Moulin Rouge, C) The Book of Mormon and D) Si,x and despite using his 50/50 lifeline, Anton still got the answer wrong, picking The Book of Mormon over Moulin Rouge.
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Prior to losing, he pledged that if he'd picked the wrong option and lost the money, he'd make up the £15,000 himself.
Anton, who became an ambassador for the charity in 2023, reached the milestone last month when his golf fundraiser at Burhill Golf Club brought in more than £35,000. His efforts have directly funded 6,250 nights of free stays for families going through tough times with a sick child.
He added: 'The Sick Children's Trust is an incredible charity doing vital work to support families at the most difficult time in their lives. I've seen firsthand just how much it means to parents to have somewhere safe and supportive to stay when their child is in the hospital. I'm honoured to play a small part in making that possible, and I'll keep dancing, golfing and fundraising for as long as I can.'
The charity has ten 'Homes from Home' across the country, supporting more than 3,200 families each year. It costs £40 to support a family for one night.
Chief Executive Jane Featherstone said: 'Anton's energy, compassion and unwavering support have blown us away. From his incredible events to his personal donations, he has gone above and beyond to help keep families together during their child's hospital treatment. The difference he has made is truly