Secret Millionaire
Encyclopedia
The Secret Millionaire is a reality television
show which originated in the UK, in which millionaires go incognito into impoverished communities and agree to give away tens of thousands of pounds (or tens of thousands of dollars in the U.S. version). Members of the community
are told the cameras are present to film a documentary. The UK version is produced by production company RDF Media
. It first aired in 2006 on the UK's Channel 4
, with further seasons in subsequent years.
. A third series of the show began on Channel 4 on 5 August 2008. The first episode of Series 3 featured businessman James Benamor
, who has been criticised in the media for investing in the sub-prime market, and sharp practice in his company the Richmond Group.
An American version of the show premiered on 3 December 2008 on Fox.
Like the British version, the Fox show features wealthy benefactors each week that go undercover in the most deprived neighborhoods of the United States
. For one week, the millionaires mingle within the community and live on a very low-cost budget; this the very first time doing so for many of them. At the end of the show, the millionaires reveal their identities and proceed to donate a minimum of $100,000 (which they sometimes divide among the recipients).
Fox has aired six episodes of the hour-long series, including a two-hour premiere. The millionaires have included Internet
Advertising
tycoon Gurbaksh Chahal
; Todd and Gwen Graves
, of the restaurant chain Raising Cane's; Century Software founder Gregory Haerr
; DUB Magazine
founders Myles and Cynthia Kovacs; attorney, broker and sportswear
entrepreneur Gregory Ruzicka
, and his son Cole; and Baltimore, Maryland civic leader and Baltimore Ravens
NFL cheerleader Molly Shattuck.
Season one aired on FOX. Season two consists of six, hour-long, episodes broadcast on ABC.
. It consisted of five episodes, and was narrated by Russell Crowe
; in a Herald Sun
interview, Crowe discussed his work on the show and his personal approach to charity. Millionaires featured in the series included Albert Bertini (of property development firm Trivest), Derek Leddie (founder of market research firm The Leading Edge), Peter Bond (managing director of Linc Energy
), Naomi Simson (founder & CEO of Red Balloon), and Danny Wallis (founder of DWS Advanced Business Solutions). A completed sixth episode was withdrawn from the broadcast schedule due to financial issues faced by the featured benefactor. More than $750,000 was given away in grants to individuals and community groups.
Season 2 first aired on Nine on Monday 23 August 2010, also narrated by Russell Crowe. Millionaires featured in the second series include Carly Crutchfield (founder/CEO of CCorp), Karl Redenbach (founder of nSynergy), Sean Ashby (founder of aussieBum
), Alf & Nadia Taylor (founders/directors of TNA Solutions), Christian Beck (founder/CEO of LEAP Legal Software), and Denis McFadden (founder/CEO of Just Cuts). Episode 1 benefactor, Sydney property developer Carly Crutchfield, was the focus of a Sydney Morning Herald article discussing the return of the series. Episode 3 benefactor, Sean Ashby, was featured in an article in The Daily Telegraph
regarding his involvement in the show.
and shown on RTÉ1 in September and October 2011.
Award in 2007 for best reality series.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show which originated in the UK, in which millionaires go incognito into impoverished communities and agree to give away tens of thousands of pounds (or tens of thousands of dollars in the U.S. version). Members of the community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
are told the cameras are present to film a documentary. The UK version is produced by production company RDF Media
RDF Media
Zodiak Media is a Anglo-American television production company. It was formed in 2010 when RDF Media Group was acquired by, and merged with Zodiak Entertainment...
. It first aired in 2006 on the UK's Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, with further seasons in subsequent years.
Format
For each program, a millionaire leaves his/her luxurious life behind, takes on a secret identity and lives undercover in a deprived area of the country for a week to ten days (in the U.S. Season, it's 6 days). Living on a limited budget with no modern conveniences they must forge their own way in the community – working and volunteering alongside the locals and finding individuals or projects whom they think deserve a cut of their fortune. On their final day, the millionaires come clean and reveal their true identity to the people they have chosen, surprising them with gifts of thousands of pounds or US dollars to improve their lives.UK version
The first millionaire to appear in the series was 26 year-old Ben WayBen Way
Benjamin Peter Bernard Way Ben Way is an English entrepreneur best known for his appearance on Secret Millionaire, he started his first company at the age of 15. He went on to raise £25 million in his teens making him one of the first dot com millionaires.-Early life:While growing up in a village...
