<P> The original British version of the show debuted on 4 September 1998 , and aired on ITV with Chris Tarrant as its host until 11 February 2014 . International variants have aired in around 160 countries worldwide . The show 's format is a twist on the game show genre -- only one contestant plays at a time ( similar to some radio quizzes ) , and the emphasis is on suspense rather than speed . In most versions there are no time limits to answer the questions , and contestants are given the question before they must decide whether to attempt an answer . </P>
<P> The original British version of the show debuted on 4 September 1998 , and aired on ITV with Chris Tarrant as its host until 11 February 2014 . International variants have aired in around 160 countries worldwide . The show 's format is a twist on the game show genre -- only one contestant plays at a time ( similar to some radio quizzes ) , and the emphasis is on suspense rather than speed . In most versions there are no time limits to answer the questions , and contestants are given the question before they must decide whether to attempt an answer . </P>
when was who wants to be a millionaire started
when was who wants to be a millionaire started
4 September 1998
4 September 1998