The classic Hong Kong quiz show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ once sparked a nationwide craze for trivia. The episode that achieved the highest ratings featured Stephen Chow (Sing Yeh), who, in a 2001 'charity edition,' successfully answered all 15 questions and won a HK$1,000,000 (approximately RM500,000) charity prize—an iconic moment. At the time, many viewers suspected the show deliberately made things easier or leaked questions to Stephen Chow. On the 14th, host Chan Kei Tai, in an interview on the online program ‘SpotiTalk,’ made a bombshell revelation, personally confirming that there were indeed “special arrangements” back then.
Since all the winnings went to Mary Hospital and not to the contestant personally, this kind of ‘rigging’ was at the time considered a ‘conscientious variety show packaging.’ Talking about it now isn’t meant as criticism.
He also apologized to the other celebrities who appeared with Stephen Chow, explaining that due to budget constraints, not every contestant could win prizes. The opposing guest, Kenix Kwok, unfortunately became the ‘sacrificed’ one—eliminated with no hints and no knowledge of the behind-the-scenes setup, she was ridiculed by netizens for years, and he feels deeply sorry for that. He admitted that at the time, Stephen Chow was already a superstar, and securing his appearance was a rare opportunity. To ensure both a charity effect and a ratings buzz, the production team made ‘appropriate adjustments’ to question difficulty and onsite prompting.
Source: Liberty Times Entertainment