The man who claims the hit ITV show Who Wants to be a Millionaire was his idea is a journalist who used to work for the Southern Daily Echo.

Still based in Southampton, Mike Bull now operates as a freelance.

He is suing ITV bosses, claiming they used ideas he sent in for a show called HELP.

Mike spotted the similarities when the show was first screened in 1998. He sent his ideas off in 1997 but the show’s makers say their programme – and the original idea – dates from 1996.

He told the Daily Echo: “When I first went to ITV with ideas for my show, HELP, I was told it was original and refreshing. But they didn’t take up the idea.

“Less than a year later, I watched Millionaire and could not believe what I was seeing.”

He is suing the TV company over more than 20 claimed similarities, including the phone-a-friend section, and could be in line for a multi-million pound payout if he wins.

But ITV has hit back, promising to vigorously defend any legal action.

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