Jeremy Clarkson is set to return as host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and its spin-off Millionaire Hot Seat for 35 additional episodes, following his disclosure of an aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis that is now in remission. The 66-year-old presenter revealed the news in recent episodes of his reality show Clarkson’s Farm and confirmed in an interview with The Sunday Times that a PSA test two months ago showed no signs of cancer.
ITV Recommissions Quiz Shows
ITV announced on Monday that Clarkson will front 15 new episodes of the flagship quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and 20 episodes of the newer format Millionaire Hot Seat. The latter was recommissioned after its debut earlier this year, which saw Clarkson at the helm. In Millionaire Hot Seat, contestants queue around the hot seat facing Clarkson, answering questions to climb a money ladder. A wrong answer eliminates them and reduces the top prize value, while passing sends them to the back of the queue, risking loss of the hot seat.
Recent Million Pound Winner
In the most recent series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, a retired IT analyst became the seventh contestant to win the £1 million jackpot. Katie Rawcliffe, ITV's director of entertainment, reality and daytime commissioning, stated: “The Millionaire brand continues to deliver for ITV audiences and Millionaire Hot Seat has brought an exciting new energy to the format. The combination of Jeremy Clarkson’s hosting and the high-pressure gameplay has proved a winning formula, so we’re delighted to be bringing both Millionaire Hot Seat and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? back for more episodes.”
Filming and Broadcast Plans
The new episodes will film later this year and air on ITV and its streaming platform ITVX. Clarkson’s return comes after his health scare; he noted the cancer was discovered early, leading to successful treatment and remission.
