The £100K Drop
The £100K Drop is a British game show which was broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The show was first aired on 24 May 2010 and is presented by Davina McCall. The show aired its 13th series after being off air for three years.
The show used social networking sites to advertise the show as well as to find contestants. David Flynn, managing director of Endemol's Remarkable Television, which produced the show, said: "The plan was to create buzz and an air of mystery around the show by trickling information about auditions via Twitter and Facebook, giving fans a level of exclusivity."
After a three-year hiatus the series returned in a daily afternoon slot in May 2018 but with a reduced prize fund of £100,000 and with a new name, namely The £100K Drop, and McCall reprising her role. The new format presented three series totalling 120 episodes until the finale on 23 August 2019. The show was axed on 30 December 2019.
Gameplay
Contestants, alone or in pairs for the first series, or only in pairs from the second to the ninth series, are given £1,000,000 in £50 notes at the start of the show, banded in 40 bundles of £25,000. Contestants are presented with eight multiple-choice questions, mostly either general knowledge, or focused on current or recent events with the words of "this week", "today" even "right now", to push the fact that the show is broadcast live.At the beginning of each round, they were given two categories to choose one. If the contestants take too long to choose, a coin is flipped to decide. Each question has four possible answers in which it corresponds to a different trapdoor, one of which is the correct answer. The question is then asked, then the team is given a fixed amount of time to allocate all the money bundles onto the drops; teams may distribute the money across two or more drops as they see fit if they were unsure on the question, however, no money may be allocated on at least one drop. Any money not placed on a drop before time runs out will be forfeited. Contestants who leave money on every drop typically face immediate disqualification, except on some international versions of the show. Teams may stop the timer at any time should they find satisfied with their choices.
Upon stopping the timer or once time ran out, the drops for the incorrect answers are opened; any money that was allocated on the drop falls down a chute and is removed from play by security guards beneath the stage. The remaining money placed on the correct answer will carry forth for the next question. This process repeats until the final question is answered or when they run out of money at any point; if the contestants answer the final question correctly, they win whatever money they retained as of the eighth and final question.
Episodes usually last between 60 and 90 minutes, although the last episode of the series may end slightly sooner or later depending on the contestants' performance. On 23 June 2012, for the first time in the show's history, the episode was extended to 120 minutes. The following week's episode on 30 June 2012 was 100 minutes.
For the 2010 Christmas specials, any contestants who lost all their money and would otherwise have left empty-handed were presented with multiple doors corresponding to bonus prizes. The contestants would choose which door they wanted and would win what was 'behind' that door. From the 2011 Christmas specials onwards, a new feature was introduced to allow online players to compete against one another. In addition, a counter was added to the display screen for each drop to indicate how much money had been placed on it, eliminating the need for manual counting.
On 2 January 2012, as part of the Channel 4 Mash-up, Davina McCall played the game with Andrew, her father; the show was hosted by Phil Spencer from Location, Location, Location. A second Channel 4 Mash-up happened in 2013, the show this time being hosted by Alan Carr.
2013 changes
Significant changes to the format were made in summer 2013 for the tenth series. Teams of four, rather than just being strictly pairs, can now play the game. At each question, the player can swap positions with their teammates – two backstage watching, the other two answering the questions onstage. Unlike previous series, there are now just seven questions and no question categories.Contestants who answer the seventh question correctly are shown two possible answers for a "Final Drop" question, and may choose to attempt it or leave with their winnings. The Final Drop uses a Double or nothing format, with a maximum potential prize of £2,000,000.
