Who Wants to Be a Millionaire began as a British television quiz show in 1998 and soon became a worldwide format, with local versions using the same tense music and pauses before a final answer. The musical build became one of the show's most recognisable signatures, signalling that a contestant was about to win or lose a large sum. Clips of that moment spread through video edits and soundboards, and the cue is now used far beyond the original show. It remains popular because the format is familiar in many countries, and the music alone can create suspense without explanation.