Viewers will be able to send answers to on-screen questions

Viewers who answer multiple-choice answers correctly will be in the running for daily prizes of �1,000, as well as the chance to appear in the "fastest finger first" selection in the show's next series.

The programme's makers, Celador, says it is the first time the technology has been used in such a way by a television programme. Other shows, such as Big Brother, use interactive mobile services for voting.

Viewers will be charged a one-off fee of �1 to use the service, as well as their normal texting fees from their mobile network. The system will be able to deal with 1.8 million messages an hour.

'Straightforward to use'

"People watching at home already join in the fun, shouting at their TV screens," said Chris Tarrant, the host of the TV quiz.

"Now they can pick up their mobiles and do something about it. The technology is amazing and so straightforward to use."

The system is being used on 60 episodes of the Who Wants to be a Millionaire Classic episodes being shown this summer. Celador then plans to use it on the next new series of the show.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which is hosted by Chris Tarrant, has become an international hit, and the format is shown in more than 100 countries.

The show, which remains one of the most popular primetime shows on ITV1 was recently the subject of a fraud case.

Retired army major Charles Ingram, wife Diana and college lecturer Whittock were found guilty of cheating in April, after using a series of coded coughs to win the �1m prize.