. A third series of the show began on Channel 4 on 5 August 2008. The first episode of Series 3 featured businessman James Benamor
James Benamor
James Benamor is a British businessman and millionaire of Tunisian origin.- Business activities :James Benamor became one of the wealthiest young people in the United Kingdom after starting his loan brokerage company, , in 1999 at the age of 21...
, who has been criticised in the media for investing in the sub-prime market, and sharp practice in his company the Richmond Group.
Series 1
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 November 2006 | Ben Way Ben Way Benjamin Peter Bernard Way Ben Way is an English entrepreneur best known for his appearance on Secret Millionaire, he started his first company at the age of 15. He went on to raise £25 million in his teens making him one of the first dot com millionaires.-Early life:While growing up in a village... |
Lower Clapton Lower Clapton Lower Clapton is a district within the London Borough of Hackney.It is immediately adjacent to central Hackney - bounded, roughly, by the western side of Hackney Downs , the Lea Valley , Clifden Road and the Lea Bridge Road... , Hackney London Borough of Hackney The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council.... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
£40,000 |
| 2 | 6 December 2006 | John Elliott | Kensington Kensington, Liverpool Kensington is an inner city area of Liverpool, England. It is located immediately to the east of Liverpool city centre, and is bordered by Everton to the north, Fairfield to the east and Edge Hill to the south.... , Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , Merseyside Merseyside Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool... |
£10,000 + £7,500 + job offer |
| 3 | 13 December 2006 | Charan Gill | Thetford Thetford Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , has a population of 21,588.-History:... , Breckland Breckland (district) Breckland District is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in East Dereham.Breckland District derives its name from the Breckland landscape region, a gorse covered sandy heath of south Norfolk and north Suffolk... , Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county... |
£10,000 + £15,000 + £5,000 |
| 4 | 20 December 2006 | Paul Williams | Thorntree Thorntree Thorntree is a housing estate in east Middlesbrough within the unitary authority of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England.It is so called because it was built on land which was Thorntree Farm.... , Middlesbrough Middlesbrough Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire... , North Yorkshire North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest... |
£10,000 + £10,000 + £10,000 |
| 5 | 2 January 2007 | Emma Harrison | Becontree Becontree Becontree is a place in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, east north-east of Charing Cross.-Becontree estate:The area was developed between 1921 and 1932 by the London County Council as a large council estate of 27,000 homes, intended as "homes for heroes" after World War I. With a... , Barking and Dagenham London Borough of Barking and Dagenham In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 1,937; and the area was characterised by farming, woodland and the fishing fleet at Barking. This last industry employed 1,370 men and boys by 1850, but by the end of the century had ceased to exist; replaced by... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
£30,000 + £5,000 + £15,000 |
Series 2
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 November 2007 | Gill Fielding | Canning Town Canning Town Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market... , Newham London Borough of Newham The London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
£219,000 + laptop |
| 2 | 14 November 2007 | Chek Whyte Chek Whyte Chek Whyte is a British property developer and businessman, living in Nottinghamshire.-Career:... |
Salford, City of Salford City of Salford The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over... , Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the... |
£50,000 + home improvement (central heating, new windows, etc.) |
| 3 | 28 November 2007 | Terry George Terry George (entrepreneur) Terry George is an openly gay, British entrepreneur, philanthropist, nightclub tycoon, photographer and celebrity columnist... |
Penzance Penzance Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of... |
£30,000 + electric shaver |
| 4 | 5 December 2007 | Mo Chaudry | Harehills Harehills Harehills is an inner-city area of east Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is approximately north east of Leeds city centre. Harehills is situated between the A58 and the A64 .- Overview :... , Leeds Leeds Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial... , West Yorkshire West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972.... |
