Comic to net £15m from Millionaire sale

Jasper Carrott is set to make around £15m from the sale of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? to a Dutch media company.

The comic owns around 15 per cent in Celador, the firm which yesterday announced it was in exclusive talks to sell the rights to the ITV quiz with 2waytraffic.

The deal, which is expected to be signed next month, is said to be worth around £100 million.

The Dutch company beat off rival bids from the founder of Big Borther producer Endemol, Jon de Mol, the French TV network TF1 and Chris Tarrant, who was being backed by a US private equity group.

Millionaire’s format has been sold to about 60 countries.

Published: 29 Jul 2006