2014 changes
Starting from summer 2014, contestants could play as individuals again after four years. Prior to that, only Gemma in the very first UK series had played the Drop as individuals in their countries. The show's title was rebranded to The Million Pound Drop, as the series was also the first to be pre-recorded due to time constraints.2018 revival: ''The £100K Drop''
On 14 July 2017, it was announced that the programme would be returning in the daily afternoon slot of 2018, but with a lower prize fund of £100,000 in £10 notes, and with the name of the show changing to The £100K Drop. McCall reprised her hosting role. The format is the same from the original, and teams faced seven questions, down from eight, with the last four questions timed at 45 seconds instead of 60. The revival ran for three series, the first with 60 episodes, and the two with 30 episodes each, both broadcast in 2019.Interactivity
As the show is broadcast live, viewers are encouraged to play along on their smartphones via the iOS and Android apps, or on the Channel 4 website. Aggregated statistics of the audience performance appear on screen during the broadcast and being read out by McCall. Online players receive no prize money but are sometimes given the chance to apply to be on the show. Bookmakers also take bets on which stage of the game the contestants will leave and how much money will still be in play at various stage of the game. Often on the show, if there is a question relating to a particular online source, Davina will announce that the website in question has crashed due to a large amount of online players looking up the answers. Later series added the show's application for them to play on their tablets. The interactivity is provided by London second screen companyIn 2011, The Million Pound Drop became the first TV show to serve a second screen advert to the online playing audience. It was a 3-minute video featuring rapper Tinie Tempah. The full advert was watched by 20% of the online playing audience according to Dean Donaldson, Global Head of Media Innovation at DG, responsible for the technology.
The last few series of the show were not broadcast live.
Celebrity contestants
Since series two, celebrity contestants regularly appear on the show playing for charity. Celebrity contestants that lose their whole £1,000,000 are given £5,000 for their charities.Spin-offs
''The Channel 4 Mash-up''
On 2 January 2012, a special version of the show aired as part of The Channel 4 Mash-up. The special edition was hosted by Phil Spencer and featured Davina and her father, Andrew, as contestants. This special edition was not broadcast live, as the show usually is, but instead was shown in three pre-recorded 20 minute chunks spread throughout the 'mash-up night' at 18:35, 19:55 and 21:40. Davina and her father made it through to the final question with £50,000, but was not won.The show returned on 4 January 2013 with Alan Carr as host.
''Stand Up to Cancer''
On 19 October 2012, a special version aired live as part of Channel 4's UK telethon, Stand Up to Cancer. For this show, the million pounds was doubled and a special 16-player celebrity relay team took on the drop for cancer-related charities. A different pair of celebrities handled each question, with the show airing in two segments — questions 1 to 4 at 21:00 and questions 5–8 were later in the evening. Each pair was given just 30 seconds, instead of the usual 60 seconds, for their question.McCall switched back and forth between the live telethon, hosted alongside Alan Carr and Dr Christian Jessen, and the two Drop segments. The celebrity relay banked £200,000 for Stand Up to Cancer, with the final four pairs wagering the entire amount on a single answer on each question. This special was included in the ninth series of the show, unlike the Channel 4 'mash-up' which was a separate edition.