£29,000 |
| 5 | 12 December 2007 | David Pearl David Pearl (businessman) David Pearl is a millionaire property developer with most business interests in London. Originally from a poor background in North London, Pearl’s wealth was estimated at £233m in 2009, in position 241 on The Sunday Times Rich List.... |
Cosham Cosham Cosham is a northern suburb of Portsmouth lying within the city boundary but off Portsea Island. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 along with Drayton and Wymering and Bocheland , Frodington and Copenore on the island.The name is of Saxon origin and means "Cossa's homestead"... , Portsmouth Portsmouth Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force... |
£10,000 + £10,000 + £10,000 + £10,000 + £10,000 |
| 6 | 19 December 2007 | Margaret Heffernan Margaret Heffernan Margaret Heffernan is an international businesswoman and writer. She is the author of three books: The Naked Truth: A Working Woman’s Manifesto about Business and What Really Matters, How She Does It and Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril... |
St Ann's, Nottingham Nottingham Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... , Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west... |
£30,000 |
Series 3
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 August 2008 | James Benamor James Benamor James Benamor is a British businessman and millionaire of Tunisian origin.- Business activities :James Benamor became one of the wealthiest young people in the United Kingdom after starting his loan brokerage company, , in 1999 at the age of 21... |
Moss Side Moss Side Moss Side is an inner-city area and electoral ward of Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre and has a population of around 17,537... , Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... , Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the... |
£136,000 + job offer |
| 2 | 12 August 2008 | Kavita Oberoi Kavita Oberoi Kavita Oberoi is a female entrepreneur in the United Kingdom.In 2001 Oberoi started the successful IT and Business Healthcare Consultancy, Oberoi Consulting, of which she is now Managing Director.... |
Ladywood Ladywood Ladywood is an inner-city area in Birmingham, England. It is a council constituency, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Ladywood ward and the wards of Aston, Nechells and Soho. In June 2004, Birmingham City Council conducted a city-wide "Ward Boundary... , Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... , West Midlands West Midlands (county) The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The... |
£45,000 |
| 3 | 19 August 2008 | Nick Leslau Nick Leslau Nick Leslau is an English commercial property millionaire, with an estimated fortune in the Sunday Times Rich List of £200 million. He owns Thorpe Park which he leases to Merlin Entertainment.-Biography:... |
Possilpark Possilpark Possilpark is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow, situated north of the River Clyde. Following the closure of the Saracen Foundry in 1967, this section of Glasgow has become one of the poorest in the United Kingdom, with an above average crime rate.... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
£341,000 |
| 4 | 26 August 2008 | Carl Hopkins | Easington Easington, County Durham Easington is a town in eastern County Durham, England. It comprises the ancient village of Easington Village and the ex-mining town of Easington Colliery, which are separate civil parishes. It is located at the junction of the A182 leading north-west to Hetton-le-Hole. Seaham Harbour and... , County Durham County Durham County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington... |
£35,000 |
| 5 | 2 September 2008 | Daniel Smith | Newington Newington, London Newington is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It was an ancient parish and the site of the early administration of the county of Surrey... , Southwark London Borough of Southwark The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
£30,000 |
| 6 | 9 September 2008 | Hilary Devey Hilary Devey Hilary Lorraine Devey is a British businesswoman, television personality, entrepreneur and commentator. She is probably best known for her appearances on the BBC Two programme Dragons' Den.-Early life:... |
Falinge Rochdale Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan... , Rochdale Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale The Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after its largest town, Rochdale, but spans a far larger area which includes the towns of Middleton, Heywood, Littleborough and Milnrow, and the village of Wardle.The borough was... , Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the... |
