TF1 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the game “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. The show will take place on Friday 20 September at 9:10 pm and will be presented by Arthur. The game has achieved worldwide success.
25 years! TF1's “Who wants to be a millionaire” game is celebrating its 25th anniversary. On this occasion, TF1 has planned two special programs presented by Arthur, on Friday 20 September at 9:10 p.m. and next Friday. The guests this evening are Jean-Pierre Foucault, Florence Foresti, Léa Salama, Michel Bojena, Jeff Panacloux, Kev Adams, Jarry, Jean-Luc Lemoine, Philippe Cafrivière and Joël Decker.
Game of British origin
The game “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” is a British idea. Its creator is David Briggs. The principle is simple: answer a series of twelve general knowledge questions and try to win as much money as possible. The candidate had four jokes available if he failed a question: 50/50, call a friend, public opinion or switch. The first broadcast was on the British channel ITV on September 4, 1998.
735 broadcast in France
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire arrived in France on 3 July 2000. It was broadcast daily for 10 years until December 2010 and then in prime time with the characters, hosted by Jean-Pierre Foucault between 2000 and 2016. The show returned to air in January 2019 with Camille Combal on a daily basis and then in prime time until June 2020. The 25th anniversary show is hosted by Arthur. It was recorded at the Dome de Paris at the end of June.
Is this your last word?
In “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, everything is done to create constant tension: the haunting music playing throughout the show, the light shows and the methodical question from the host to the candidate: “Is this your last word?”
Frederick the First Millionaire
The first French millionaire from the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” series is named Frédéric Grégoire. He won 4 million francs (just over 600,000 euros) in September 2000. The computer science student of the BTS band was 21 years old at the time. Married and father of three, this 45-year-old from Normandy is now in charge of training. The couple bought themselves an apartment, then a house, nice cars, and traveled, as they recount. Parisian.
Only one case of cheating
Of the 165 countries where Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has been broadcast, only one case of cheating has been known. It dates back to 2001 in England. The partner of the contestant, Charles Ingram, who was in the audience, coughed with every correct answer. The trick allowed the contestant to win £1 million. The fraud was discovered, the win was annulled and the matter was taken to court.
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