Camelot snubs Simon Cowell’s Red or Black gameshow
Camelot, operator of the National Lottery, has turned down an opportunity to front a new ITV1 gameshow, co-produced by Simon Cowell and ITV Productions.
Red or Black, to be hosted by Ant & Dec, will be the first new format to emerge from Cowell’s production company, Syco, since Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 and ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2006.
Cowell had hoped to involve Camelot in the enterprise in an undisclosed role but the operator said: “We were approached by Syco and worked with them and ITV on the Red or Black concept. However, after discussions, we didn't reach an agreement on the venture."
ITV1 will broadcast the show live over the course of seven nights later this year, offering contestants the opportunity to win £1m on the spin of a wheel – following a series of 50/50 challenges.
Strict gambling rules prohibit the broadcast of betting on TV but Cowell insisted: “It's not gambling because people are not using their own cash.”
Cowell is hopeful he can flog the format around the world and claims to have received early interest from America already.
An ITV spokeswoman said: “As with all of our programmes we will be seeking to deliver maximum value from the brand in collaboration with our production partners.”