This Europe: Who'd want to be a dinar millionaire?

Traumatised by a decade of isolation and poverty, post-Milosevic Serbia has taken to TV fun and thrills with the introduction of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

The suspense, setting and grilling of contenders is the same as everywhere else the quiz is aired.

The top prize is attractive by Serbian standards, 3m dinars (£31,000), a sum large enough for a flat in the capital of Belgrade.

"We get thousands of calls every day from people who want to take part in the quiz," said Bogoljub Karic, owner of private BK TV, which obtained the franchise. Mr Karic, a former crony of Slobodan Milosevic, quickly changed allegiance when the leader fell from power. The millionaire's luxurious villa, called Jelena, is the setting for the quiz. Rod Taylor, executive producer of Celador International, which franchises the quiz, said: "This is a game show. We're not remembering past problems." Its arrival showed the improvement of the economy, he added.

In one show, contenders sweated over questions such as: When did Great Britain officially adopt that name, and when did the Yugoslav basketball team win World or European championships? The thrills of the Western quiz and the pompous atmosphere surrounding the event contrast sharply with the Serbia of the recent past.

Three years ago Nato was bombing the country because of Mr Milosevic's treatment of ethnic Albanians. The headquarters of Serbian television became the most controversial target.