Phone A Friend: Merkel Misses Millionaire Call

An MP tries to reach the German leader as he struggles with a question about washing machines on a VIP version of the show.

When German politician Wolfgang Bosbach got into a spot of bother on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, he decided to phone a friend - the country's Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Conservative lawmaker was having trouble answering a question about East German washing machines.

Mr Bosbach got a text from Ms Merkel later

But his call for help went unanswered after he was twice diverted to Ms Merkel's voicemail.

Towards the end of the show, Mr Bosbach received a message from the German leader apologising for not picking up.

The German news agency DPA quoted him as saying he was not sure it would have been a good thing for her to answer, as Ms Merkel might have chided him for calling her about a quiz show question.