ITV’s latest game show, Millionaire Hot Seat, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, premiered to a wave of criticism and praise from viewers on Tuesday evening. The show presents a fast-paced, tactical twist on the classic quiz format, but many were quick to voice frustration over the extended pauses as contestants ponder their answers.
Clarkson, known for his outspoken style from Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm, introduced the show’s unique rules at the start. Six players take turns occupying the “hot seat,” with only 15 seconds to answer each progressively harder question. Correct answers allow contestants to climb the prize ladder, while a wrong answer results in immediate elimination, alongside a reduction in the top prize.
Adding to the tension, each contestant has one “pass” they can use once per game to skip a question. When a pass is used, the player moves to the back of the rotation, and the next contestant must answer the passed question correctly to stay in the game. A wrong answer here also leads to elimination.
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However, viewers quickly took to social media to express frustration over the long pauses during questions. Comments ranged from impatience with contestants who “love the sound of their own voices” to direct pleas for them to “just answer the bl**dy question.” Many noted that 15 seconds is plenty of time, urging participants to stop over-explaining or giving unnecessary definitions.
Despite mixed reactions, some viewers enjoyed the format, likening it to “a quiz show version of speed dating,” and appreciated the quick-fire nature of the game.
Clarkson himself highlighted the game’s ruthless nature when a contestant faced elimination after failing a passed question without the option to pass again. In one memorable moment, a player was asked which was not an ingredient in a traditional Caesar salad: anchovies, croutons, garlic, or feta cheese. Unable to pass and unsure, she guessed incorrectly and was promptly eliminated.
Clarkson sympathized with the contestant, saying, “I’m really sorry, the correct answer is feta cheese. I’m afraid we do now have to say goodbye to you. What a brutal game! It’s so brutal.”
Millionaire Hot Seat’s tough format is available to watch on ITVX, promising a high-stakes challenge for quick-thinking contestants willing to risk elimination at every turn.