Jeremy Clarkson is set to return as host of ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and its spin-off Millionaire Hot Seat, the network announced on Monday (June 29). The news follows the 66-year-old television personality's disclosure that he is in remission from aggressive prostate cancer.
Clarkson's Health Update
In recent episodes of his reality series Clarkson's Farm, Clarkson revealed he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, which was detected early. Subsequently, in an interview with The Sunday Times, the former Top Gear host confirmed that a PSA test taken two months ago showed no indication of cancer, and he is now in remission.
New Episodes of Millionaire Hot Seat
ITV confirmed that Millionaire Hot Seat, which debuted earlier this year, has been recommissioned for an additional 20 episodes, with Clarkson at the helm. The quiz show features contestants seated in a queue around the hot seat, facing Clarkson, where they must answer questions to climb the money ladder. A wrong answer results in elimination and a drop in the top prize value. Contestants may also choose to pass and go to the back of the queue, but they risk not returning to the hot seat to win the top prize.
Return of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Clarkson will also return to host the flagship quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? for 15 more episodes. This comes after a retired IT analyst became the seventh contestant to win the £1 million jackpot in the most recent series.
ITV's Statement
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."
New episodes of both shows will be filmed later this year and are scheduled to air on ITV and ITVX.
