Jack Whitehall Cracks a Joke About Taking Over Gordon Ramsay’s Job
Jack Whitehall is set to challenge Gordon Ramsay‘s dominance at Fox, expressing optimism that his hosting role on Nation’s Dumbest will open up new prospects.
“I found joy in teasing my friend Gordon Ramsay that Fox finally launched a show without him, and I’m here to claim his title as the face of Fox,” Whitehall, 38, quipped during an exclusive chat with Us Weekly. “You can probably guess his response.”
Whitehall is thrilled about the chance to lead his own show.
“I have to juggle multiple roles on this show. I’m the quiz master, but I also play the part of a school counselor, offering a shoulder to cry on,” he remarked. “Or a comforting hug when it’s most needed.”
He continued: “At other moments, I turn into a bit of a tormentor. I really put them through their paces. I had to select my moments wisely to be supportive. I chose my moments carefully.”
Nation’s Dumbest is characterized as “a proven format across various international regions, engaging celebrities’ inner school spirit as they head back to summer school, facing a blend of brain-teasing tasks, fast-paced physical challenges, and long-forgotten classroom knowledge.”
As per the show’s description, each week will see “the ‘smartest’ celebrity graduates, narrowing the competition until a high-stakes final evaluation determines who will be left with the undesirable title of The Nation’s Dumbest.”
“If I were a contestant, I believe I’d struggle,” Whitehall admitted to Us. “I lack substantial general knowledge, and I have significant gaps — especially in American pop culture and sports. I could easily falter on a show like this.”
Whitehall humorously remarked that he is “somewhat of a delicate flower,” adding, “I don’t think I’d have the fortitude to put myself on this show. … I wasn’t particularly scholarly in school. I was more inclined towards arts and drama — more of a theater kid. Academically, I wasn’t outstanding, but people often assume I’m knowledgeable because of how I speak and the British accent.”
He managed to leverage this on Nation’s Dumbest.
“On the show, I come off as quite smug and superior,” he shared. “But much of that is due to my fancy British accent and the answers laid out on a clipboard before me.”
Whitehall learned valuable lessons for the future. “Sometimes, you need to check yourself and remind yourself not to be too arrogant,” he stated. “It’s easy to stand there with an air of superiority when you’ve got all the answers in front of you. I had to keep reminding myself that, had I been in their shoes, I would have been struggling and getting questions wrong. I aimed to remain compassionate as well.”
Fortunately, Whitehall didn’t have to face answering questions alongside a star-studded cast that includes TV personality Hilaria Baldwin, actress Carmen Electra, actor Anthony Michael Hall, actor Jon Heder, musician Chase Hudson, and rapper Ice-T.
Musician Elle King, former NFL quarterback Matt Leinart, and TV personality and physician Dr. Drew Pinsky are also in the mix, while Jackass star Steve-O, singer JoJo Siwa, and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang complete the lineup.
“[In season 2, we might see] perhaps some other members of the Fox family join in,” Whitehall suggested to Us. “Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, Rob Lowe, and Ernest Leary would be great. I’d love to see Gordon Ramsay on it too.”
Nation’s Dumbest premieres on Fox on Wednesday, July 15, at 9 p.m. ET.
