Eddie looks back on 25 years as game show host as the axe falls on Hot Seat

Eddie McGuire has reflected on his “amazing” 25 years as host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and later Hot Seat as the last episode airs this week. But he thinks the show will one day return.

Eddie McGuire became a household name due to his role on the iconic show.

Eddie McGuire has not ruled out his much loved quiz Hot Seat making a comeback as the final new episode of the long running show airs on Wednesday.

“It is (the last episode) of this run. We are at pains to say it (Hot Seat) is going into hiatus but I think it will come back at some stage, whether it is with me (as host) or not, time will tell,” McGuire said.

“For me the whole Who Wants To Be A Millionaire/Hot Seat experience has just been a total joy.

“It has been part of my life for 25 years.”

McGuire said when he was asked to host the Australian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, which later evolved into Hot Seat, he had naysayers telling him not risk accepting the role.

“I had people saying to me you can’t do that you are a journalist, but similarly I was told don’t go into TV, don’t go into radio, don’t be the president of Collingwood and don’t do a sports show at night they don’t work, so we were on a bit of a roll of breaking stereotypes at that stage.

Eddie McGuire says the programs have been “the greatest gifts”. Picture: Channel 10

Eddie McGuire’s final episode as Hot Seat host will air this Wednesday. Photo: Nine Network

“I remember going down to Grundy’s with Michael Whyte and he auditioned me.

“Suddenly, ‘I need a lifeline’, ‘Lock it in, Eddie’, and ‘Is that your final answer?’, all those sayings became part of the vernacular in Australia. It was part of a complete social Zeitgeist at the time.

“I remember after the first two years of it, when the format took off right around the world, the producers flew us all to Cannes for a convention of Millionaire hosts.

“We stayed at Hotel Du Cap, we did workshops, all the hosts from around the world, we would sit around the pool. It was quite incredible.”

McGuire said Millionaire was responsible for making him a national name for Channel 9.

“The Footy Show had been flying for a fair while and I was hosting Grand Prix and various things nationally, but this broke me nationally and gave me a national identity,” he said.

“Millionaire Hot Seat and Who Wants to be A Millionaire have just been one of the greatest gifts that I could ever have been presented. It has been an amazing ride.”

McGuire wished Todd Woodbridge, who is hosting Tipping Point Australia, the show that is replacing Hot Seat, every success.