£136,000 |
| 7 | 16 September 2008 | Gavin Wheeldon Gavin Wheeldon Gavin Wheeldon is a British Businessman, self-made millionaire and entrepreneur from the Manchester area who has been on TV programmes such as The Secret Millionaire and Dragons' Den .... |
Rhyl Rhyl Rhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south... , Denbighshire Denbighshire Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
£43,700 + laptop |
| 8 | 23 September 2008 | Caroline Marsh | Toxteth Toxteth Toxteth is an inner city area of Liverpool, England. Located to the south of the city, Toxteth is bordered by Liverpool City Centre, Dingle, Edge Hill, Wavertree and Aigburth.-Description:... , Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , Merseyside Merseyside Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool... |
£70,000 & £30,000 refurbishment to Greenhouse Project & £23,000 |
| Where are they now? | 25 December 2008 | Most from series 3 | Varied | None |
Series 4
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 March 2009 | Kevin Morley Kevin Morley Kevin Morley , is an English businessman, known for being the former Managing Director of the former Rover Group.Holding an MSc... |
Tottenham Tottenham Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham... , Haringey London Borough of Haringey The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
£250,000 + trip to Disneyland |
| 2 | 29 March 2009 | Gary Eastwood | Blackpool Blackpool Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester... , Lancashire Lancashire Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston... |
£50,000 |
| 3 | 5 April 2009 | Jennifer Cheyne | Aberfan Aberfan The Aberfan disaster was a catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip that occurred in the Welsh village of Aberfan on Friday 21 October 1966, killing 116 children and 28 adults.-Mining debris:... , Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
£70,000 |
| 4 | 12 April 2009 | Jonathan Hick | Hendon, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972... |
£5,000 + £20,000 + £15,000 |
| 5 | 19 April 2009 | Rob Lloyd | Shankill Road, Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
£10,000 + £5,000 + £5,000 + £20,000 |
| 6 | 26 April 2009 | Martin Stamp | Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of... , East Riding of Yorkshire East Riding of Yorkshire The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority... |
£20,000 + £20,000 |
| 7 | 4 May 2009 | Rob Calcraft | Barrow Island, Barrow-in-Furness Barrow-in-Furness Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle... , Cumbria Cumbria Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in... |
£10,000 + £3,000 + £7,000 + £20,000 |
| 8 | 10 May 2009 | Roisin Isaacs | Dundee Dundee Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea... , Tayside Tayside Tayside Region was a local government region of Scotland from 15 May 1975 to 31 March 1996. It was created by the 1973 Act following recommendations made by the 1969 Wheatley Report which attempted to replace the mishmash of counties, cities, burghs and districts, with a uniform two-tier system... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
£10,000 + £7,500 + £7,500 + £2,000 + £13,000 |
Series 5
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 Sept 2009 | Liz Jackson | Honor Oak Honor Oak Honor Oak is an inner suburban area principally of the London Borough of Lewisham, with part in The London Borough of Southwark. The name originates from Oak of Honor Hill, or One Tree Hill. The legend is that on 1 May 1602, Elizabeth I picnicked with Sir Richard Bulkeley of Beaumaris in the... , Lewisham London Borough of Lewisham The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
£8,000 + £5,000 + £20,000 |
| 2 | 23 Sept 2009 | Kevin Green | Barnstaple Barnstaple Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the... , North Devon North Devon North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth... , Devon Devon Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with... |
£20,000 + £12,000 + £20,000 + £7,500 |
| 3 | 30 Sept 2009 | Tony Banks | Anfield Anfield, Liverpool Anfield is a district of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward.-Toponymy:Originally common pasture land, the area had the name of Hanging-fields or Hangfield - the name originating from the deeply sloping nature of the terrain. The name was also frequently written as... , Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , Merseyside Merseyside Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool... |
£30,000 + £20,000 + £20,000 |
| 4 | 7 Oct 2009 | Dominic List | Peckham Peckham Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London... , Southwark London Borough of Southwark The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
