Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Australia)

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was Australian version of game show, based off on British version Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Aired from 18 April 1999 to 2010 at 8:30PM in Nine Network. Hosted by Eddie McGuire.

11-question and 15-question and 16-question formats
From 1999 to 2000 beginning with an eleven question format starting at $1,000, this was later changed to 15 and offered a top prize of $1 million. However, in the 2007 revision of the show, the new maximum prize money on offer is $5 million, however in the 2009 revision the top prize reverted to $1 million.

2007 format
The series ran for its scheduled 6 episodes from October, 22 to November 26 ,2007. The most notable change to the format is the addition of a bonus 16th question, which is worth $5,000,000. After answering question 15 correctly, they have the option of going for the bonus question. If the contestant gives the correct answer, he or she will win $5 million (the largest top prize in the history of Australian TV game shows). However, if an incorrect answer is given, then his or her winnings will plummet down to only $32,000; a devastating $968,000 loss.

2010 format
On 27 February 2010, a prime time special called Whizz Kids: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was broadcast in which teams of students tried to win up to $1,000,000 for their school. Another episode was broadcast on 6 March 2010.

Series

 * Series 1 (14 episodes, 18 April 1999 - 2 May 1999)

Lifelines
In this version lifelines used:
 * 50:50
 * Phone-a-Friend (Phone the Teacher in 2010)
 * Ask the Audience (Ask the School in 2010)
 * Switch the Question (after 10th question) (2007)

Russell Gilbert Live
In the comedy show "Russell Gilbert Live" were a few of comedies:
 * With Russell Gilbert as a contestant and Eddie McGuire as the host.
 * With Paul Collidge as a contestant and Eddie McGuire as the host.
 * With Russell Gilbert as a contestant and Eddie McGuire as the host.


 * With Russell Gilbert as a contestant and Eddie McGuire as the host.
 * With Russell Gilbert as a contestant and Eddie McGuire as the host.
 * With Russell Gilbert as a contestant and Eddie McGuire as the host.
 * With Russell Gilbert as a contestant and Eddie McGuire as the host.

The Late Shift
In the comedy show "Comedy Inc. The Late Shift" were a few of comedies:
 * With Trevor and Lenny as the contestants and fake Eddie McGuire as the host.


 * With Henry Killock as the contestant and fake Eddie McGuire as the host.


 * With Greg Ashley and Tim as the contestants and fake Eddie McGuire as the host.


 * With Peter Gardner and Tim as the contestants and fake Eddie McGuire as the host.
 * With Barry as the contestant and fake Eddie McGuire as the host.

Top Prize Winners

 * Rob "Coach" Fulton - $1,000,000 (October 17, 2005)
 * Martin Flood - $1,000,000 (November 14, 2005)

Biggest Losers

 * Red Symons - $32,000 (July 17, 2000) ($500,000 question wrong; lost $218,000)
 * Mickey Pragnell - $32,000 (2004) ($500,000 question wrong; lost $218,000)

$500,000 Winners

 * Trevor Sauer (September 4, 2000)
 * William Laing (October 16, 2000)
 * Dave and Denise Moser (June 4, 2001)
 * Maria McCabe (April 8, 2002)
 * Molly Meldrum (April 28, 2003)
 * Andrew Lockett (September 8, 2003)
 * Scott Smith (October 4, 2004)
 * Shane Warne and Trevor Sauer (February 14, 2005)
 * Clifford Plumpton (June 27, 2005)
 * Yael Blinco (November 21, 2005)

$250,000 Winners

 * Paddy Spooner (April 28, 1999)
 * Brett McDonald (July 3, 2000)
 * Rob & Loretta Valenda (March 12, 2001)
 * Charles Davis (July 9, 2001)
 * Bruce Mump (November 2001)
 * Christopher Fare (May 13, 2002)
 * Bill Copland (June 10, 2002)
 * Tony Barber (August 12, 2002)
 * Jonathan Evans (May 26, 2003)
 * Tim Serisier (June 2, 2003)
 * David Morgan (March 8, 2004)
 * Rowan McGullicuddy (June 28, 2004)
 * Alan Tomlinson (September 13, 2004)
 * Kay Balzer (2004)
 * Pauline Hanson and Christopher Fare (February 14, 2005)
 * Chris Connolly (September 5, 2005)
 * Henry Kiss (November 26, 2007)

