TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson will return as the host for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and its spin-off quiz show Millionaire Hot Seat for a further 35 episodes, ITV announced on Monday. This comes after Clarkson, 66, revealed he had been diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer, which had been discovered early, in the most recent episodes of his reality show Clarkson’s Farm.
Clarkson Confirms Remission
In a subsequent interview with The Sunday Times, Clarkson confirmed a PSA test two months ago revealed no indication of cancer and he is in remission. The news has been met with relief by fans and colleagues alike.
New Episodes of Millionaire Hot Seat
ITV revealed that its newest addition to the Millionaire franchise, Millionaire Hot Seat, was recommissioned for a further 20 episodes following its debut earlier this year, with Clarkson at the helm. The quiz show sees contestants sit in a queue around the hot seat, which faces Clarkson, where they must answer questions to climb the money ladder. If they get a question wrong, they are kicked out and the value of the top prize drops. Contestants also have the opportunity to pass and stay in the game, but they will go to the back of the queue, meaning they may not return to the hot seat, where they have to be sitting to win the top prize.
Return of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Clarkson will also return to host ITV’s flagship quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? for a further 15 episodes. In the most recent series, a retired IT analyst became the seventh person to win the £1 million jackpot.
ITV's Excitement
Katie Rawcliffe, director of entertainment, reality and daytime commissioning at ITV, 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.”
Filming and Broadcast Details
The new episodes of Millionaire Hot Seat and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? will film later this year and air on ITV and ITVX.
