Chris Tarrant fined £6,000 after admitting drink-driving

Who Wants to be a Millionaire host Chris Tarrant said he "made a mistake" and "paid for it" as he left court with a 12-month ban.

Tarrant appeared in Reading magistrates court on Thursday
Image: Chris Tarrant appeared at court in Reading
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Chris Tarrant has been fined £6,000 and given a 12-month ban after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

The former Who Wants to be a Millionaire host was found to be over the limit while driving a Mercedes close to his Berkshire home on 16 December.

"I made a mistake and I paid for it. I shouldn't have driven. Full stop," the 71-year-old said as he left Reading Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty on Thursday.

Tarrant said we was "very sorry" and believed that the punishment was fair.

"I honestly didn't think I was over, but apparently I was, so fair enough."

Tarrant's breathalyser reading was 50 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - above the legal limit of 35 microgrammes .

As well as Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the presenter hosted the children's TV show Tiswas in the '70s and later had a show on Capital Radio.