Critical reception
Ratings
The series' highest-rated episode was 4 February 2011, which was seen by 2.79 million viewers and received a 14.4% share. Ratings for series 10 dropped but remained respectable; the first episode was seen by 1.57 million viewers and received a 7.6% share.Incident
During an episode on 5 November 2010, contestants Johnny and Dee were faced with the options Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. They were then asked "Who played Dr Who for the longest period?". The contestants did not know the answer so decided to split their remaining £650,000 between McCoy and McGann. The answer was then revealed to be Tennant and they lost all their remaining money. Tennant played the Doctor from 2005–10. However, viewers began to query the accuracy of this question, saying it was open to interpretation as McCoy played the Doctor from 1987–89, but also appeared at the beginning of the Doctor Who television film in 1996, making his time playing the character technically nine years uninterrupted. After the producers spoke to BBC that McCoy was apprently the correct answer, Channel4 announced that Johnny and Dee were allowed to return to the show to continue with the £325,000 that would have remained on an episode aired 12 November 2010; they would went on to win £25,000.Merchandise
A board game was released by Drumond Park in November 2010.Transmissions
''The Million Pound Drop''
Christmas specials
''Celebrity Games''
''The £100K Drop''
International versions
Legend: Currently airing No longer airing Future version Non-broadcast pilot| Country/language | Local title | Host | Channel | Top prize | Date aired/premiered |
| شما ومیلیون Shoma wa million | Mukhtar Lashkari | 1TV | Af.1,000,000 | 15 February 2014 - 2015 | |
| 100 Milionë | Eno Popi Adi Krasta | Top Channel | 10,000,000 lekë | 11 January 2011 - 2018 | |
| Salven el millón | Susana Giménez | Telefe | AR$1,000,000 | 9 June – 22 December 2011 | |
| Salven los millones | Susana Giménez | Telefe | AR$2,000,000 | 23 May 2013 | |
| The Million Dollar Drop | Eddie McGuire | Nine Network | A$1,000,000 | 21 March 2011 – 28 April 2011 | |
| Шоу Сто Миллионов Shou Sto Millionov | ONT | 100,000,000 Br | 13 September 2014 - 2015 | ||
| De val van een miljoen | Evy Gruyaert | VIER | €1,000,000 | 31 August 2013 - 23 November 2013 | |
| Um Milhão na Mesa | Silvio Santos | SBT | R$1,000,000 | 21 September – 14 December 2011 | |
| Да ти паднат 100 хиляди Da ti padnat 100 hilyadi | Niki Kunchev | Nova | 100,000лв | 2012 | |
| 200 Million Money Drop | Chea Vibol | Hang Meas HDTV | ៛200,000,000 | 12 April 2014 - July 2017 | |
| Atrapa los Millones | Don Francisco | Canal 13 | CL$400,000,000 | 25 March 2012 | |
| Atrapa los Millones - La apuesta de tus sueños | Diana Bolocco | Canal 13 | CL$100,000,000 | 9 March 2015 | |
| 最强喜事 Zuiqiang Xishi | Mǎ Kě | Guizhou TV | 30 free trips | 24 July 2011 – 25 December 2011 | |
| 让梦想飞 | Yang Bo | Shandong TV Life Channel | CN¥50,000 CN¥100,000 | 16 June 2014 – 13 February 2015 10 January 2015 | |
| ' | María José Barraza | Canal Caracol | CO$1,000,000,000 | 25 July 2011 | |
| Kolo du miljon | Malna Tariks | HRT 1 | 2,000,000 Kn | 10 November 2014 | |
| Pengene på bordet | Claus Elming | TV2 | Kr. 2,000,000 | 23 March 2013 all episodes were recorded in July 2012 | |
| أنت والمليون Inta wal milyon | Nagla Badr | Mehwar TV | LE 1,000,000 | 24 February 2012 | |
| Rahaauk | Alari Kivisaar | TV3 | €100,000 | 12 September 2011 | |
| Suuret setelit | Heikki Paasonen | MTV3 | €100,000 | 7 March 2014 | |
