Bradley Walsh's new Channel 4 quiz show, The Million Pound Shot, airs this Sunday at 9pm, but unusual marketing has led viewers to question whether the series is genuine or an elaborate Halloween hoax.
Channel 4 has been notably secretive about the programme, failing to release a trailer online and remaining silent on inquiries. This has sparked speculation that the show could be a front for a Derren Brown-style experiment or a horror special akin to Inside No. 9.
What Is The Million Pound Shot?
According to the Freeview TV Guide, The Million Pound Shot is a quiz show in which contestants compete for a £1 million prize. The synopsis promises 'one huge secret twist' in a night full of 'drama, tension and life-changing outcomes.' Three contestants will play in front of a live studio audience.
The show's director, Max Shapira, has previously worked on an 'Under NDA show' for Channel 4, according to his public CV. The series may be produced by KEO Films, known for documentaries and social experiments rather than quiz shows. The commissioner is listed as Tim Hancock, whose credits include The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson and Open House: The Great Sex Experiment.
Why Viewers Suspect a Hoax
The marketing has raised eyebrows. The 9pm Sunday slot is unusual for a family-friendly quiz, and the airing the day after Halloween adds to the suspicion. One social media user joked that the title might mean contestants have to shoot each other, a reference to Channel 4's reputation for psychological experiments.
Channel 4 has not released an official trailer online, but comedian Mark Grimshaw recorded an advert shown on live TV. In it, Walsh says: 'We're here rehearsing ahead of a huge quiz event for Channel 4 with £1 million on the line. Contestants are going to take the gamble of their lives, and there's a massive twist unlike anything seen on television before. Which is? Well, you'll have to join me to find out.'
The trailer shows only Walsh on set, with no footage of the quiz itself, adding to the mystery. The Million Pound Shot begins on Channel 4 this Sunday at 9pm.
