Jeremy Clarkson is back in the hot seat — and this time, it's not just his own health that's been put to the test. The 66-year-old presenter will return to host both the flagship quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and its newer spin-off, Millionaire Hot Seat, after revealing last year that he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. The announcement has reignited interest in the format that has made millionaires out of ordinary contestants for over two decades.
The core concept is simple: contestants answer a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty to win up to £1 million. In the classic version, players have four lifelines — 50:50, Phone a Friend, Ask the Audience, and Switch the Question — and can walk away at any point. But the newer spin-off, Millionaire Hot Seat, adds a twist. Contestants sit in a queue around the hot seat, which faces Clarkson, and take turns answering questions to climb a money ladder. If they get one wrong, they are eliminated and the value of the top prize drops. They can also choose to pass and go to the back of the queue, but risk never returning to the hot seat — the only place where the jackpot can be won.
“Jeremy Clarkson returns to host Millionaire after cancer; explains the classic and Hot Seat formats.”
The franchise first launched in the UK in 1998 on ITV, hosted by Chris Tarrant, and became a cultural phenomenon. After a hiatus, it returned in 2018 with Clarkson as host. The 'Hot Seat' format debuted earlier this year and was quickly recommissioned for a further 20 episodes, alongside 15 new episodes of the original show. According to ITV's director of entertainment, Katie Rawcliffe, “the combination of Jeremy Clarkson’s hosting and the high-pressure gameplay has proved a winning formula.” A retired IT analyst became only the seventh person ever to win the £1 million jackpot in the most recent series.
Why does this matter for UK viewers? For one, Clarkson’s return underscores the enduring popularity of quiz shows in British primetime — a genre that consistently draws millions of viewers on ITV. Millionaire, in particular, taps into the national fascination with quick fortune and intellectual prowess. Clarkson’s own recent cancer battle adds a personal layer: after revealing his diagnosis in Clarkson’s Farm, he later told The Sunday Times that a PSA test two months ago showed no indication of cancer and he is now in remission. His continued presence on screen offers both familiarity and a sense of continuity for fans.
Q: How does the Millionaire Hot Seat format differ from the original? In Hot Seat, contestants queue around a single chair facing the host. They answer questions in turn, and a wrong answer means elimination and a reduction in the top prize. Players can also pass, but must go to the back of the queue, which may prevent them from returning to the hot seat to win the jackpot.
Q: When will the new episodes air? The new episodes of both Millionaire Hot Seat and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? will film later this year and air on ITV and its streaming service ITVX.
Q: Has anyone won the £1 million jackpot recently? Yes, a retired IT analyst became the seventh winner ever in the most recent series of the original show.
What happens next: Filming is scheduled for later this year, with broadcast dates yet to be confirmed. Given the recommission of 35 episodes total (20 Hot Seat, 15 classic), the show will likely dominate ITV's schedule for months to come — and Clarkson's health permitting, the brand looks set to continue its long run.