Stellify Media, the Sony Pictures Television-owned, Belfast-based indie, has created a new spin off-format from ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire…?, called Fastest Finger First.
The ITV and ITV Hub series, which will lead straight into the new series of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire…?”, will offer contestants the one prize money can’t buy – a guaranteed place on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and the opportunity to win a million pounds.
This new quiz show format, will be presented by Anita Rani, the RTS award winning broadcaster, who is also known as a lead presenter on BBC One’s Countryfile and host of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. This will be her first foray into ITV’s entertainment shows.
Anita Rani said; “I’ve always loved Who Wants To Be A Millionaire…? and was thrilled to be invited to host this spin off. I’m a huge fan of quiz shows, and there is no doubt that Jeremy is a formidable host. I’m just relieved in Fastest Finger First, there isn’t a round for contestants to ask for my answers to the questions!
The spin off, devised by Stellify’s joint MD’s, Matthew Worthy and Kieran Doherty and developed in association with Sony Pictures Television, was born out of the fact that a phenomenal amount of people apply to be on the show each year and just getting onto Millionaire is like winning a prize in itself. But never has there been the opportunity to guarantee a contestant a place in the Millionaire hotseat opposite Jeremy.
As the name suggests, Fastest Finger First will expand on the first round of Millionaire, where contestants have to put their answers to a multiple-choice question, in a specific order.
Five contestants play against each other to take it in turn to work their way up the question ladder. The two players with the biggest score at the end of the round go head-to-head in a Fastest Finger First dual. At the end of each episode, whoever is in the seat when the Klaxon sounds has won a place to be fast tracked to sit in the Millionaire hot seat in front of Jeremy Clarkson by-passing the usual Fastest Fingers First round that opens the show.
Matthew Worthy, Joint MD, Stellify Media said; We were delighted, when back in 2018, ITV entrusted us with the re-boot of Millionaire with new host Jeremy Clarkson at the helm. Over the past four years, it has proved such a hit with audiences across the country and we are thrilled to create this new spin off for such an iconic game show.
Kieran Doherty, Joint MD, Stellify Media said: “The premise of Fastest Finger First might be simple, but in no way is it easy to do. As with Millionaire, Fastest Finger First holds the same excitement and tension – knowing when to use your question’s safety net and when to risk it all to push on, creates really compelling viewing.”
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” is a Sony Pictures Television format. The multi-award-winning franchise has been adapted in over 120 territories around the world since launching in 1998. In addition to the U.K. edition hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, other successful long-running adaptations include “Wer wird Millionär?” (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Germany), where it has continuously aired on RTL with host Günther Jauch since 1999, “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? India), which first aired in 2000 hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, and “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” Australia hosted by Eddie McGuire, as well as a spinoff Hotseat edition, since 1999. The evergreen format was rebooted and relaunched in 9 territories in 2021 alone, and continues to reach all corners of the globe. “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” has won over 65 awards worldwide, including a BAFTA, an Emmy and seven National Television Awards in the UK.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Stephanie Faber or Tamara Bishopp, Faber & Bishopp - steph@faberbishopp.co.uk / 07753 827777 or tamara@faberbishopp.co.uk / 07769707010
Notes to Editors
About Stellify Media
Stellify Media was formed by Kieran Doherty and Matthew Worthy as a joint venture with Sony Pictures Television in 2014.
Stellify is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and specialises in Entertainment and Factual Entertainment programmes. Shows include Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (ITV), Blind Date (Channel 5), Flinch (Netflix) and There’s No Place Like Tyrone (BBC Northern Ireland).
Stellify Media recently announced they have been accredited as a Living Wage Employer and the award-winning company has featured in Broadcast as one of the Best Places to work in TV in 2019 and 2020.