£30,000 + £10,000 + £10,000 + Home Relocation |
| 5 | 14 Oct 2009 | Charlie Mullins | Warrington Warrington Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens... , Cheshire Cheshire Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow... |
£20,000 + £20,000 + £20,000 |
| 6 | 24 Dec 2009 | John Griffin | Scotswood Benwell and Scotswood Benwell and Scotswood is an electoral ward of Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England. The ward encompasses the Benwell and Scotswood housing areas, as well as the Newcastle Business Park, which is located on the banks of the River Tyne and houses offices of companies such as British Airways and... , Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne... , Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972... |
£75,000 + £50,000 + £20,000 |
Series 6
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 March 2010 | Dawn Gibbins Dawn Gibbins Dawn Gibbins MBE is a British entrepreneur who started commercial and industrial flooring company Flowcrete in 1982 in south Cheshire, England, with her late father, Peter Gibbins. She oversaw its international and domestic growth, covering 30 offices worldwide and 12 manufacturing sites in the UK,... |
£25,000 + £100,000 + £125,000 | |
| 2 | 8 March 2010 | Paul Ragan | £5,000 + £10,000 + £50,000 | |
| 3 | 15 March 2010 | Jahan Abedi | £20,000 + £15,000 + £4,000 + £1,000 | |
| 4 | 22 March 2010 | Fil Adams-Mercer | £10,000 + £10,000 + £20,000 | |
| 5 | 29 March 2010 | David Jamilly David Jamilly David Jamilly is a philanthropist, humanitarian and entrepreneur.-About:David Jamilly is a philanthropist, humanitarian, 'Secret Millionaire' and entrepreneur.-Profession:... |
£25,000 + £25,000 + £25,000 + unknown |
Series 7
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 October 2010 | Chris Brown | Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
|
| 2 | 24 October 2010 | Richard North | ||
| 3 | 31 October 2010 | Marcelle Speller | ||
| 4 | 7 November 2010 | Mark Pearson | Nottingham | £40,000 + £3,000 + £59,000 |
| 5 | 14 November 2010 | Bradley RebackSeán Gallagher | ||
| 6 | 18 November 2010 | Gordon McAlpine | ||
| 7 | 25 November 2010 | Tom Mairs |
Series 8
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 April 2011 | Sean Gallagher | ||
| 2 | 3 May 2011 | Simrin Choudhrie | ||
| 3 | 10 May 2011 | Piers Linney | ||
| 4 | 17 May 2011 | Lyn Cecil | ||
| 5 | 24 May 2011 | Sue Stone | ||
| 6 | 31 May 2011 | Aria Taheri |
Series 9
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Location | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 October 2011 | Adee Phelan | ||
| 2 | 23 October 2011 | Ivan Massow | ||
| 3 | 30 October 2011 | Edward Douglas-Miller | ||
| 4 | 6 November 2011 | Lee Stafford | ||
| 5 | 13 November 2011 | Dr Chai Patel | ||
| 6 | 20 November 2011 | Mike Greene | ||
| 7 | 27 November 2011 | Charles Allen | ||
| 8 | 4 December 2011 | Mike Holland |
US version
Episode list: List of Secret Millionaire (U.S. TV series) episodes.An American version of the show premiered on 3 December 2008 on Fox.
Like the British version, the Fox show features wealthy benefactors each week that go undercover in the most deprived neighborhoods of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. For one week, the millionaires mingle within the community and live on a very low-cost budget; this the very first time doing so for many of them. At the end of the show, the millionaires reveal their identities and proceed to donate a minimum of $100,000 (which they sometimes divide among the recipients).
Fox has aired six episodes of the hour-long series, including a two-hour premiere. The millionaires have included Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
Advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
tycoon Gurbaksh Chahal
Gurbaksh Chahal
Gurbaksh Singh Chahal is an Indian-American internet entrepreneur and a best-selling author. By the age of 25, he had founded and sold two advertising companies for a total of US$340 million.-Early life:...
; Todd and Gwen Graves
Todd Graves (entrepreneur)
Todd Graves is an American entrepreneur and the founder, chairman and CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, a fast food restaurant that offers fried chicken fingers as its only main course...
, of the restaurant chain Raising Cane's; Century Software founder Gregory Haerr
Gregory Haerr
Gregory Haerr is an American entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Century Software, a provider of Windows and Linux based terminal emulation software. Haerr founded the company in 1982, after having moved from his hometown of La Jolla to Salt Lake City in 1981. Haerr is the oldest of seven...
