Millionaire Hot Seat, also known as Hot Seat, is an Australian television quiz show. The show is a spin-off of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? which began airing on the Nine Network on 20 April 2009. As with the original version of the show, it is hosted by Eddie McGuire. A special prime time edition aired on 8 June 2009.
The format was conceived in Norway and first premiered in Italy as a special edition, before being exported to Australia as a 5pm show stripped daily.
The show has been repeated on UK channel Challenge starting in February 2015 making it the second ever foreign Millionaire to be broadcast in the United Kingdom, after Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Base Format[]
Designed to be a faster-paced game than the traditional format of Millionaire, Hot Seat is basically Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? mixed with elements of roulette and musical chairs; it involves six contestants playing each episode taking turns trying to be the one in the "Hot Seat" who reaches the goal amount answers the question of that amount correctly. The goal amount starts at the highest amount on the money tree (shown on the right). The traditional three lifelines are replaced by a single "pass" lifeline, which will pass the current question to the next contestant in line (who cannot pass that question further) and send the current contestant to the end of the line, although, some versions may add back other lifelines.
Each question is given a time limit to be answered (with the timer starting after the host reads through the question and the four possible choices): with the time allotted depending on the country. If a player fails to give an answer in the time limit, it is considered an automatic use of the pass lifeline. In the case that time expires and the current contestant cannot pass the question (either because they were passed the current question or they used their pass already), they are treated as if they gave an incorrect answer.
Unlike other Millionaire formats, the game does not immediately end on a wrong answer. Instead, the current contestant is eliminated from the game, the next contestant in line becomes the "Hot Seat" contestant while all remaining players move up one chair, and the goal amount is reduced to the next lowest tier on the money tree (unless it is lower than the current tier). Once the players are shuffled around, a new question is now asked and play resumes. Additionally, contestant may not walk away from the game under any circumstance. Due to this, it essentially renders questions 1-4 and 6-9 valueless.
The game ends either when all contestants are eliminated or when the question for the highest value in the money tree is answered. If the question on the last tier is answered correctly, the answering player receives the value of the question. If it is answered incorrectly, the last player to be eliminated receives either nothing (which means that nobody receives any prize money for that show), or the value indicated on the fifth question milestone if it is reached. No final contestant has ever gone away empty-handed. Another difference from the traditional format of Millionaire, the only guaranteed sum of money is on the fifth question for answering it correctly. This sum will be awarded to the contestant that is playing the final question of the money tree. If a contestant did not get a chance to answer a question and sit on the hot seat, they may get a chance to return at a later time to play the game as the producers often invite such contestants back. However if a contestant had a chance to play a question but passed their place in the seat, they are eliminated and will likely not be invited to return.
Some versions may use Fastest Finger First to determine the first contestant to the hot seat and one to get bonuses (like a lifeline or a cash bonus), much like traditional Millionaire.
Lifelines[]
- Pass: Normally the only lifeline available on Hot Seat, this lifeline allows you to skip the question and join the back of the contestant cue. The following player will not be able to pass the same question.
- Switch the Question: This lifeline could only be used on the day's final question. The question would be swapped, but the contestant would stay the same. It was dropped on May 8, 2015. Since 2017, this lifeline is now available for all questions, but only for the contestant who correctly answered the most questions in the fastest time in Fastest Finger First. This is used in the Australian and Portuguese version of the format.
- Ask a Friend: Similar to Plus One, the contestant would be allowed to use the help of a friend in the audience. It was dropped on May 8, 2015. Since 2017, this lifeline is now available for all questions, but only for the contestant who correctly answered the most questions in the fastest time in Fastest Finger First.
- 50:50: This lifeline could take away two wrong answers on a question. This lifeline is available for all questions, but only for the contestant who correctly answered the most questions in the fastest time in Fastest Finger First.
- Phone-a-Friend: Contestant to call a friend and ask the answer the question. Used In Portugal only.
- Ask the Host: Contestant can to ask the host about help with answer the question. From October 12, 2020, to May 11, 2022, it replaced Ask a Friend in the Australian version.
