UK Millionaire Evolution

[TravisP]

For those who were wondering. Yes, Millionaire in the UK is still on the air. However, an evolution is happening.

After 479 episodes and nearly 9 years since their debut in 1998. The original UK version is changing.
 
From Saturday 18th August, the 22nd series will begin with a celebrity mini series. There will be a massive makeover to the show since 2waytraffic purchased the rights from Celador in 2006. The changes will include a new music score to the show, but more importantly, the number of questions to win £1 Million will be reduced from 15 questions to 12.

[Kevin Prather]

[quote name=\'TravisP\' post=\'160350\' date=\'Aug 12 2007, 12:20 PM\']
For those who were wondering. Yes, Millionaire in the UK is still on the air. However, an evolution is happening.

After 479 episodes and nearly 9 years since their debut in 1998. The original UK version is changing.
 
From Saturday 18th August, the 22nd series will begin with a celebrity mini series. There will be a massive makeover to the show since 2waytraffic purchased the rights from Celador in 2006. The changes will include a new music score to the show, but more importantly, the number of questions to win £1 Million will be reduced from 15 questions to 12.
[/quote]
Oh jeez. Whatever happened to the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?"

It will be interesting to see if these changes are brought over to America...

[chad1m]

Do you know what the money tree looks like now?

[weaklink75]

the 12-question format is a little different, but you might remember that the Australian version for the first couple of years used an 11-question tree...Still, I hope it's not huge, huge changes.

[curtking]

[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'160351\' date=\'Aug 12 2007, 02:23 PM\']
Oh jeez. Whatever happened to the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?"
[/quote]
Ratings are 1/3 of what they were at its peak (19m then, 6m now). Some might consider that "broken."

Not saying I agree necessarily, but the new owners seem to be ready to make changes to attempt to reverse the ratings trend.

[Hastin]

I'm really curious over the new music score. Celedor was really picky over the music, and hopefully 2waytraffic doesn't kill the still atmospheric music.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'TravisP\' post=\'160350\' date=\'Aug 12 2007, 12:20 PM\']
From Saturday 18th August, the 22nd series will begin with a celebrity mini series.
[/quote]
What's the British equivalent of "jumping the shark?"

[TravisP]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'160358\' date=\'Aug 12 2007, 02:53 PM\']
[quote name=\'TravisP\' post=\'160350\' date=\'Aug 12 2007, 12:20 PM\']
From Saturday 18th August, the 22nd series will begin with a celebrity mini series.
[/quote]
What's the British equivalent of "jumping the shark?"
[/quote]

It's also called jumping the shark here.

Usually the celebrity episodes get the ratings but it depends who is actually taking part. Other years we had the occasional one-off episode for Valentines Day weekend and Easter but we haven't had any celebrities taking part since Christmas and a one-off episode on 28th July. Ironically, a celebrity repeat episode finished joint second in the overall ratings last night. Acheiving a 20% share of the total audience (1 in 5 watching TV watched Millionaire in that timeslot). Saying that, nothing else was on last night.

Looking to see the pairings that will be playing for charity, only a couple stand out. Interesting observation though that Eamonn Holmes will be taking part. As this will be the second time he will be playing celebrity millionaire, and the first to have played both money trees. He previously appeared at Christmas 2004, partnering with Sir Alex Ferguson (soccer team Manchester United manager). While now he will be teamed up with fellow Sky News newsreader Kay Burley.

[TravisP]

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'160352\' date=\'Aug 12 2007, 02:28 PM\']
Do you know what the money tree looks like now?
[/quote]

I'm afraid I don't, nor do I know the safe heavens if they've changed or not. ITV have comissioned thirty episodes which will stretch the show, as normal on Saturday nights until next summer. The plan is to air seven celebrity specials from 18th August for seven weeks Five episodes have been recorded this week, with the final two to be recorded on 4th September. After these have been aired, they will rest show for Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway to return and take over the slot. Civillian episodes will start in mid-November.

[trustno1]

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'160352\' date=\'Aug 12 2007, 02:28 PM\']
Do you know what the money tree looks like now?
[/quote]

I will take a guess.

500
1000
2000
4000 first safe level
8000
16000
32000
64000 second safe level
125000
250000
500000
1 Million

Note: All figures are in British pounds.

[Craig Karlberg]

Here's my take on what the noney tree might look like in Brittish pounds:

500
1,000
2,500
5,000*
7,500
10,000
25,000
50,000**
100,000
250,000
500,000
1,0000,000

*safe haven #1
**safe haven #2

If our daytime version can modify the money tree, why not them?

[chad1m]

Well, I was going to post what I thought would be an appropriate chain earlier. Since you opened the door, I guess I'll show mine. I still think that there's nothing wrong with the 15-question tree, but if I was forced to change, I'd try this:

£250
£500
£1,000
£2,000
-------
£5,000
£10,000
£20,000
£50,000
-------
£100,000
£250,000
£500,000
£1,000,000

[tvwxman]

From Bother's Bar , or at least, a poster on Bother's Bar...which reveals the answer and ends the speculating. I just don't see why they couldn't start the first q on level 4 and go from there with no changes to the tree...but it's their money, not mine.

£500
£1,000
********
£2,000
£5,000
£10,000
£20,000
£50,000
********
£75,000
£150,000
£250,000
£500,000
£1,000,000

[CeleTheRef]

I don't think they'll skip the first tier because it is important for contestants to gain confidence with the game. Plus, it provides some laughts.

A 4/4/4 structure makes the show more fast paced, with more contestants playing leading to more contestants to pay.  I'm afraid the middle prizes will be lowered.  Here's a realistic pay table that could be used here in Italy (don't know about other Euro countries)


€100
€200
€300
[€500]
         
€1'250  (now €2'000)
€2'500  (now €4'000)
€5'000  (now €8'000)
[€10'000] (now €16'000)
           
€30'000   (now €70'000)
€100'000 (now €150'000)
€300'000
[€1 MILLION]


hum...  -_-  no.

[uncamark]

I also saw that the phone-in game is ending in the UK--prospective contestants will now be tested and interviewed at auditions, like most other game shows.

Whether the changes will come to the U.S. might depend on Michael Davies' ability to keep status quo, if he wants to (and considering that the daily version's still doing well, he probably would)--if the new owners want to pull the license from Disney if the Mouse doesn't want to make the changes, they probably can--and they could probably get another production company/syndicator in the U.S. to pick up the format.