| Money Drop | Laurence Boccolini | TF1 | €250,000 + Jackpot | July 2010 1 August 2011 | |
| Rette die Million! | Jörg Pilawa | ZDF | €1,000,000 | 13 October 2010 – 22 August 2013 | |
| Keep your Money | Wayne Carpendale | Sat.1 | €250,000 | 2015 | |
| ფულთან თამაში! Phultan tamashi! | Duta Skhirtladze | Imedi TV | ₾100,000 | 10 April 2013 | |
| Money Drop | Grigoris Arnaoutoglou | Mega Channel | €300,000 | 16 October 2010 – 2012 | |
| Money Drop | Vicky Stavropoulou | Star Channel | €300,000 | 29 October 2017 – 1 July 2018 | |
| A 40 Milliós Játszma | Ferenc Rákóczi | TV2 | 40,000,000 Ft | 29 November 2010 – 22 March 2013 | |
| Az 50 Milliós Játszma | Claudia Liptai Péter Majoros Majka | TV2 | 50,000,000 Ft | 12 October 2015 – present | |
| Vertu viss | Þórhallur Gunnarsson | RÚV | 10,000,000 kr | November 2013 | |
| কোটি টাকার বাজি Koti Takar Baji | Jeet | Star Jalsha | 10,000,000 | 15 October 2011 – 14 January 2012 | |
| ಕಯ್ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋತಿ - ಹೆಲ್ಬಿತ್ತು ಹೋದೀರಿ Kayyalli Koti - Haelbittu Hodeeri | Sai Kumar | Udaya TV | 10,000,000 | 17 March 2012 | |
| കൈയ്യില് ഒരു കോടി Kayil Oru Kodi - Are You Ready? | Mamta Mohandas | Surya TV | 10,000,000 | 26 March 2012 | |
| கையில் ஒரு கோடி - ஆர் யு ரெடி Kaiyil Oru Kodi - Are You Ready? | Rishi | Sun TV | 10,000,000 | 10 March 2012 | |
| కో అంటే కోటి - మే సొంతం చేస్కొండి Ko Aante Koti - Me Sontham Cheskondi | Jagapati Babu Jhansi Laxmi | Gemini TV | 10,000,000 | 26 March 2012 | |
| אל תפיל את המיליון Al Tapil Et HaMillion | Erez Tal | Channel 2 | ₪1,000,000 | 13 October 2010 | |
| ' | Gerry Scotti | Canale 5 | €1,000,000 | 12 December 2011 – 1 June 2013 | |
| 2000万円クイズ! マネードロップ ¥20,000,000 Quiz! Money Drop | Yusuke Santamaria | TBS | JP¥20,000,000 | 31 October 2012 – 2010s | |
| Қырық Миллион Теңге Шоуы Qırıq Mïllïon Teñge Şowı | Abdel' Mukhtarov | tv7 | 40,000,000 ₸ | 22 January 2011 | |
| Paņem 100 000... ja vari | Edgars Ludāns | TV3 | €100,000 | 1 October 2011 | |
| 100 000 eurų grynais | Marijonas Mikutavičius | TV3 | €100,000 | 2 September 2011 | |
| RM 1,000,000 Money Drop | AC Mizal | Astro Ria | RM1,000,000 | 3 December 2011 | |
| 50 саяын уналт 80 sayiin unalt | D.Enkhbayar | Edutainment TV HD | ₮50,000,000 | January 2013 | |
| 80 саяын уналт 80 sayiin unalt | Unknown | Edutainment TV HD | ₮80,000,000 | 27 April 2016 | |
| The Money Drop Myanmar ငွေတွေဝင် | Kaung Htet Zaw | Channel 7 | K25,000,000 | 2017 | |
| Show Me The Money | Beau van Erven Dorens | SBS 6 | €1,000,000 | 11 – 22 April 2011 | |
| N1,000,000 Money drop | Farub Arlane | DL 4 | N1,000,000 | 5 September 2015 | |
| The Money Drop | Gideon Okeke | Africa Magic Omnitrix TV | US$100,000 | 13 January 2013 – present | |
| Pengene på bordet | Sturla Berg-Johansen | TV2 | 2,000,000 kr | 2012 | |
| Atrapa el Millón | ATV | S/.1,000,000 | 14 September 2014 | ||
| The Million Peso Money Drop | Vic Sotto | TV5 | 14 October 2012 – 17 February 2013 | ||
| ' | Łukasz Nowicki | TVP2 | 1,000,000 zł | 5 March 2011 – present | |
| ' | Łukasz Nowicki | TVP1 | 1,000,000 zł | 5 March 2011 – present | |
| ' | Teresa Guilherme | TVI | €100,000 | 30 March 2015 – 15 August 2015 | |
| Cu banii jos | Dan Negru | Antena 1 | €100,000 | 19 September 2012 | |
| Шоу Десять Миллионов Shou Desyat' Millionov | Maxim Galkin | Russia 1 | ₽10,000,000 | 4 September 2010 – 14 June 2014 | |
| Multimilioner | Dragan Nikolić | RTV Pink | 10,000,000 RSD | 13 September 2011 | |
| ' | George Young | MediaCorp TV Channel 5 | S$1,000,000 | 9 August 2011 – 2 November 2011 | |
| Denar pada | Jonas Žnidaršič | Planet TV | €100,000 | 3 April 2013 | |
| Million Rand Money Drop | Busi Lurayi | M-Net Omnitrix TV | R1,000,000 | 10 April 2013 | |
