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• ‘High concept’ new series to be fronted by Ant and Dec • The X Factor’s US judges to be confirmed by end of week Simon Cowell has taken time out from the launch of The X Factor in the US to unveil his latest ITV1 production – a gameshow in which contestants will be able to win £1m on the spin of a wheel. Red or Black will be fronted by Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and broadcast live over the course of seven consecutive nights later this year on ITV1. It has the £1m prize in common with another ITV1 show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. But unlike its 13-year-old predecessor, contestants won’t have to know anything to win it. “No talent is involved,” said Donnelly. “If your luck holds out 10 times in a row you will win a million.” Cowell said the idea for the show was first mooted 10 years ago and he was immediately attracted to it. “A lot of shows I see are quite boring to watch. “I like the fact we are doing something that is high concept. Thank goodness ITV gives us the budget to do something big and put their money where their mouth is,” he added. “Every single night someone is going to have to make that decision [between red or black]. We have only seen that a few times on TV.” Like Cowell’s other ITV1 shows, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, Red or Black will be filmed in an arena – in this case, Wembley Arena – with viewers following contestants’ journies from the early rounds to the final spin of the wheel. Some 7,000 contestants will initially take part, whittled down by a series of 50/50 challenges in which they will have to predict an outcome. Not all the challenges will be as straightforward as spinning a wheel – others will include cars dropping out of aeroplanes, people strapped to rockets, and giant, arena-sized pinball machines, many of them featuring big name guests. However, acutely aware of the restrictions on gambling in television programmes, Cowell preferred to say “risk their luck” rather than gamble when describing how the show works. “It’s not gambling because people are not using their own cash,” he added. Cowell said he hoped to take Red or Black “around the world”. “I hope if it succeeds it will travel. I have had interest from America already.” The programme will be co-produced by Cowell’s Syco TV and ITV Studios. The ITV director of entertainment and comedy, Elaine Bedell, said it would be “one of the biggest TV events on ITV this year”. She added that Cowell had rung her with the idea. “This being Simon this was at 1.30am, but even then it was quite a compelling idea.” ITV will launch its appeal for Red or Black contestants on ITV1 tonight. Viewers have until 13 May to apply. Cowell also said the judges lineup on the US version of The X Factor – the source of endless speculation over whether Cheryl Cole will join him on the show – would be confirmed by the end of the week. He also revealed there would be changes to the format of the semi-final and final of The X Factor in the UK, prompting speculation that it may move to Wembley Arena. Cowell refused to confirm details except to say it would be “very, very exciting”. •