A Scottish unicorn? You must be kidding
TV show’s youngsters answer $100k question
But that ’ s exact ly what happened on Ricky Gervais’s new US game show Child Support when a contestant was asked to name the mythical creature that is Scotland’s national animal.
Known only as Martin, he proudly declared his “quarter-Scottish” credentials before telling show host Fred Savage that Nessie was our icon. But he was wrong – and it was over to Gervais and his panel of five youngsters to throw him a lifeline.
One wee g i rl suggested “Pokemon”, another “alligator”, before a third correctly said it was indeed a unicorn.
The answer sparked wild celebrations when Martin realised he was $100,000 richer.
One viewer said: “The Nessie answer made sense but the contestant was embarrassed to have got it wrong after declaring his Scottish credentials.
“But it all ended up for the best. So much for the old saying that you should never work with children or animals.”
Child Support was launched on America’s ABC network earlier this month. Contestants answer questions to win cash in the traditional game show format.
However, if they get it wrong the brainteasers are handed over to children for a second chance.
Unicorns have been l inked to Scot land for centuries and April 9 is S c ot l a nd ’s National Unicorn Day.
In Celtic mytholog y the unicorn was a symbol of purity, innocence, masculinity and power. It was first used on the Scottish Royal Coat of Arms by William the First in the 12th century. In the 15th century, when King James III was in power, gold coins appeared with the unicorn on them. Before the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the Scottish Royal Arms had two unicorns supporting a shield. When James VI of Scotland also became James I of England and Ireland, he replaced the unicorn on the right with the national animal of England, the lion, to show the countries were united.