; DUB Magazine
DUB Magazine
DUB, founded in January 2000, is a North American magazine covering urban custom car culture and also features celebrities and their vehicles. The magazine also launched the DUB Magazine Custom Auto Show & Concert, a nationwide car show and concert tour that spans 16 United States cities...
founders Myles and Cynthia Kovacs; attorney, broker and sportswear
Sportswear
Sportswear or activewear is clothing, including footwear, worn for sport or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and physical exercise, for practical, comfort or safety reasons....
entrepreneur Gregory Ruzicka
Gregory ruzicka
Gregory Ruzicka is general counsel to RS&W REALTY, INC., and a founding partner of the law firm of Ruzicka, Snyder & Wallace, LLP. He resides in Newport Beach, California....
, and his son Cole; and Baltimore, Maryland civic leader and Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
NFL cheerleader Molly Shattuck.
Season one aired on FOX. Season two consists of six, hour-long, episodes broadcast on ABC.
Season 1
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | 3 December 2008 | Gregory and Cole Ruzicka | $125,000 + toys |
| Episode 2 | 3 December 2008 | Gwen and Todd Graves Todd Graves (entrepreneur) Todd Graves is an American entrepreneur and the founder, chairman and CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, a fast food restaurant that offers fried chicken fingers as its only main course... |
$300,000 + grill + playground goods |
| Episode 3 | 10 December 2008 | Cynthia and Myles Kovacs Myles Kovacs Myles Kovacs is an American entrepreneur and co founder of automotive magazine DUB, founded in 2000. He is of Japanese and Hungarian origin and spent his younger years in East Los Angeles.... |
$150,000 + car |
| Episode 4 | 11 December 2008 | Gurbaksh Chahal Gurbaksh Chahal Gurbaksh Singh Chahal is an Indian-American internet entrepreneur and a best-selling author. By the age of 25, he had founded and sold two advertising companies for a total of US$340 million.-Early life:... |
$90,000 on camera* |
| Episode 5 | 17 December 2008 | Molly Shattuck and her mother | $190,000 + toys |
| Episode 6 | 18 December 2008 | Gregory Haerr Gregory Haerr Gregory Haerr is an American entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Century Software, a provider of Windows and Linux based terminal emulation software. Haerr founded the company in 1982, after having moved from his hometown of La Jolla to Salt Lake City in 1981. Haerr is the oldest of seven... and brother Paul |
$150,000 |
- Although the minimum required donation is $100,000, during the Episode 4 airing with millionaire Gurbaksh Chahal only $90,000 was shown (two $35,000 donations & two $10,000 donations). However, the total donations exceeded $100,000 and also included a birthday fund and computer lab. Chahal was the pilot episode for the US series.
Season 2
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | 6 March 2011 | Dani Johnson | $100,000 |
| Episode 2 | 13 March 2011 | Marc Paskin | $110,000 |
| Episode 3 | 20 March 2011 | James Malinchak | $105,000+Tools |
| Episode 4 | 27 March 2011 | John Ferber | $100,000+200 sleeping bags+toys+computers+mural restoration |
| Episode 5 | 3 April 2011 | Gary Heavin Gary Heavin Gary Heavin is a Texas businessman. He is the founder and CEO of the fitness chain Curves International.-Career:Heavin originally took over a fitness center in Houston, Texas. This business venture was unsuccessful, and he filed for bankruptcy.... and Diane Heavin |
$410,000+1 pair of sunglasses |
| Episode 6 | 10 April 2011 | Ali Brown | $100,000 |
| Season | Episodes | Timeslot | Original airing | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | TV season | |||||
| 2 | 6 | Sundays 8pm (2011) | March 6, 2011 | April 10, 2011 | 2010–2011 2010–2011 United States network television schedule The following is the 2010–2011 network television schedule for the five major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 2010 through May 2011. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new... |
#33 | 11.16 |
Australian version
The first season of the Australian series (listed in local TV guides as The Secret Millionaire Australia, to prevent confusion with the US version which had been broadcast earlier that year) aired in 2009 on the Nine NetworkNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
. It consisted of five episodes, and was narrated by Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
; in a Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
interview, Crowe discussed his work on the show and his personal approach to charity. Millionaires featured in the series included Albert Bertini (of property development firm Trivest), Derek Leddie (founder of market research firm The Leading Edge), Peter Bond (managing director of Linc Energy
Linc Energy
Linc Energy is an Australian energy company specialized on a coal-based synthetic fuel production. It is engaged in development and commercialization of proprietary underground coal gasification technology. Produced gas is used for production of synthetic fuel through gas-to-liquid technology, and...
