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09th Mar 2018

Jeremy Clarkson confirmed as new host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

ITV producers hand in your notice now

Oli Dugmore

ITV producers hand in your notice now

Jeremy Clarkson will host the new series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

The game show returns this year on a limited run of seven episodes to mark its 20th anniversary.

Originally presented by Chris Tarrant, the show will air every night for a week in late spring.

Grand Tour presenter and former Top Gear host Clarkson said: “I have always loved the show and am thrilled to be involved with its rebirth.

“I’m a big fan of quiz shows and I’m looking forward to hosting this iconic TV show and hopefully making a few millionaires!”

The quiz caught headlines when, in 2003, a member of the audience used a series of coughs to indicate the correct answers and cheat to Army major Charles Ingram who won the £1,000,000 top prize.

One episode of the show in 1999 pulled in more than 19 million viewers for ITV.

Tarrant left as host after 15 years and the final episode aired in February 2014.

He said: “All shows tend to get brought back eventually and they might well bring it back, but it will be with a different host – I wouldn’t want to do it.

“Been there, done that.”

ITV’s head of entertainment Siobhan Greene said: “It felt like a no-brainer to celebrate the show that was a trailblazer of its time and broke the mould.

“In doing this one-off special week, I hope Millionaire will be introduced to a whole new generation. And with TV legend Jeremy Clarkson asking the questions, frankly anything could happen. I can’t wait.”