International versions[]
| Countries/regions | Title | Host | Network | Top prize | Premiere | Finale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Hot Seat | Eddie McGuire | Nine Network | AU$1,000,000 | 20 April 2009 | 29 November 2023 |
| Arab world | المليونير - الحلقة الأقوى El milyoner - Elhalka elaqwa [1] |
Mayssa Maghrebi | Dubai TV | Dhs. 1,000,000 | 17 April 2013 | 12 January 2014 |
| Belgium | Wie wordt miljonair? | Staf Coppens | VTM | €1,000,000 | 7 August 2017 | 30 August 2018 |
| Chile | ¿Quién quiere ser millonario?: Alta tensión | Diana Bolocco Sergio Lagos |
Canal 13 | CL$120,000,000 | 4 January 2011 | 30 November 2012 |
| Colombia | ¿Quién quiere ser millonario? Silla Caliente Only with celebrity contestants |
Paulo Laserna Phillips | RCN | CO$300,000,000 | 24 March 2013 | 12 May 2013 |
| Denmark | Hvem vil være millionær? Alle mod alle | Hans Pilgaard | TV2 | 1,000,000 Kr | 12 October 2009 | 19 October 2009 |
| Ecuador | ¿Quién quiere ser millonario?: Alta tensión | Estéfani Espín | Ecuavisa | US$100,000 | 1 July 2012 | 30 November 2012 |
| Greece Cyprus |
Millionaire Hot Seat | Yannis Zouganelis | Skai TV | €100,000 | 29 October 2014 | 16 June 2016 |
| Hungary | Legyen Ön is milliomos! - felpörgetve | Sándor Fábry | RTL Klub | 40,000,000 Ft | 18 March 2010 | 27 May 2010 |
| India (Hindi) | Kaun Banega Crorepati Hot Seat | Amitabh Bachchan | Sony TV | ₹10,000,000 | 1 November 2010 | 4 November 2010 |
| Italy | Chi vuol essere milionario? Edizione Straordinaria | Gerry Scotti | Canale 5 | €1,000,000 | 15 December 2008 | 29 March 2009 |
| Indonesia | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Hot Seat | Ferdi Hasan | RCTI | Rp. 500,000,000 | 13 September 2010 | 31 October 2010 |
| Norway | Vil du bli millionær? Hot Seat | Sarah Natasha Melbye | TV2 | 1,000,000 Kr | 4 January 2010 | 21 October 2011 |
| Portugal | Quem quer ser milionário? Alta Pressão | José Carlos Malato | RTP 1 | €100,000 | 5 July 2010 | 31 December 2015 |
| Filomena Cautela | €50,000 | June 20 2020 | 30 November 2020 | |||
| Spain | ¿Quién quiere ser El Millonario? | Núria Roca | laSexta | €100,000 | 15 February 2012 | 31 July 2012 |
| Sweden | Postkodmiljonären - Heta Stolen | Rickard Sjöberg | TV4 | 1,000,000 SEK | 20 December 2011 | 13 December 2019 |
| Ukraine | Мільйонер - Гаряче крісло Milyoner - Garyache Krislo |
Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Inter | 1,000,000₴ | 15 February 2011 | 13 August 2011 |
| Vietnam | Ai Là Triệu Phú - Ghế Nóng | Lại Văn Sâm | VTV3 | ₫120,000,000 | 7 September 2010 | 28 June 2011 |
Top Prize Winners[]
- Bjørn Lien - Kr 1 000 000 (January 19, 2010)
- Nguyễn Xuân Điều - ₫120,000,000 (May 24, 2011)
- Nadezhda Beldiy - ₴1.000.000 (August 6, 2011)
- Paco Reverte - €100.000 (March 15, 2012)
- Edwin Daly - AU$1,000,000 (August 29, 2016)
- João Luzio - €50,000 (July 11, 2020)
- Antony McManus - AU$1,000,000 (November 25, 2021)
Top Prize Losers[]
- Barry Soraghan - AU$1,000 (June 8, 2009)
- Jeff Tarr - AU$1,000 (September 28, 2009)
- Paul Wolfenden - AU$1,000 (June 14, 2010)
- Jim Graham - AU$1,000 (June 20, 2011)
- Alan Edwards - AU$1,000 (April 16, 2012)
- Kevin Short - AU$1,000 (May 13, 2013)
- Craig Anderson - AU$1,000 (October 1, 2018)
References[]
- ↑ "بالصور.. ميساء المغربي تقدم "من سيربح المليون" بدلا عن جورج قرداحي!". جريدة نورت. Retrieved 30 April 2025