Millionaire Hot Seat to wrap up, Eddie McGuire has announced

Eddie McGuire has revealed the popular quiz show will take a break from Australian screens next year, after airing for 25 years.

Popular quiz show Millionaire Hot Seat will get the axe, with host Eddie McGuire confirming rumours the show will end.

The long-time host said with great sadness, filming will wrap up at the end of this year.

“It’s with great pride and joy and also sadness that I announce this morning that Millionaire Hot Seat will go into hiatus at the end of January next year,” the host told 3AW Breakfast hosts Ross and Russel on Friday.

“We will finish off this year and there’ll be a replacement show at five o’clock on the Nine network after we hit our 25th anniversary when we go into 2024.”

Millionaire Hot Seat is set to wrap up next year. Picture: Nine

The respected host said he was honoured to have had the privilege to be in loungerooms across Australia for over two decades.

“I love the fact that so many people come and say, ‘I sit there with my grandparents and we did these things together’. It’s been a great privilege.”

It’s understood more than $94 million has been won by contestants in the time the show has been on air.

Over 15,000 contestants have also appeared on the show answering more than 50,000 questions.

“What I love about it is it’s obviously multicultural. I’ve seen people who have come out in their sexuality on that show, and feeling really free to do so and loving it,” McGuire said, looking back at some of the show’s highlights.

“Every person’s got a story, they’ve had to battle through something in their life and they don’t want a big handout – they want a bit of sunshine to come their way.”

McGuire has hosted the show since it aired in 2009 as a spin-off to Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, which he also hosted following its premier in April 1999.

As for the number of millionaires the show has created, McGuire said four contestants over the two shows won the prized jackpot.

Melbourne retail worker Edwin Daly became the first Australian contestant to win $1 million on Millionaire Hot Seat.

“So many people also won $250,000 and $500,000,” McGuire added.

Eddie McGuire has announced Millionaire Hot Seat will take a break. Photo: Nine Network

The Millionaire Hot Seat timeslot will be replaced with a Melbourne-produced show, McGuire revealed.

“I just want to thank everyone who came on the show (and) those who watched it over 25 years. It changed my life, it changed a lot of peoples lives,” he said.

“It’s been an absolute joy … we look forward to new pastures to play in the next 12 months.”

Rumours have swirled since April suggesting the iconic series hosted by McGuire will end, as Nine stopped accepting guests for the show.

However a spokesperson told the Herald Sun at the time: “the production of Millionaire Hot Seat is continuing and the current episodes are full so we don’t need any more contestants for this block”.

The Herald Sun also reported a local version of the UK game show Tipping Point was a likely contender to fill the Millionaire Hot Seat timeslot, amid rumours the show would be axed.

However Channel 9 denied claims the show would be cancelled, despite the spokesperson saying a recent casting call was put out to “Australian expats in the UK for a local version of the Tipping Point”.

Eddie McGuire said it was a privileged to host the show for almost 25 years.

Coined Australia’s longest-running quiz series, Millionaire Hot Seat is a one-hour show that kicks off with contestants going head-to-head in a rapid-fire battle known as Fastest Finger First.

In this battle, all six contestants are asked the same 15 questions, with the quickest and most accurate winning a cash prize during the show.

When that winner makes it to the Hot Seat, they will be given the option to take the cash prize or swap it for a lifeline, including the removal of two incorrect answers, switching the question or asking a friend in the crowd for help.

The show will continue to air at 5pm Mondays to Fridays until a final air date is announce for January.