Game over: Millionaire Hot Seat takes its final bow as Eddie McGuire reflects on his time as host

After more than two decades on the air, Millionaire Hot Seat is set to take its final bow with the final episode of the popular game show reportedly set to air on Wednesday, November 29.

For 25 years, Eddie McGuire has been the face of Millionaire Hot Seat, guiding contestants through nerve-wracking questions and heart-pounding moments. As the show’s longest-serving host, McGuire has played an integral role in making Hot Seat a household name and a staple of prime-time entertainment.

Now with the curtains set to close on this chapter of Australian television history, McGuire has reflected on his “amazing ride” as host.

“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 told the Herald Sun.

“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 revealed that he was initially apprehensive about taking on the role after several skeptics tried to talk him out of accepting the offer.

“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,” he explained.

“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.”

As the chapter closes on his tenure with Millionaire Hot Seat, McGuire regards the beloved show as one of the “greatest gifts” bestowed upon him.

“Millionaire Hot Seat and Who Wants to be A Millionaire has just been one of the greatest gifts that I could ever have been presented,” he said.

“It has been an amazing ride.”

Following the final episode this week, fans can still enjoy their favourite moments from the popular game show as the Nine network intends to broadcast reruns until the kick-off of the Australian Open on January 14, 2024.

Moving forward, game show aficionados will no doubt be thrilled to learn that the popular British quiz show Tipping Point is set to take Millionaire Hot Seat’s place in 2024.

The Tipping Point combines elements of quiz, strategy, and chance. The basic premise of the game involves a large coin pusher machine with multiple shelves that hold counters. Contestants answer general knowledge questions to earn counters.

Each correct answer gives them a chance to insert a counter into the machine and potentially push other counters off the shelves. The objective is to strategically place the counters on the shelves in a way that will cause them to be pushed over the edge, winning points based on their landing positions.