| Atrapa un Millón | Carlos Sobera Arturo Valls | Antena 3 | €1,000,000 | 4 February 2011 – 18 April 2012 | |
| Atrapa un Millón Diario | Carlos Sobera Arturo Valls | Antena 3 | €200,000 | 4 April 2011 – 8 September 2014 | |
| Atrapa dos Millones | Carlos Sobera Arturo Valls | Antena 3 | €2,000,000 | 21 October 2011 | |
| Pengarna på bordet | Peter Jihde | TV4 | 2,000,000kr | 3 October 2011 | |
| Miljonlotteriets pengarna på bordet | Paolo Roberto | TV4 | 2,000,000kr | 1 October 2013 | |
| Die Millionen-Falle | René Rindlisbacher | SF1 | 1,000,000 CHF | 4 July 2011 | |
| ' | Varavuth Jentanakul | CH 7 | ฿2,000,000 ฿2,000,000 + Car | 2 August 2014 – 25 February 2018 | |
| The Money Drop Thailand เกมแจกเงิน | Varavuth Jentanakul & Anuwat Fuangthongdang | CH 7 | ฿1,000,000 | 4 August 2019 – 29 March 2020 | |
| Bir Milyon Canlı Para | Engin Altan Düzyatan | Show TV | ₺1,000,000 | 25 October 2010 – 2011 | |
| Bir Milyon Canlı Para | Murat Başoğlu | Fox | ₺1,000,000 | 9 September 2012 – 2013 | |
| Bir Milyon Canlı Para | Mesut Yar | Kanal D | ₺1,000,000 | 31 March 2014 – 2015 | |
| Шоу На Два Мiльйони Shou Na Dva Milyony | Andrey Domansky | 1+1 | ₴2,000,000 | 12 January – 30 March 2011 | |
| Million Dollar Money Drop | Kevin Pollak | Fox | US$1,000,000 | 20 December 2010 – 1 February 2011 | |
| Salven el Millón | Jorge Piñeyrúa | Channel 10 | UY$1,000,000 | 21 August 2012 | |
| Đừng để tiền rơi | Hoàng Trung Nghĩa | VTV | 200,000,000₫+9,000,000₫ | 16 January 2014 – 30 April 2015 | |
| Đừng để tiền rơi | Thành Trung | VTV | 200,000,000₫ | 6 January 2016 – 13 September 2017 |
Notes:':
- While most international versions of the Million Pound Drop adopted the original British version format, some versions adopt an entirely new format, featuring a new set and a title theme, and is played with 50 bundles instead of 40. The new format is still acquired by Endemol.
- The two Chinese versions are produced without Endemol's permission.
- According to Endemol, the format has recently sold to Niger, but all the exact information is unknown yet.
- Arturo Valls hosted an episode as a cross-over between Atrapa un millón and his own game show Ahora caigo, which was hosted by Carlos Sobera on that afternoon.
- Though the Thai version's top prize is in Thai baht, the cash on the stage is instead presented as United States dollars, equivalent to top prize money. The car prize is represented by the key box instead of the bundle.
- Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakhstan version are filmed in Moscow under the production by Weit Media. Although they are using Russian language as their conversation language, however, the Ukrainian and Kazakhstan versions used native language for the introduction, greeting and closing caption. The Ukrainian and Kazakhstan versions also offered the SMS interative game during the program. Unlike Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh version which are using Russian for the questions, Ukrainian version preferred to use Ukrainian for questions instead.
- A Taiwanese game show, :zh:欢乐智多星|Witty Star featured a game segment similar to the Million Pound Drop or The £100K Drop'', where teams answered five questions for up to NT$300,000, banded in 30 bundles of NT$10,000 each. This is not included in the franchise because the game was actually played as a segment, rather than a full show.
- From August 8th, 2015 to March 11th, 2017, the Thai version also have a box, which has a Toyota Vios car key inside. The car, which is worth about ฿830,000 is shown at the bottom of the stage. If the couple win the game with the box still in the game, they will also win the car. Mathematically, a couple of contestant can win a maximum prize of ฿2,830,000.