ITV has confirmed the future of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? by commissioning 15 new episodes of the flagship show, alongside 20 instalments of its spin-off Millionaire Hot Seat. Both programmes are hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, who took over the reins in 2018 after a four-year hiatus.
New Format and Strong Ratings
The spin-off Millionaire Hot Seat introduces a high-stakes rapid-fire queue system, where contestants must answer quickly or risk being replaced by the next player. The format has proven popular, ranking as the third most-watched entertainment series on ITVX this year, behind only Britain's Got Talent and The Masked Singer. It averaged 3.7 million viewers, while the original show also maintained substantial audiences.
Katie Rawcliffe, ITV's Director of Entertainment, Reality and Daytime Commissioning, said: "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."
Recent £1 Million Winner
The show's popularity was boosted by a fresh winner claiming the top prize. In April, Roman Dubowski, a retired IT analyst from Manchester, won £1 million after correctly identifying that a Bass Ale logo appeared in the novel Ulysses and works by Picasso and Manet. He celebrated with a cup of tea. Weeks later, Andrew Fanko reached the final question but settled for £500,000, which he said rescued his family's finances.
Since the UK version launched in 1998, seven contestants have won the £1 million jackpot. Clarkson replaced original host Chris Tarrant when the show returned in 2018.
Producer's Reaction
Matthew Worthy, Co-CEO of producer Stellify Media, said: "Hot Seat adds a completely new dynamic to the Millionaire format. The pressure of the clock and the tactical 'Pass' create real jeopardy for contestants and viewers alike. We're thrilled ITV audiences have embraced it and look forward to raising the stakes again in series two."
