|
|
Post by jaydenreidtv on Mar 6, 2023 1:36:39 GMT -5
Hey all!
For years now I've been searching and searching for the pilot episodes of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
We know about the footage from 'Is that your Final Answer?' documentary. However, I have found some more footage of the 1st pilot with the 'Cloud 9' music and the 2nd pilot when they changed everything, to the Millionaire we've known and loved for the past 25 years.
The origin of the never before seen pilot footage is from a TV programme which aired here in the UK in 2004. It's called 'Who Killed Saturday Night TV?'.
Here's some pictures!
      
Apologies about the quantity of photos, there's just a lot to show!
WATCH THE PILOT FOOTAGE HERE!
|
|
|
|
Post by FinalAnswer19 on Mar 7, 2023 0:13:08 GMT -5
Post of the year right here!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Reece | Lift Inspector on Mar 7, 2023 17:23:08 GMT -5
Oh wow!! This is incredible! Never seen the £1, £10 and £100 amounts for the first 3 questions before!
Thanks for sharing!
|
|
RegisFan
Administrator 
Game Show Host
Let's Play!
Posts: 4,494
|
Post by RegisFan on Mar 8, 2023 0:42:07 GMT -5
I’ll never get over how poor the original soundtrack was. It makes you even more grateful for what we eventually got!
|
|
|
|
Post by millionairefan64 on Mar 9, 2023 12:05:46 GMT -5
"You've won a pound", Don't think I'd ever hear Chris say that. The graphics after the pilot are definitely a lot better. This is amazing to see.
|
|
|
|
Post by CycloneBoom on Mar 9, 2023 18:07:21 GMT -5
Very cool footage to see, and it's sure gone quite unnoticed for that 2004 documentary which many of us might've missed at the time. It adds a clearer perspective for the origins of WWTBAM as we know it. Quite possibly if they'd kept the original themes with bright 70s/80s/90s style set lighting, we might not be still here as fans of the show. It is interesting to note how similar the actual set design appears, and that was strong as it was. I notice a few details like the metal fence in front of the Fastest Finger contestants, but nothing too drastically different. Just it needed refining with the extra polish, which led to the birth of Millionaire how it became.
I completely agree about the music, and it's what makes the show. I believe what the Strachan's did was integral to the show's early success, as the tension and drama maintained revolves around the music in combination with the lighting. It must've been quite a risk at the time, and unknown how the public would react. The whole doubts over whether it'd be too easy to offer multi-choice questions. No doubt it sure was the right answer though! In the pilot format, it does seem a bit cluttered for the elements all on screen at the same time, so that was a very good tweak. How then the question graphics only show during selected camera angles. Also another thing for the answer options introduced one-by-one, as opposed to all at once (Fastest Finger style). That was a small yet notable change too.
The money tree adjustments with the £1, £10, and £100 being replaced by £100, £200 and £300 is quite intriguing. It might be because we're not used to it, but seeing £1 as a prize money amount seems more "Deal or No Deal" style for such a low amount for a value in the game. Those early ones in the 15 question format I believe are what ease the player into the game, and also some of the answer options can be quite entertaining. Then progressively the tension builds at every step thereafter. I wonder whether anyone got to use all their lifelines during the two pilot episodes. Presumably for PAF they'd still use the handheld phone as for the very first time in Episode 1. As for the audience, they might've installed the keypads and voting system by then, or perhaps it could've been hand-held voting cards even (as later used as a backup plan for the live shows). Thanks Jayden for posting the video clip!
|
|
theidentfan
Transport Enthusiast, Game Show Fan & Swiftie
Posts: 337
|
Post by theidentfan on Apr 13, 2023 12:45:56 GMT -5
Very cool footage to see, and it's sure gone quite unnoticed for that 2004 documentary which many of us might've missed at the time. It adds a clearer perspective for the origins of WWTBAM as we know it. Quite possibly if they'd kept the original themes with bright 70s/80s/90s style set lighting, we might not be still here as fans of the show. It is interesting to note how similar the actual set design appears, and that was strong as it was. I notice a few details like the metal fence in front of the Fastest Finger contestants, but nothing too drastically different. Just it needed refining with the extra polish, which led to the birth of Millionaire how it became.
I completely agree about the music, and it's what makes the show. I believe what the Strachan's did was integral to the show's early success, as the tension and drama maintained revolves around the music in combination with the lighting. It must've been quite a risk at the time, and unknown how the public would react. The whole doubts over whether it'd be too easy to offer multi-choice questions. No doubt it sure was the right answer though! In the pilot format, it does seem a bit cluttered for the elements all on screen at the same time, so that was a very good tweak. How then the question graphics only show during selected camera angles. Also another thing for the answer options introduced one-by-one, as opposed to all at once (Fastest Finger style). That was a small yet notable change too.
The money tree adjustments with the £1, £10, and £100 being replaced by £100, £200 and £300 is quite intriguing. It might be because we're not used to it, but seeing £1 as a prize money amount seems more "Deal or No Deal" style for such a low amount for a value in the game. Those early ones in the 15 question format I believe are what ease the player into the game, and also some of the answer options can be quite entertaining. Then progressively the tension builds at every step thereafter. I wonder whether anyone got to use all their lifelines during the two pilot episodes. Presumably for PAF they'd still use the handheld phone as for the very first time in Episode 1. As for the audience, they might've installed the keypads and voting system by then, or perhaps it could've been hand-held voting cards even (as later used as a backup plan for the live shows). Thanks Jayden for posting the video clip!
