UK Millionaire’s New Format

Throughout the past few months there has been much speculation on the original version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? with the format having a revamp. TV listings have now confirmed the new format will appear on ITV1 from Tuesday 3rd August at 8pm. This has posed questions from the broadcaster that the 8pm Tuesday slot hasn’t been performing well in recent months. Having a revived format being launched in the summer in a non-performing slot clearly shows that ITV are no longer interested in the twelve year old show. Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, hosted by Chris Tarrant peaked at 19.2 million viewers in 1999, while in recent months the show has now dropped to around 3-4 million.

The new format features some elements from the US clock format but also keeps elements from the original format. According to audience sightings, the new format will remove Fastest Finger First and allow contestants to follow one after another, like the existing US version. The twelve question money tree, safe havens and amounts will stay as well as the three lifelines (Phone a Friend, 50:50, Ask the Audience). Newspaper reports have mentioned the Phone a Friend lifeline will now have the viewers see the friend from backstage. The first seven questions will now be against the clock. The first two questions (£500 and £1,000) will allow the contestant to answer in fifteen seconds, while the following five questions (£2,000 to £50,000) will have a thirty second limit. It is unknown if a contestant automatically walks away or loses their money when the time expires. Once a contestant reaches the second save haven and secure £50,000, the final five questions (£75,000 to £1 Million) will not feature a time limit, therefore a contestant can take an unlimited time to answer the big money questions. In addition, if a contestant reaches £50,000, they will be rewarded a fourth lifeline. The show will bring back the Switch a Question lifeline, originally used on sister show The People Versus in 2001 and for a number of celebrity shows in 2003 as well as the 300th live edition in 2002. This allows the contestant to swap a question they don’t like from £75,000 onwards for another. It is also unknown whether there will be a new graphics and music package as well as a studo refit. There is a possility this will be the case as the show has made cosmetic changes to the show every three years since the 1998 debut. 2001 featured new opening titles, studio refit and new computer console, 2004 featured new opening titles and studio refiit, while 2007 featured a grahpics, format and music revamp.

The new format has been brought in to have a faster paced show. However, the introduction of the twelve question tree in 2007 was also meant to have a faster paced show but recent editions have seen two contestants on per show, compared to three per show when the new question tree was brought in.

Will the new format bring back the viewers or is it time the show needs a long overdue rest?