The new series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire starts tonight on ITV, with multiple reports indicating that the show will create its seventh winner in 28 years. Two contestants have reached the million-pound final question during the series, and ITV bosses are keeping the identity of the big winner secret until the programme airs.
In the first episode, a contestant named Roman faces the million-pound question asked by host Jeremy Clarkson. Roman still has two lifelines intact, including a 50:50, when facing the final question. Clarkson said: "I think this might be my favourite series so far. There are some properly nail-biting moments and seeing two contestants get to the £1 million question was extraordinary. When they're sitting there on that final question, the tension in the studio is incredible, you can really feel it. I can't wait for people to watch it."
The winner has been sworn to secrecy about the outcome. According to multiple reports, TV winners cannot receive their cash until after their episode has been broadcast due to compliance rules and contractual requirements.
One contestant loses £186,000 in a single moment, one of the biggest losses in the show's history. The biggest loser was Nicholas Bennett, who answered the £1 million question wrong and lost £375,000 last year.
A war hero contestant named Joe, a tree surgeon from Nottingham and former royal marine who was shot in Afghanistan and has a robotic leg, will appear on the show. Clarkson described the show as "the granddaddy" of TV quizzes, saying: "There are a number of good TV quizzes but there is no getting away from the fact this is the big daddy, it's the GOAT, it's the OG. You can play at home. You have time to discuss with your family members and join in. On most quiz shows, you have to answer the questions as quickly as possible. With Millionaire, you can play along and the money is huge too. Winning a million.. that's very infrequent."
It remains unknown whether Roman will win the million pounds, and whether the second contestant who reaches the final question will also win. The identity of the contestant who loses £186,000 has not been revealed, nor how much the war hero Joe wins. The exact air dates for the episodes featuring the million-pound winners have not been announced.