About the FFF style of answers appearing all at once, in the 2017-18/2018-19 Kazakh versions, the answers appeared about a quarter of a second after each other, straight after the question was revealed. Didn't work at all. The set also reminds me of Azerbaijan 2002-07 and Poland 1999-2003 with the clearer lights and everything. |
|
jb
Posts: 5
|
Post by jb on Feb 2, 2024 10:25:34 GMT -5
I have just come across this site. I am one of just a few people who was allowed to view the original UK Pilot of WWTBAM?. Watched like a hawk by their Lawyers. The reason I viewed it was because I was claiming plagiarism against Celador, ITV and five Individuals, as you will know if you have read the transcript of the High Court of Justice Summary Judgement brought against me by them. I won the right to a trial against them. The Pilot had 21 Questions. The Money Tree was, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64,125, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 8,000, 16,0000, 32,000, 64,000, 125,000, 250,000, 500,000 and £1,000,000. This money tree they used was, eventually, the same as mine - from my game called, 'Millionaire'. Watching the Pilot was like watching paint dry so ITV decided Celador should change the questions to 15. The music was by Pete Waterman and was described as terrible by ITV - so it was changed. As for 'The Cash Mountain', (Document 1) it's nothing like WWTBAM? Wouldn't you like you know more! Or is that, would you like to know more? I'm writing the script as I speak. 'MILLIONAIRE' - v - 'WWWBAM?'. JB.
|
|
GSK
Posts: 1,358
|
Post by GSK on Feb 2, 2024 11:33:56 GMT -5
I have just come across this site. I am one of just a few people who was allowed to view the original UK Pilot of WWTBAM?. Watched like a hawk by their Lawyers. The reason I viewed it was because I was claiming plagiarism against Celador, ITV and five Individuals, as you will know if you have read the transcript of the High Court of Justice Summary Judgement brought against me by them. I won the right to a trial against them. The Pilot had 21 Questions. The Money Tree was, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64,125, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 8,000, 16,0000, 32,000, 64,000, 125,000, 250,000, 500,000 and £1,000,000. This money tree they used was, eventually, the same as mine - from my game called, 'Millionaire'. Watching the Pilot was like watching paint dry so ITV decided Celador should change the questions to 15. The music was by Pete Waterman and was described as terrible by ITV - so it was changed. As for 'The Cash Mountain', (Document 1) it's nothing like WWTBAM? Wouldn't you like you know more! Or is that, would you like to know more? I'm writing the script as I speak. 'MILLIONAIRE' - v - 'WWWBAM?'. JB.  |
|
jb
Posts: 5
|
Post by jb on Feb 3, 2024 3:57:46 GMT -5
Thanks for that!
|
|
|
|
Post by jaydenreidtv on Feb 3, 2024 4:44:42 GMT -5
Why don't you be useful and tell us about the pilot of Millionaire, since you claimed that you were allowed to watch it... It's what I created this thread for. Since there is very little info and footage of the pilot of Millionaire with the Cloud 9 music by Pete Waterman, why don't you tell us some info about it then? This is a Millionaire Fans forum. Since "I am one of just a few people who was allowed to view the original UK Pilot of WWTBAM?"... We're not interested about the trial or whatever it was, and I find it very hard to believe that you have information that we don't already know about it anyway.. |
|
jb
Posts: 5
|
Post by jb on Feb 3, 2024 6:43:44 GMT -5
What do you want to know? Bearing in mind, they paid-me-off - The Settlement Agreement, which you are not interested in - I am not supposed to tell or show any of the documents. You might be a sad to see the 1st 'The Cash Mountain' document. I do not have a copy of the first Pilot created on the 15th of August 1998, I just viewed it at the Lawyers office - Goodman Derrick. After that Pilot, Claudia had things to say; i.e. Change to a shorter Money Tree, Get rid of the Music - it sounds like some awful 70's Disco track. Captions are too small, Clock needs a sound, Audience were dead - need reaction from them, Need Music to punctuate, sounds effects, etc., etc. She was good. She put a lot of it together in just one letter to her Secretary, Jane. I now realize this site is for real fans. It's a great show but how can I be a fan of something that (80% of) was stolen from me. I am writing, a to be filmed, Court Case. You are not interested, I know. But everything about the concept of WWM will be available in it. I might show you my original two pages of 'Millionaire' that was sent to ITV and Celador, if you are interested in it?, and I knew how to load it onto this site. After that, be useful, don't contact me again. JB
|
|
Tim0n
Fan Games Pass Holder 
$8,888,888 winner on Daily Millionaire | 5th Anniversary €500,000 winner
Posts: 751
|
Post by Tim0n on Feb 3, 2024 8:07:49 GMT -5
Hello, Mr Baccini. It's interesting to see you join this fanbase community after so many years. May I ask when do you claim to have allegedly seen the pilot footage and how this opportunity came about for you?
|
|
GSK
Posts: 1,358
|
Post by GSK on Feb 3, 2024 9:45:11 GMT -5
After that, be useful, don't contact me again. JB Pretty sure it was you who contacted us. Also, Wheaton's Law. |
|
RegisFan
Administrator
Game Show Host
Let's Play!
Posts: 4,494
|
Post by RegisFan on Feb 4, 2024 1:35:00 GMT -5
jb, I don't think it's unreasonable for us to be a bit skeptical. Most of the backstory you've outlined above, including the criticisms of the original pilot, are well-documented and were even dramatized in ITV's Charles Ingram documentary a few years back (in which this site had a small cameo  ). Can you offer us any additional stories or evidence of the lawsuit that would lend some credence to your story?
|
|
) I guess the next on will be Poland then...
).