), Naomi Simson (founder & CEO of Red Balloon), and Danny Wallis (founder of DWS Advanced Business Solutions). A completed sixth episode was withdrawn from the broadcast schedule due to financial issues faced by the featured benefactor. More than $750,000 was given away in grants to individuals and community groups.
Season 2 first aired on Nine on Monday 23 August 2010, also narrated by Russell Crowe. Millionaires featured in the second series include Carly Crutchfield (founder/CEO of CCorp), Karl Redenbach (founder of nSynergy), Sean Ashby (founder of aussieBum
AussieBum
AussieBum is an Australian men's swimwear manufacturer. In recent years aussieBum has also increased its product line to other clothing include underwear, leisurewear, sportswear and loungewear....
), Alf & Nadia Taylor (founders/directors of TNA Solutions), Christian Beck (founder/CEO of LEAP Legal Software), and Denis McFadden (founder/CEO of Just Cuts). Episode 1 benefactor, Sydney property developer Carly Crutchfield, was the focus of a Sydney Morning Herald article discussing the return of the series. Episode 3 benefactor, Sean Ashby, was featured in an article in The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
regarding his involvement in the show.
Season 1
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | 7 October 2009 | Albert Bertini |
| Episode 2 | 14 October 2009 | Peter Bond |
| Episode 3 | 21 October 2009 | Derek Laddie |
| Episode 4 | 28 October 2009 | Naomi Simson |
| Episode 5 | 5 November 2009 | Danny Wallis |
| Episode 6 | Unaired | Leanne Wesche |
Season 2
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | 23 August 2010 | Carly Crutchfield | $120,000 |
| Episode 2 | 30 August 2010 | Karl Redenbach | $106,000 + job offer |
| Episode 3 | 6 September 2010 | Sean Ashby | $195,000 |
| Episode 4 | 13 September 2010 | Alf & Nadia Taylor | $250,000 |
| Episode 5 | 20 September 2010 | Christian Beck | $107,000 + car |
| Episode 6 | Unaired, via FixPlay | Denis McFadden | $110,000 |
Irish version
A 3 episode series was produced in 2011 by RTÉRTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
and shown on RTÉ1 in September and October 2011.
| Episode | Original airdate | Millionaire | Donation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | 19 September 2011 | John Concannon | €40,000 |
| Episode 2 | 26 September 2011 | John Fitzpatrick | €37,000 + singing lessons |
| Episode 3 | 3 October 2011 | Nadim Sadek | €40,000 |
Awards
The British version of Secret Millionaire won the Rose d'OrRose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
Award in 2007 for best reality series.
See also
- The Millionaire, a fictional 1955-1960 TV series about a millionaire who gives away money.
External links
- Video clips at Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
- Secret Millionaire at Fox
- The Secret Millionaire at ninemsnNineMSNninemsn is an Australian 50/50 joint venture between Microsoft and Nine Entertainment Co.. It effectively acts as the website for both the Nine Network and MSN, and is one of Australia's most popular websites...
- Secret Millionaire Trailer at Fox (Viewable in the US only)
- Yahoo! News article on U.S. premiere
- Secret Millionaire on ABC Season 2
- Secret Millionaire on ABC Season 2 with America's Favorite Millionaire, Dani Johnson
- Information About The Secret Millionaire TV Show Premiering 6 March on ABC
- James Malinchak Secret Millionaire Season 2
- Secret Millionaire 2011