Perdita
27-02-2009, 05:58
CHRIS Tarrant has given his strongest hint yet that he is about to quit as host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
The star revealed yesterday he has only signed up to present the show until next year.
In an extremely telling comment, Tarrant said: “Yes, I'm still doing Millionaire until 2010, so we’ve had a pretty good run with that.”
The show started in 1998 and has since been remade across the globe.
It is also the focus of the multi-Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
Tarrant, 62, is now presenting new ITV1 quiz show The Colour of Money which launched on Saturday with four million viewers.
A source close to the star told TV Biz: “Chris only has a contract on Millionaire that runs up until next year. We’ve had no discussions about anything at the moment.
“We don’t exactly have a crystal ball — who can tell what will happen? Chris is constantly being offered new projects.”
Tarrant is paid around £50,000 an episode for Millionaire.
ITV pays Sony Pictures Television around £200,000 an episode for 30 each year.
Meanwhile, Tarrant yesterday told This Morning that he has developed asthma during his manic career in television. Tarrant revealed: “Doctors have said that I am a classic case where years of working long hours in radio and television studios have developed it.
“I will be doing a trek around China to raise funds and awareness for asthma sufferers along with cricket star Darren Gough and runner Paula Radcliffe, who are also sufferers.”
Tarrant was also delighted about Slumdog’s sensational haul of EIGHT Oscars on Sunday night.
He said: “It was surreal to see Slumdog. It’s a great film and I’m thrilled with the best picture Oscar. But I have to say that I have never taken any contestant to the toilet!”
DETAILS of the China trek this autumn can be found on www.itv.com/thismorning and www.asthma.org.uk/qa_chris_tarrant
The star revealed yesterday he has only signed up to present the show until next year.
In an extremely telling comment, Tarrant said: “Yes, I'm still doing Millionaire until 2010, so we’ve had a pretty good run with that.”
The show started in 1998 and has since been remade across the globe.
It is also the focus of the multi-Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
Tarrant, 62, is now presenting new ITV1 quiz show The Colour of Money which launched on Saturday with four million viewers.
A source close to the star told TV Biz: “Chris only has a contract on Millionaire that runs up until next year. We’ve had no discussions about anything at the moment.
“We don’t exactly have a crystal ball — who can tell what will happen? Chris is constantly being offered new projects.”
Tarrant is paid around £50,000 an episode for Millionaire.
ITV pays Sony Pictures Television around £200,000 an episode for 30 each year.
Meanwhile, Tarrant yesterday told This Morning that he has developed asthma during his manic career in television. Tarrant revealed: “Doctors have said that I am a classic case where years of working long hours in radio and television studios have developed it.
“I will be doing a trek around China to raise funds and awareness for asthma sufferers along with cricket star Darren Gough and runner Paula Radcliffe, who are also sufferers.”
Tarrant was also delighted about Slumdog’s sensational haul of EIGHT Oscars on Sunday night.
He said: “It was surreal to see Slumdog. It’s a great film and I’m thrilled with the best picture Oscar. But I have to say that I have never taken any contestant to the toilet!”
DETAILS of the China trek this autumn can be found on www.itv.com/thismorning and www.asthma.org.uk/qa_chris_tarrant