Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is a Game Show format where contestants attempt to win a cash prize by answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. Here are some key details:
History and Origin
- The show was created by British television producer David Briggs and developed by Celador in 1998. It first aired in the UK on ITV on September 4, 1998, hosted by Chris Tarrant.
- The format was sold to numerous countries, with adaptations often keeping the core rules but adapting the prize structure and the lifelines to local cultures and markets.
Format
- The game features 15 questions, with the cash prize increasing with each correct answer, starting at a small amount and potentially reaching up to one million in the local currency.
- Contestants have three Lifelines they can use to help answer questions:
- Fifty-Fifty: Removes two incorrect answers.
- Phone-a-Friend: Allows the contestant to call a friend or family member for help.
- Ask the Audience: The studio audience votes on what they believe the answer to be.
- Contestants can choose to stop at any point and take the money they have won up to that question, or risk losing some of it for a chance to win more.
International Success
- The show became an international phenomenon, with versions in over 100 countries, including notable adaptations in the United States (ABC), India, Russia, and Germany.
- In the U.S., it was first hosted by Regis Philbin from 1999 to 2002, and later by Meredith Vieira, Cedric the Entertainer, and Terry Crews.
- The Indian version, Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, became one of the most successful shows in Indian Television history.
Cultural Impact
- The show's format and the tension it creates have influenced other quiz shows and game show formats worldwide.
- It has been referenced in numerous films and TV shows, and even inspired the Slumdog Millionaire movie, which won several Academy Awards.
Controversies and Challenges
- The show has faced various controversies, including allegations of cheating in different versions, most notably in the UK with the Charles Ingram case where he was accused of cheating by coughing cues.
- There have been legal battles over format rights, especially when the original creators, Celador, went into administration.
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