Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? axed

by **RockTheBoat** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:11 pm

Taken from MSN.co.uk

ITV has pulled the plug on its long-running game show presented by Chris Tarrant.

The axe has fallen on long-time game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, presented by Chris Tarrant.

After 13 years on air, regular editions of the long-running series will be dropped and only celebrity specials will still be broadcast on ITV1.

Once-popular TV shows that got the axe including The Bill and Grange Hill here in our gallery

At its peak, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? was watched by an average of 19 million people.

However, ratings have plummeted over the years. The Christmas Eve 2010 live spectacular was watched by 6.5 million viewers - the show's largest audience since 2006. In comparison, the editions featuring ordinary members of the public pull in, on average, 3.5 million.

An ITV insider told the Daily Mirror: "The appetite at the moment is for big specials while the audience has drifted away from the run-of-the-mill instalments featuring ordinary punters."

Originally launched in the UK in 1998, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? quickly spread around the world. Twelve years on, the format has been sold in 120 countries, producing dozens of millionaires around the globe.

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I guess this was bound to happen - it's lost its spark since its heydey, although I think Slumdug Millionaire made it more popular again for a while...

by **irishguy28** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:13 pm

Yay!

Now take away Weakest Link too and we'll be done.

by **Spartan** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:16 pm

Although regular editions have been axed, they're still planning to continue doing specials e.g. Celebrity versions.

Not surprised it's been axed, ratings have plummeted, but I've quite enjoyed it since they revamped it and put the time limit in.

by **Spartan** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:17 pm

irishguy28 wrote:Now take away Weakest Link too and we'll be done.

YES!! The show is so stale and boring. It's not even worth watching to see how much botox Anne Robinson has injected into her face every week.

by **Ferris** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:09 pm

irishguy28 wrote:Yay!

Now take away Weakest Link too and we'll be done.

Don't forget Deal Or No Deal too!

by **irishguy28** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:59 pm

Indeed....though I never see C4 so it's not that big a deal (no pun intended!) for me anymore!!!

by **Thriller** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:02 pm

Not surprised, this show is so boring now. Once someone had won the million, the appeal went.

by **cidermaster** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:17 pm

Yes it seems that the show has run its course.

by **steophonic** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:38 pm

Yeah, not watched this for a few years now - when it first came on I watched it all the time.

It's time to think of something new...

by **UKMusicLova** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:43 pm

steophonic wrote:Yeah, not watched this for a few years now - when it first came on I watched it all the time.

Same! To be honest I thought it had already been axed until I saw it on my TV listing a few weeks ago.

by **sambo9** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:47 pm

Thriller wrote:Not surprised, this show is so boring now. Once someone had won the million, the appeal went.

The whole Charles Ingram incident probably made the show a little more appealing for a while. On the rare occasion that I watch the show I always make sure to listen out for coughing. :lol:

by **irishguy28** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:02 pm

Am I the only one that thinks steophonic is Banzai? :lol:

by **irishguy28** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:50 pm

I'll take that as a no, then...

by **Colin** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:57 pm

What a shame this was cancelled; I only started to enjoy it again recently after seeing the new time sequence and 'flip' idea.

And the Weakest Link can't be axed - how dare you all! It is my childhood quiz show.

Deal Or No Deal I can do without, though. :lol: