MICHAEL McINTYRE’s The Wheel is spinning its way back onto BBC One and iPlayer.
Here we take a look at how the quiz works and how much can theoretically be won on the much-loved show.
What is The Wheel?
The Wheel is a British television game show hosted by Michael McIntyre.
It airs on Saturday evenings on BBC One.
The quiz features three contestants and seven celebrities in every episode.
Each star guest has an expert subject.
Contestants sit below the celebrity wheel on a smaller wheel of their own.
At the start of each round, the contestant wheel is randomly spun, with one person selected to rise up and sit at the centre of the main wheel, meaning they are in control.
Gameplay involves this contestant choosing a question category, then The Wheel selects a random celebrity to help them answer.
The contestant picks the category and someone to “shut down” – the celeb they believe is least likely to know the answer.
The contestant and their chosen celebrity have to answer a multiple-choice question together.
If the question is answered correctly, money is added to the collective prize bank.
The category’s expert gets a larger reward, while anyone else gets a standard amount.
If the contestant chooses wrong or The Wheel spins onto the “shut down” celebrity, control passes back to the contestant wheel, and another person gets a chance to play.
Rounds continue until all categories are completed.
The final contestant in control can attempt the big Cash Out question.
There’s also the Moneyspinner round, which was introduced in the second series.
This segment allows all experts to help build the prize pot further by answering successive questions under pressure as The Wheel spins.
What is prize money on The Wheel?
Prize money on The Wheel depends on a number of factors:
- Correct answers to category questions
- The outcome of special rounds such as Moneyspinner
- Choices made in the final Cash Out
Each correct answer in the main game normally adds £3,000 to the prize bank if a non-expert helps, or £10,000 if the expert for that subject is selected.
Additional bonuses including a Perfect Wheel – when all experts answer correctly – can further boost the prize bank by £5,000.
The Moneyspinner can add up to £10,000 per episode.
In the final Cash Out, the contestant faces a big decision.
They choose from the best, middle or worst performing expert for their final question.
The prize amount is tied to this choice – picking the worst expert gives the opportunity to win double the money banked.
The middle performer yields the full banked amount.
While the best can only win half the prize bank.
This high-stakes choice is central to the format and contributes to both tension and showmanship.
In November 2022, a contestant won the largest ever amount the show has given away.
Jonathan from Surrey ended up taking home £116,000 – the biggest win as of October 2025.
On why the prize money meant so much to him, he told host Michael: “My wife fell ill at the start of the pandemic, so I had to leave my job as a bus driver, train driver, started my waste management business, to give me flexibilities so that I can be around to care for her and care for my children. They’re both autistic.”
Another massive payout on The Wheel was £96,000, amazingly also won during the same month and year.
Contestant Melfred chose the worst performing expert for the final Cash Out question.
By correctly answering, “What is Jupiter’s red spot?”, he earned double the prize bank, walking away with £96,000.
The theoretical maximum, factoring in every possible bonus and doubling, is a whopping £230,000.
But if the final question attempt is answered incorrectly, contestants don’t take home any prize money at all.
The new series premieres on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 8.20pm.