$125,000 Winners

 * Bronwyn Morris (April 1, 2000)
 * Lornie Clarke (June 19, 2000)
 * Rick Bowman (July 10, 2000)
 * Rachel Griffiths (July 17, 2000)
 * Genny Potter (August 21, 2000)
 * Tracy Grimshaw (October 9, 2000)
 * Tim Fox (February 12, 2001)
 * Les Sutherland (March 19, 2001)
 * Philip Pruscino (May 7, 2001)
 * Len Keating (October 8, 2001)
 * David Wetting (November 2001)
 * Steve Grome (July 22, 2002)
 * Mark Lamb (December 2, 2002)
 * Peter Dinan (December 2, 2002)
 * Rob Stephenson (March 10, 2003)
 * Georgia Clarke (March 31, 2003)
 * Graeme Crook (June 23, 2003)
 * Chris Marruffo (November 3, 2003)
 * Noeline Brown (November 17, 2003)
 * Robert and Chantelle Newbery (2005)
 * Rob Brow (April 4, 2005)
 * Tony Purcell (June 13, 2005)
 * Brian O'Connell (October 10, 2005)
 * Tony and John Koutsonikolas (March 6, 2010)

$64,000 Winners

 * Rick Elliott (April 24, 1999)
 * Marc ? (May 2, 1999)
 * Trevor Vearing (June 26, 2000)
 * Kerri-Anne Kennerley (July 17, 2000)
 * Denzil Milton (November 20, 2000)
 * Andrew Ettingshausen (2001)
 * Peter Lynch (May 21, 2001)
 * Marie Fox and Mark Cole (June 4, 2001)
 * Ian Turpie (August 12, 2002)
 * John Burgess (August 12, 2002)
 * George (April 12, 2004)
 * Neil McMillan (April 12, 2004)
 * Alicia Molik and Marine Alpins (February 14, 2005)
 * Mary Picton (2005)
 * Chris Culley (October 24, 2005)
 * Andrew Johnson (November 7, 2005)
 * Gus Laidlaw (April 3, 2006)
 * Louise Williams (November 12, 2007)
 * Louise ? (November 19, 2007)
 * Polica Leslie (November 26, 2007)

$32,000 Winners

 * Phil ? (April 19, 1999)
 * Stephen ? (April 20, 1999)
 * Scott ? (April 26, 1999)
 * Michael McLean (2000)
 * David Lance (2000)
 * Marga Lumbers (June 12, 2000)
 * Adam Stevens (June 19, 2000)
 * Nicole Stevenson (July 17, 2000)
 * Red Symons (July 17, 2000)
 * Jimeoin (July 17, 2000)
 * John Dudman (September 4, 2000)
 * Fiona Horne (October 9, 2000)
 * Paul "Fatty" Vautin (October 9, 2000)
 * Andrew Mason (February 12, 2001)
 * Tony Martin (2001)
 * Mike Willesee (2001)
 * Kellie Hoggart (2001)
 * Mark Robinson (May 21, 2001)
 * Colin Hawke (July 9, 2001)
 * Craig Machen (December 2, 2002)
 * Peter Simpson (December 2, 2002)
 * Lucinda Nolan (December 2, 2002)
 * Damian Peterson (June 9, 2003)
 * Jerry McBrien (July 7, 2003)
 * Gary Sweet (November 17, 2003)
 * Mickey Pragnell (2004)
 * Brydon Coverdale (200?)
 * John Garner (June 14, 2004)
 * Charles List (November 15, 2004)
 * Glenn Hammond (April 18, 2005)
 * Chris Culley (October 24, 2005)
 * Theresa Peart (October 24, 2005)
 * Scott Seefeld (October 24, 2005)
 * Tony Egan (April 3, 2006)
 * Paula Vanloon (November 5, 2007)
 * Peter Siculear (November 5, 2007)
 * Michael O’Conner (November 12, 2007)
 * Erin Bride (November 19, 2007)

