Jeremy Clarkson has been announced as the new host of ITV's quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, replacing Chris Tarrant for a special week-long series celebrating the programme's 20th anniversary this spring.
The former Top Gear presenter expressed his enthusiasm, stating: 'I have always loved the show and am thrilled to be involved with its rebirth.' Clarkson, who currently fronts The Grand Tour, described himself as a 'big fan' of quiz shows and said he looks forward to 'hosting this iconic TV show and hopefully making a few millionaires.'
The show, which sees contestants answer 15 increasingly difficult questions for a chance to win £1 million, will run for seven nightly hour-long episodes. ITV has promised 'a number of new twists and turns' for its return. The programme originally aired from 1998 to 2014, attracting up to 19 million viewers at its peak in 1999.
Chris Tarrant, who hosted for 15 years, said in 2014 that his game show hosting days were over and that he believed the programme had 'run its course.' Only five UK contestants ever won the top prize during Tarrant's tenure.
ITV's head of entertainment, Siobhan Greene, said: 'I hope Millionaire will be introduced to a whole new generation. And with TV legend Jeremy Clarkson asking the questions, frankly anything could happen. I can't wait.'
