Source: Pexels
The original series of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire aired way back in September 1998 on ITV. Running until 2014, it was later revived in 2018 after a short hiatus. Since then, it has been ranked number 23 in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, with its mythology partly bolstered by a high-profile cheating scandal that was later dramatised for TV itself. Renewed for a further series, we look at what has made it so popular.
The Simplicity of Millionaire
The rules of Millionaire are quite simple. A player starts off answering easy questions which get progressively harder as they move up a prize ladder. The station they are at is the amount they can win. So they begin on the £1 question, answer it, then move up until they eventually reach the £1 million question.
Throughout, they have a series of lifelines, such as being able to phone a friend. Yet despite new lifelines being added throughout its tenure and variations of the show being created, the core idea remains: The more questions you answer, the more you win.
While you may think this format could become stale, it seldom does. The last series of Millionaire was one of the most vibrant in its history, with two contestants battling all the way to the £1 million question. One of them even won, making them the seventh person in the show’s history to do so. It also featured one of the biggest losses, when an incorrect answer led to a contestant missing out on £186,000.
Expanding the Brand
The popularity of the show has been increased by adapting it into varied formats. One of the most popular has been Millionaire Hot Seat. This takes six contestants, who are in a rotating queue, and makes them answer questions within a time limit. This then sees them climb the ladder of prizes. If they answer incorrectly, they are out, but they can pass to the next person.
It has also made quick inroads into the world of iGaming. As well as slots, plenty of live casino-style games using the Millionaire license have been released. One of the most recent is Who Wants to Be A Millionaire Video Poker Live. Using a real dealer in a studio, this combines classic video poker with a special bonus round based on the game show. Players can try it using a casino bonus online, also usable on slots, before they spend their own bankroll.
The Return of Millionaire
In June, it was announced that ITV had commissioned 15 more episodes of Millionaire, with an additional 20 of its Hot Seat spin-off. This suggests that the little brother may actually be more popular than the original.
Presenter Jeremy Clarkson will return to the chair in hosting duties on both shows. This is despite an admission earlier in the year that he is in remission from cancer. He has noted that he is in fact “officially the world’s luckiest man,” so here is to hoping some of that luck transfers to his contestants.