Sir Alex Ferguson to appear on Millionaire TV show

Sir Alex Ferguson will appear on the last live edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Picture: PA

He will team up with presenter Eamonn Holmes for a celebrity edition of the show screened on ITV on Thursday, nine years after they first took part in the programme.

Former Countdown star Carol Vorderman is also taking part, and the maths whiz will be hoping to find the formula to win cash for charity when she is paired with actress Caroline Quentin.

ITV axed the show, with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? bowing out next year, but there are two further pre-recorded celebrity specials to be screened in the coming months.

Also lined up to appear are former Westlife star Kian Egan and Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington, both recently contestants on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!.

Holmes, who won £32,000 during his last performance on the show with the ex-Man Utd manager, said: “It will be a chance to see if Sir Alex still possesses his winning ways and if we can get the better of Chris Tarrant with our mind games.

“Although it’s a tremendous honour to be invited back, the pressure is on to see if we can better our winnings.”

Vorderman said: “It’s my birthday on Christmas Eve - the reason I’m called Carol - so a nice million-pound question would be a lovely birthday present for my chosen charity too.”

The show will be presented by regular question master Chris Tarrant and the stars will play for their favourite charities.

The Christmas special edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is to be screened by ITV at 9pm on Thursday.