The UK has a rich tradition of producing entertaining and competitive game shows that test contestants’ knowledge, nerve, and sometimes luck.
While many are known for their quirky charm or celebrity appearances, a few have stood out for offering eye-watering cash prizes.
If you're looking for the UK's game shows that have put serious money on the line, here are the most notable contenders.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
- Top Prize: £1,000,000
Launched in 1998 and hosted originally by Chris Tarrant, this iconic quiz show captured the nation's imagination with its dramatic music, lifelines, and million-pound jackpot. Contestants answer 15 increasingly difficult multiple-choice questions.
The format has been franchised globally, but the UK version remains one of the most lucrative quiz shows ever aired. In 2000, Judith Keppel became the first UK contestant to win the full million.
Deal or No Deal
- Top Prize: £250,000
Running from 2005 to 2016 with Noel Edmonds as host, this game of chance and strategy involved contestants picking from sealed boxes with hidden cash amounts.
The infamous "Banker" made offers throughout the game, attempting to buy contestants out. While the game relied heavily on chance, the tension and psychological gameplay made it a massive hit. Several contestants walked away with the top prize, but many also left with mere pennies.
The Million Pound Drop (later: The £100K Drop)
- Top Prize (original format): £1,000,000
Hosted by Davina McCall, this show flipped the traditional format by giving contestants the top prize up front.
Pairs of players started with £1 million in bundles of cash and had to place the money across trapdoors corresponding to multiple-choice answers.
Wrong answers saw money literally fall away. The format was later rebranded as “The £100K Drop,” with a significantly reduced prize pool.
The Wheel
- Top Prize: £500,000
Created and hosted by Michael McIntyre, The Wheel is a relatively new entry to the UK game show scene but has made an impact with its flashy production and substantial top prize.
Contestants answer questions in various categories with the help of celebrity experts. The unpredictability of the giant spinning wheel adds a level of chance to an otherwise skill-based format.
The 1% Club
- Top Prize: £100,000
First airing in 2022, the 1% club is an IQ test game show, presented by Lee Mack, that challenges the logic and common sense of contestants.
The 15 questions used in the show have already been put to members of the public and are categorised by the percentage of participants who answer correctly.
Each one of the 100 contestants begins with a £1,000 stake, and the questions get increasingly difficult (90% to 1%). Contestants who make it through to the 1% question could be in with a chance of winning up to £100,000.
Life-Changing Cash: Still a Possibility
While UK game shows often emphasise entertainment, personality, and charm, several have stepped into the high-stakes arena with impressive prize offerings.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? remains the gold standard, but newer shows like The Wheel are proving that big money is still very much in play.
Whether you're a trivia whiz or someone who prefers chance to be the sole decider, the UK has a game show for you, with potentially life-changing cash on the table for participants.