Clock Format

The Clock Format, also known as the high-speed format according to Chris Tarrant, débuted in America during its 7th syndicated season.

United States Version
The U.S. clock format era lasted between 2008 and 2010. The first 5 questions would be 15 seconds in length, the next set would be 30 seconds and the last set was 45 seconds in length; bar question 15, which would allow for the additional time left over from answering the previous questions.

The lifelines in this format were Phone-A-Friend (later removed), Double Dip, Ask The Audience and Ask The Expert.

It should be noted that nobody won $1 million sorting this format, the closest being Ken Basin, who got the question wrong, and plunged back to $25,000.

United Kingdom version
"Hello and welcome to the new-look, high-speed, high-risk, Who Wants to be a millionaire, where questions are wonor lost against the merciless ticking of our big bad clock." - Chris Tarrant

This version was implemented in 2010, and lasted until the end of Series 30 in 2014 (discluding Chris' Final Answer). The basis for this version was the same as the 12-question format introduced in 2007. This version had several differences to the United States version: instead of a sound effect of a clock being embedded into the question music, a separate music cue by Ramon Covalo was composed instead; as well as this, the graphic for said click used the same design as the Phone-A-Friend clock instated in 2007. After question 7, the clock is removed and the contestant will gain the Switch lifeline.