$16,000 Winners

 * ? (April 18, 1999)
 * ? (April 21, 1999)
 * Race Deale (2000)
 * Manola Baars (June 26, 2000)
 * Chris Edwards (October 30, 2000)
 * Gerry Brinn (November 20, 2000)
 * Gary and Mary Newcomb (March 12, 2001)
 * Shane Kelly and Katie Mactier (2005)
 * Tamra Shakespeare (November 21, 2005)
 * Miss Guduchie (November 19, 2007)

$8,000 Winners

 * Kristin Ciccone (April 24-25, 1999)
 * ? (April 27, 1999)
 * Liz Lesley (May 2, 1999)
 * Kerri Pottharst (October 9, 2001)
 * Sarah Kay (November 21, 2005)

$4,000 Winners

 * Matt Hope (November 2001)
 * Stacey Solomou (December 2, 2002)

$1,000 Winners

 * Dane Edna
 * Stewart Pride and Brett Manuel (2000)
 * Bill Raubitschek (April 1, 2000)
 * Nathan Crafti (June 26, 2000)
 * Sam Newman (July 17, 2000)
 * Jamie Durie (October 9, 2000)
 * Scott Strecker (March 26, 2001)
 * Angie Neale (May 7, 2001)
 * Minh Loi (May 21, 2001)
 * Mark Kinnane (July 9, 2001)
 * Amy Cooper (June 13, 2005)
 * Sita Marshall (November 21, 2005)

$0 Winners

 * Richard Hatch - (October 9, 2000) (4th question wrong)
 * Richard Farrington - (November 20, 2000) (5th question wrong)
 * ? - (2001) (5th question wrong)
 * ? - (2003)

$? Winners

 * Steven Old - at least $1,000 (April 24, 1999)
 * Russ Meaden - at least $0 (2000)
 * Graeme Hills - at least $1,000 (July 10, 2000)
 * Sam Newman - $500? (July 17, 2000)
 * Christopher Speary - at least $1,000 (April 2000)
 * Tim Fox - at least $0 (November 20, 2000, continued in 2001)
 * Andrew Mason - at least $32,000 (February 12, 2001)
 * Narelle Francis - at least $1,000 (April 6, 2001)
 * Anne McClenahan - at least $32,000 (May 14, 2001)
 * Phillip Barnes - at least $0 (November 2001)
 * Ed Philips - at least $1,000 (August 12, 2002)
 * Greg Davis (August 12, 2002)
 * Ugly Dave Gray (August 12, 2002)
 * Jenny Colquhoun - at least $0 (2004-2005)
 * Clifford Plumpton - at least $1,000 (June 10, 2005)
 * Sarah Pollard - at least $1,000 (November 21, 2005)

Trivia

 * The biggest amount of money ever lost on this version is $218,000 by Red Symons in July 17, 2000 and Mickey Pragnell in 2004.
 * In the Hot Seat version, the biggest amount ever lost is $249,000 by Barry Soraghan, Jeff Tarr, Paul Wolfenden, Jim Graham, Alan Edwards, Kevin Short, and Craig Anderson.
 * Erin Bride is the contestant only, who used all lifelines on the third question.
 * Over 6 years we have received in excess of 3,000,000 registration calls, had over 2,500 contestants make it into the top ten to play 'fastest finger first'.
 * In April 12, 2004 episode where Eddie deals with an audience member's cell phone.
 * In May 2005, 500th contestant in hot seat appeared.
 * In 1999-2002, total $13,919,000 won. In 1999-2003, total $17,590,000 was won. In 1999-2005, total winnings are $28,250,000 ($6,901,000 in 2005). As result, in 1999-2006, $28,595,000 won.
 * In 1999-2005, in total 612 (of these, 78 in 2005) contestants in hot seat appeared.
 * In 1999-2010, 298 episodes aired.

Hot Seat

 * Millionaire now runs as a Millionaire Hot Seat format in Australia. See that page for more information.