Are You a Millionaire Material?

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a game show franchise of British origin, where contestants answer a series of multiple-choice questions to win large cash prizes, with the maximum cash prize offered in most versions of the format being an aspirational value in local currency, such as one million pounds in the UK or 75 million rupees in India. The original British version debuted in 1998 and had 15 questions, while its US counterpart had 12 questions and premiered in 1999. The format has since been adopted in around 160 countries. The game show's format was created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill, and Steven Knight. The show's format has undergone various changes and adaptations in different countries, such as a clock format that requires contestants to answer questions within a set time limit and a shuffle format that features two rounds. The game show also features lifelines such as "Ask the Audience," "Phone a Friend," and "50:50," which contestants can use only once per game.Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - International Versions, Top Prize Winners, Lifelines, and Hallmarks

• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? debuted in the UK in 1998 and became an instant hit with Chris Tarrant as the host.

• Unique lifelines have been added over the years to various versions of the show, such as the "Phone a Friend" appearing on a monitor in the studio.

• Relatively few contestants have won the top prize on any international version of the show, such as John Carpenter, the first winner of the American version, and Sushil Kumar, the "real-life Slumdog Millionaire" of the Indian version.

• There have been over 100 different international versions of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, including in Australia, the United States, India, Russia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Italy, Nepal, and Costa Rica.

• The Australian version was hosted by Eddie McGuire, while the American version was hosted by Regis Philbin and later by Meredith Vieira, Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews, and Chris Harrison.

• The British version was revived for a special 7-episode series in 2018, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, and was renewed for another series with Clarkson returning as host.

• The musical score most commonly associated with the franchise was composed by the Strachan duo, and the basic set design was conceived by Andy Walmsley.

• The set design was intended to make the contestant feel uncomfortable, with a darkening lighting system and spotlights that zoom down on the contestant when they answer a major question.

• The U.S. version introduced a "shuffle format" that replaced the Hot Seats and corresponding monitors with a single podium and two video screens.

• The Strachan score was removed from the U.S. version altogether for the "shuffle format" in 2010, in favour of a new musical score by Jeff Lippencott and Mark T. Williams of Ah2 Music.

• The show has had notable winners, including Judith Keppel, the first winner of the British version, and Martin Flood from the Australian version, who was investigated for cheating but was later cleared.

• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has been immortalized in popular culture, such as in the plot of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, adapted from the Indian novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup.Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Summary

• The show's catchphrase "Is that your final answer?" has become a popular cultural reference and was popularized by Philbin in the US version.

• The show revolutionized the game show format with its unique lighting system, music cues, and futuristic set.

• It is credited with reviving and breaking new ground for television game shows and paving the way for reality programming.

• The UK version of the show won several awards, including the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Programme and seven National Television Awards.

• The US version won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show and three for Outstanding Game Show Host.

• The Charles Ingram cheating scandal occurred in 2001 when Ingram apparently won the top prize but was found guilty of using fraudulent means to win the show.

• The show has been adapted into several board games, video games, and a Facebook game.

• The show's planned animated spin-off, The Adventures of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – The Animated Series, was silently scrapped.

• A theme park attraction based on the show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It!, appeared at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure Park.

• The California version closed in 2004, and the Florida version closed in 2006 and was replaced by Toy Story Midway Mania!

• The show's unique lighting system was designed to give the lights more vivid colors and the set and gameplay experience a more intimate feel.

• Other catchphrases used on the show include the contestants' requests to use lifelines, such as "I'd like to phone a friend," and Tarrant's line to encourage the player when he hands over the check, "But we don't want to give you that!"