ITV poaches top BBC star to host brand new game show in ‘make or break adventure’
ITV HAS signed up a huge BBC household name to host their brand new game show, The Sun can reveal.
Bosses at the channel have bagged Dragons’ Den tycoon Sara Davies to be the face of their new daytime series Time Is Money.
Sara, 40, will swap the business den for the high-octane show that sees contestants start the game with the jackpot prize, in a twist.
Throughout the competition, each hopeful must battle against the clock to keep the cash - and one wrong answer will see it slip away.
With Sara guiding the contestants through each round, Time Is Money promises tension-filled rounds as the last remaining contestant at the end of the game will walk away with the entire prize pot.
Speaking about her channel hop, Sara said: "I’m absolutely delighted to be hosting Time Is Money.
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“This show is unlike anything you’ve seen before — it’s full-on, it’s exhilarating, and the pressure is real.
“It’s going to be a rollercoaster of excitement and tension, and I can’t wait to see who’ll keep their cool under pressure. Get ready for a make or break adventure, because time really is money!"
ITV green-lighting Time Is Money comes as its already established shows such as The Chase, Tipping Point and Deal or No Deal continue to dominate daytime TV schedules.
The broadcaster says The Chase is the number one game show for the past nine consecutive years, with its ‘fast channel’ on ITVX the second most-watched on the streaming platform.
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Deal or No Deal’s reboot has seen ten episodes this year pull in two million viewers, having generated a massive 10 million streams last year alone on ITVX.
Ben Shephard’s Tipping Point - which The Sun recently revealed would return for new episodes after a year off filming - averages 1.6 million viewers in its 4pm slot.
Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment & Daytime at ITV said: “It’s been fantastic to see our afternoon game shows continue to thrive this year with The Chase, Deal or No Deal, Lingo and Tipping Point all delivering strong ratings and growing audiences.
“These shows have become a staple for daytime TV and we’re thrilled to add Time Is Money to the mix. With its unique blend of fast-paced quiz action and high-stakes drama, Time Is Money will perfectly complement our existing lineup, as will Sara Davies as host.”
Who is Dragon's Den star Sara Davies?
Born: April 23, 1984 in Coundoun, County Durham.
Business start: Founded her craft supplier company, Crafter's Companion, in 2005 whilst she was still at university.
Breakout product: She designed and marketed her ground-breaking product The Enveloper, selling over 8,000 in the first 24 of hours of the product being debuted on shopping channel Ideal World.
Net worth: Estimated at £37 million
Dragon's Den: Sara became the show's youngest ever female investor to join the panel when she joined in 2019, replacing Jenny Campbell for the seventeenth series.
Family history: Sara met husband Simon Davies when they were teenagers and they wed in 2007. They have two sons together - Oliver and Charlie.
Notable achievements: Sara received an MBE from Prince William in 2016, for services to the economy.
TV history: Sara appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, and was partnered with Aljaž Škorjanec, but the pair didn't make it through to the final. She makes regular appearances on ITV panel show Loose Women and also starred in Ultimate Wedding Planner alongside Fred Sirieix and wedding industry expert Raj Somaiya.