For 27 years, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire has captivated audiences as a beloved television quiz show, challenging contestants with its rigorous format to win a life-changing jackpot. To secure the full million-pound prize, players must correctly answer 15 consecutive multiple-choice general knowledge questions, a daunting task mitigated by lifelines such as Phone A Friend, 50/50, Ask the Audience, and the more recent Ask the Host.
Legitimate Winners and a Notorious Scandal
Across the tenures of hosts Chris Tarrant and Jeremy Clarkson, only six individuals have legitimately claimed the top prize. These winners are Judith Keppel, David Edwards, Robert Brydges, Pat Gibson, Ingram Wilcox, and Donald Fear. Judith Keppel made history in 2000 by becoming the first person to win the £1 million prize, later joining the TV show Eggheads, as did fellow winner Pat Gibson.
However, a seventh contestant, Major Charles Ingram, correctly answered the £1 million question in 2001 but was later found to have cheated in the infamous coughing scandal, tarnishing his victory and highlighting the show's integrity challenges.
The Million-Pound Questions: A Test of Knowledge
To date, the programme has posed 17 £1 million questions, spanning topics from sports and history to science and pop culture. These questions are designed to push contestants to their intellectual limits, with examples including identifying the county cricket side at Chester-le-Street (Durham), the sovereign known as 'the wisest fool in Christendom' (James I), and the celestial body orbited by Oberon (Uranus).
Notable Questions and Answers
Other challenging questions have involved Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 political party (Bull Moose), the founding President of Czechoslovakia (Tomas Masaryk), and the name for a number followed by one hundred zeros (Googol). The diversity of subjects underscores the show's commitment to broad general knowledge, making it a staple for trivia enthusiasts.
Hosting Evolution and Cultural Impact
Originally hosted by Chris Tarrant, the show transitioned to Jeremy Clarkson in 2018, bringing a new dynamic to the long-running series. Despite changes in presentation, the core format remains unchanged, continuing to attract viewers with its high-stakes drama and educational value.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire airs on ITV1 and ITVX, maintaining its popularity through decades of television evolution. The show's legacy is cemented by its rare jackpot winners and the enduring appeal of testing one's knowledge against the clock.
