10 Major Differences Between 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' In The UK And The US
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has been one of the most popular game shows ever since it hit our screens over two decades ago. Viewers simply love the idea of playing along and seeing how far they would get in the hot seat. With his personable nature, original host Regis Philbin helped contestants feel at ease, thereby making the feat of reaching the million dollar question feel slightly less daunting.
But despite feeling like a staple of US television, the series actually originated in the UK, a year before the American version. Subsequently, there have been multiple international incarnations of the hit show, from Russia to India. When watching the original UK series, we can't help but notice some glaring differences to the US show, many of which are hard to ignore. Here are 10 major differences between the US and UK Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
10 UK Winnings Aren't Taxed
Unfortunately, any money won on the US show is taxed in line with federal tax law. But in the UK version, contestants get to keep all their money, as lottery winnings are tax exempt.
However, less tax may be paid on the US celebrity specials, as charitable contributions generally mean a smaller tax bill.
9 Winning The Jackpot Is A Bigger Deal In The UK Show
When John Carpenter became the first ever person to win the million dollars, Regis Philbin spent no time prolonging the anxiety of the lucky contestant. Instead, Regis gleefully announced that John had won before his answer even turned green.
But in the UK show, winning the million is made into a massive (and nerve-wracking)
deal. When the UK's first ever winner, Judith Keppel, uttered that immortal line, "final answer", host Chris Tarrant stared at her for almost 10 seconds and pulled worried faces before announcing she had won.
8 The UK Host Trolls The Contestants
The US show has had a number of hosts, with the late and much loved Regis Philbin being the first. Philbin never attempted to amplify the anxiety of the contestants by dwelling on their final answers.
But the host of the original UK show, Chris Tarrant, was renowned for trolling the contestants. The poker-faced Tarrant would frequently prolong the show when contestants were at their most anxious, often throwing them off course with queries of "you confident?" or "sure it isn't B?" In fact, Tarrant's trolling became so notorious that comedian Peter Serafinowicz perfectly parodied him in this 2007 skit.
7 You Can Win Much More In The US Show
In the UK Millionaire, contestants can never win more than the million. However, US contestants can potentially win several million dollars, as the prize money was increased by $10,000 every time an episode ended without a winner. In 2001, Kevin Olmstead became the first person to win more than $1 million on the show, leaving with an incredible $2.18 million.
6 There Are Different Lifelines
During the US show's 2008-2010 run, there was an option to "Ask the Expert". No such lifeline exists in the UK show, which solely had "Ask the Audience", "50/50", and "Phone a Friend" up until its 2018 revival, which added "Ask the Host". The US show didn't add the latter lifeline until 2 years after its UK counterpart.
5 The UK Show Has Eccentric Characters...
Is there anything more British than contestant Colin Hallet clumsily spelling out all the options during his "Phone a Friend", only to have to repeat himself with 3 seconds remaining? What makes this even better is that his "Phone a Friend" manages to nonchalantly squeeze in the right answer with less than a second remaining.
4 ...But The US Show Has Eccentric Characters Like This Guy
Quirky contestant Alan Carver had no time to waste and blurted out his final answers before host Meredith Vieira had even finished reading out the questions.
Although he initially comes off as arrogant, Alan actually starts crying halfway through the show, clearly exhibiting his amazement at having made it so far, and Meredith gives him a hug. In the end, his impulsivity is ultimately his downfall and he leaves with $25,000.
3 There Was A Cheating Scandal On The UK Show
In one of the most quintessentially English scandals ever, British Army Major Charles Ingram was convicted of cheating his way to a million pounds in 2001. According to prosecutors, Charles got his wife, Diana, and his friend, Tecwen, to cough every time he read out the correct answer. Subsequently, Charles had to give back his £1 million, but he is adamant of his innocence to this day and claims that the coughs were merely coincidental.
2 The UK Rules Are Harsher
In the 2015 version of the US Millionaire, contestants who give an incorrect answer before the fifth question automatically go home with $1,000, even if they haven't reached that amount.
But the UK show is more ruthless, as contestants will go home with absolutely nothing if they get an answer wrong within the first 5 questions.
1 The US Show Has More Diverse Contestants
When Millionaire first began in the UK, the contestants were notably identikit: all white, from financially secure upper middle class backgrounds, and mostly middle aged and older. Meanwhile, the US version had contestants from all backgrounds and age ranges. The new UK series, however, has made amends and begun to diversify its contestants.
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