Jeremy Clarkson has said he is “genuinely frightened” ahead of a major change to his working life, confessing it will be the first time in four decades that he won’t be filming a TV show.
The presenter made the admission while promoting his newest ITV project, Millionaire Hot Seat, which launches in January 2026.
The quiz show marks a huge new step for Mr Clarkson, who has fronted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? since its revival in 2018 and has been a fixture on British television since the 1980s.
But despite the excitement surrounding the franchise’s spin-off, The former Top Gear presenter says a temporary break from his intense filming schedule has him nervous.
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Jeremy Clarkson admitted this will be the first time in four decades that he won’t be filming a TV show
| INSTAGRAM/HAWKSTONE“I’m genuinely frightened because until March, I won’t be filming a TV show for the first time in forty years,” he said.
“That will be three months of sh**. You would rot if you didn’t [work].”
The 65-year-old, who also fronts Amazon’s Clarkson’s Farm and previously led The Grand Tour, said the idea of stepping back feels unsettling.
But Mr Clarkson insisted he is still passionate about working, saying: “I don’t really need to do it… but I watched the Australian version and thought, ‘Yes, this can work.’”
Jeremy Clarkson presented the popular Netflix docu-series Clarkson's Farm from 2021-2025
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Millionaire Hot Seat promises a new twist on the familiar Millionaire format.
Six contestants compete in a rotating queue, with only the person in the “hot seat” able to answer questions.
Correct answers climb the money ladder; a wrong answer eliminates the player and reduces the total jackpot.
Contestants can pass, but they must go to the back of the queue, risking someone else scooping the prize they helped build.
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The TV star is the face of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
| ITV“It’s a very expensive game of musical chairs!” Mr Clarkson explained.
“You can be the most brilliant player and go home with nothing, or you can be useless – and this happened the other day – and go home with the prize.”
Unlike traditional quiz shows, Millionaire Hot Seat rewards tactical thinking.
Players must decide whether to help fellow contestants or sabotage them by risking wrong answers.
“You can be incredibly selfish or very generous,” Mr Clarkson said. “I love watching how human nature works and if they land their fellow contestants in the soup or not!”
Despite his decades on television, Mr Clarkson admitted he wasn’t nearly as relaxed as people might assume when filming started.
“Very [nervous]!” he revealed. “I put my heart and soul into it, but I was still nervous. There is so much to remember. You really do have to be on your toes.”
He says viewers should expect real pressure, stating: “When the clock is ticking and they have five seconds left — honestly it’s the definition of pressure. Their eyes almost bulge out of their heads.”
Jeremy Clarkson will be hosting Millionaire Hot Seat, which launches in January 2026
| AMAZONWith the top prize still set at £1million, the show can produce life-changing wins in half an hour.
One recent contestant won £100,000, leading competing players to celebrate despite leaving with nothing.
“They both were entitled to feel aggrieved, but they didn’t,” Clarkson said. “They were glad she won.”
Mr Clarkson, who recently revealed he has lost three stone, said he feels healthier than ever. “I walk further, I have more energy and now I’ve got my stents in, I’m energised," he said.
He also joked about being “mobbed” unexpectedly by women in Chelsea Harbour: “I’ve never particularly had women fans before — now I have," Mr Clarkson added.
With no bucket list left to tick off and no fear of cancellation, Mr Clarkson says he simply wants to keep working and stay excited.
“Do I feel lucky? Yes, very lucky. And I am genuinely glad I said ‘yes’ to this show.”
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