Eddie McGuire is backing the return of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ – and has a surprising name in mind for its next host.

Media mogul Eddie McGuire has weighed in on the potential revival of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, saying he hopes an Australian comedian will take the reins.

McGuire, 60, has been a fixture on Australian television for more than two decades, hosting the local version of the globally popular quiz show from its debut on April 18, 1999, until it went on “hiatus” in January 2024.

Speaking to the Herald Sun on Friday, the former Collingwood Football Club president and ex-Nine CEO said he wasn’t surprised to hear reports that the iconic format will return on Network 10.

Media mogul Eddie McGuire has weighed in on the potential revival of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ and his unexpected pick or its next host. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
He also floated an unexpected name for the hosting role.

“I always said it was a hiatus, not the end,” McGuire said.

“It’s one of the most successful television shows around the world and spawned an Academy Award-winning movie. It’s such a joyous show and to me it was only a matter of time.

“I just hope if it comes back it’s done well. It might be Sam Pang hosting, who knows.”

McGuire, who now runs production company JAM TV, noted that his own appointment as Millionaire host was considered a “surprise choice” at the time.

“It’s not a quiz show and the host gets to play around, so I hope whoever gets it will have great fun,” he said.

Eddie McGuire has been a fixture on Australian television for more than two decades, hosting the local version of the globally popular quiz show from its debut on April 18, 1999, until January 2024. Picture: NCA
The father-of-two has long expressed confidence that the show would return after its “hiatus” was announced in August 2023.

“Shows sometimes become victims of their own success and their longevity,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time.

“I sat down and said hello to people on the show and made them feel good over 15,500 times. Each of those people had their moment on TV, and some of them took home some money.

“It’ll come back. It’s too good a format not to.”

At its peak, ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ pulled in over two million viewers and was among Australia’s top-rated programs.

The format’s spin-off, ‘Millionaire Hot Seat’, premiered in 2009, with McGuire continuing as host until last year.

If Pang, 51, does take on the role, he’ll have plenty on his plate- his new show ‘Sam Pang Tonight’ launched this week on Network 10 and 10Play.

The eight-episode series premiered on Monday at 8:40 pm, drawing mixed reviews and prompting comparisons to former network star Rove McManus’ ‘Rove Live’ and ‘Saturday Night Rove’.