‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ could start filming next month with some big changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The popular ITV quiz show – which has been hosted by Jeremy Clarkson since its revival in 2018 – could start work on a new series in July, and bosses are looking at how to make it work without a studio audience.
An insider told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "Bosses are keen to get ‘Millionaire’ back as soon as possible.
"They’re hoping they can get the green light to get Jeremy and contestants back in the studio next month and air in the autumn.
"The next issue is the audience and, if there isn’t one, then the lifelines. They’ve discussed a new lifeline entirely, or giving contestants the opportunity to call two friends for help."
The likely lack of a live crowd means the Ask The Audience lifeline could be useless, and so two Phone A Friend options could be introduced.
A new lifeline isn’t unheard of the programme, as Jeremy’s debut in the role coincided with the Ask The Host option.
Last month, the 60-year-old star claimed the upcoming series of the show features a "precious" moment of television.
He said: "I wouldn’t want to do a spoiler, but there is one of those precious moments, not just in the show’s history but I’d say if you look across all of television.
"There are occasionally moments that you go, ‘Christ, I remember that’. And there is one coming up in this series – a truly brilliant, brilliant bit of television."