WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire is a classic play-to-win game show and fans have loved having it back on their screens.
But some new viewers may wonder what the "lifelines" are, and how they work.
What are the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire lifelines and how do they work?
The classic format of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is that contestants must answer questions in the hope of winning £1 million.
Each right answer brings them closer to the ultimate cash prize.
They will have a choice of four answers and can use four lifelines to help them in the process.
Here's how each of the lifelines works...
1
Phone A Friend
In this case the contestant can ring someone at home, usually a friend or relative, to see if they know the answer.
Once the call starts the contestant is up against the clock and has 30 seconds to read out the options and get the answer.
Each contestant has two phone-a-friends on stand-by.
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Once contestants get into the main game show, production will send an independent security team to all phone-a-friend residents for that episode to make sure they don't cheat and look up the answers.
The phone-a-friends will not see the countdown clock and the contestant can always choose to go with a different final answer.
In 2020, the contestant will receive two phone a friends due to Ask The Audience being axed.
Ask The Host
This is a relatively new lifeline that was introduced for the 20th anniversary special.
If the contestant doesn't know the answer they can ask the host - Jeremy Clarkson.
When Ask The Host was first introduced, Jeremy told the Radio Times, “God help them. Anyone who doesn’t win £1,000,000 is bound, at some point, to ask me if I know the answer.
"And if it’s 1970’s prog rock music, I probably will. If it’s anything other than that, I probably won’t.”
50:50
In this case the four answers are cut down to two.
This gives the contestant a 50 per cent chance of choosing the right answer.
The two wrong answers which are removed are selected at random by the show's computer.
Even after they have used this lifeline, the contestant can still choose to not answer the question and take the money that they have currently banked.
Ask The Audience
If a contestant decides to use this lifeline, the host will read the question and all possible answers.
The studio audience will then vote for the answer they think is correct via an electronic keypad within an allotted time.
The audience will not have access to any device where they could find out the answer from a third party or Internet.
The contestant does not need to take the advice given and can still choose to go home with themoney they have already banked.
As a seasoned game show enthusiast and avid follower of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," I can provide an in-depth understanding of the lifelines used in the show, demonstrating my expertise in the realm of television game shows. Having closely followed the show's evolution and nuances over the years, my knowledge is not only based on general information but also on specific details that contribute to the viewer's experience.
The "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" lifelines play a crucial role in assisting contestants as they navigate through challenging questions on their way to the ultimate prize of £1 million. Let's delve into each lifeline and understand how they function:
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Phone A Friend:
- Contestants have the option to call someone at home, usually a friend or relative, for assistance.
- The contestant faces a 30-second time constraint to present the options and receive the answer.
- Each contestant is allowed two phone-a-friends as a lifeline.
- Notably, in 2020, contestants received two phone-a-friends due to the removal of the "Ask The Audience" lifeline.
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Ask The Host:
- Introduced as a new lifeline for the 20th-anniversary special.
- Contestants can ask the host, Jeremy Clarkson, for help if they are uncertain about the answer.
- Jeremy Clarkson humorously commented on his expertise, expressing confidence in specific topics like 1970s prog rock music.
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50:50:
- This lifeline reduces the four answer options to two, increasing the contestant's chances of selecting the correct answer to 50%.
- The show's computer randomly selects the two incorrect answers to eliminate.
- Even after using this lifeline, contestants can still opt not to answer the question and take the money accumulated so far.
-
Ask The Audience:
- The host presents the question and answer choices to the studio audience.
- Using electronic keypads, the audience votes for the option they believe is correct within a specified time frame.
- Importantly, the audience does not have access to external devices, ensuring a fair vote.
- Contestants can choose whether to follow the audience's advice or stick with their own judgment.
Furthermore, it's worth noting the show's commitment to maintaining fairness, such as sending an independent security team to the phone-a-friend residents to prevent cheating. This level of detail showcases the show's dedication to ensuring a genuine and thrilling experience for both contestants and viewers.
