Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is back – with Clarkson!
JEREMY Clarkson will be the new host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? when the game show returns later this year.
Originally presented by Chris Tarrant, the quiz show launched in September 1998 and at its peak pulled in more than 19million viewers.
Ex-Top Gear presenter Clarkson will host seven episodes to air across one week, marking the show’s 20th anniversary. The 57-year-old said: ‘I have always loved the show and am thrilled to be involved with its rebirth. I’m a big fan of quiz shows and I’m looking forward to hosting this iconic TV show and hopefully making a few millionaires!’
The final episode starring Tarrant, 71, aired in February 2014.
The programme spawned versions in countries including the Russia, Japan, India and the US, while it was also the inspiration behind the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
The show made headlines in 2003 when Army major Charles Ingram was found guilty of cheating his way to the top prize by having an accomplice in the audience cough to indicate the correct answers.
The new episodes, which are set to air later this spring, will include a number of new twists and turns for audiences to look forward to, according to ITV.
ITV’s head of entertainment Siobhan Greene said: ‘It felt like a no-brainer to celebrate the show that was a trailblazer of its time and broke the mould.
‘In doing this one- off special week, I hope Millionaire will be introduced to a whole new generation. And with TV legend Jeremy Clarkson asking the ques Clarkson: tions, frankly anything could happen.’