Millionaire Remembrance Special

The Battle Is On To Win A Million!

Hugh Bonneville, Melanie Sykes and John Thomson team up with
members of the Armed Forces who want to win big for charity

Celebrities are going above and beyond the call of duty by putting their general knowledge to the test in a bid to raise a million pounds for charity in a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Remembrance Special, Wednesday 9th November, at 8pm on ITV1.

Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham, Hugh Bonneville, TV presenter Melanie Sykes and star of the Fast Show John Thomson are joining forces with members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force to raise much-needed cash for the Forces Benevolent Funds.

Hugh is teaming up with Lieutenant Gary Beels a submarine engineer in the Royal Navy who completed a six month tour of Afghanistan earlier this year. Based in Camp Bastion, Gary was Operations Officer for UKMED Group, working 15 hours a day supporting the Navy Medics on the ground ensuring that casualties were delivered, via MEDIVAC helicopter, to hospital in the fastest possible time.

Speaking about his involvement in the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Remembrance Special, Hugh said: “I am absolutely dreading my encounter with the Smiling Tormentor, otherwise known as Chris Tarrant. However, I have every confidence that Lt Beels is a genius. I only hope that when he realises I am as thick as two short planks he doesn't make me walk one of them. I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun on the night and hopefully we'll raise some much needed money for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.”

TV star Melanie Sykes will partner Major Nicola McCullough, an Army medic. In 2005, Nicola worked in a number of field hospitals in Iraq and last year she spent 10 weeks at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan where she saw 600 patients.

Melanie commented: “I love Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?, even though it’s utterly terrifying. I’m only hoping that my partner Nicola is as clever as she is brave. That way, we stand a chance of winning a respectable amount of money for a worthwhile cause.”

Comedian and actor John Thomson is pairing up with quiz fan Sgt Derek ‘Dutch’ Holland from the RAF. Derek joined the RAF in 1996 and has served six month tour of duty in Kabul, Afghanistan. During his career Derek has been awarded the Station Commanders Commendation for Outstanding Achievement and a Group Commendation in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

John added: “It is a great honour to have been asked and to support our noble, heroic forces.”

Host, Chris Tarrant, will oversee proceedings as the pairs attempt to climb the money tree against the ticking clock and in a change to the usual Millionaire Special format, all the money won will go to the charity rather than being split with a member of the public.