The BBC have commissioned a further two series of Blankety Blank.
The revived classic BBC One game show will once again be hosted by comedian and actor Bradley Walsh, who will guide a panel of celebrities and contestants over multiple rounds, as they compete to win a range of unique prizes.
The series, which sees six celebrities helping contestants to fill in missing blanks, has rated reasonably well for the beeb on Saturday nights following a previous failed revival by ITV with David Walliams as host in 2016.
Speaking on the recommission, Bradley Walsh said:
“I tell you what, there isn’t a show quite like Blankety Blank – it’s absolutely brilliant fun from start to finish. The celebrities will come up to me after a record and tell me how much fun they had filming, but more importantly, so do the contestants. These wonderful people come on to the show wanting a great experience and boy do they get it – because let’s be honest, they’re not there for the prizes are they?!”
The format is based on The Match Game, a long-running stateside format. The show arrived in the UK in 1979 with Sir Terry Wogan as host. Others to oversee proceedings include Les Dawson and Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage. with the latter hosting the show initially for BBC One before a short run on ITV.
A Christmas special saw the show return to the Beeb in 2020, with a full series commissioned the following year.
A number of one off specials have aired between main series including for Children In Need, as part of ITV’s Gameshow Marathon in 2007 and Comic Relief’s 24 Hour Panel People.
The programme became notorious for its cheap production values and terrible prizes, mocked by all previous hosts from Wogan through to Walliams. Classic episodes can regularly be seen on Challenge TV.
Charlie Irwin, Managing Director of Thames (a Fremantle label), said:
“It’s been a huge privilege to be part of the team in charge of bringing Blankety Blank to new audiences. We are thrilled with how it’s been received and are so excited to make more for the BBC. We genuinely love this show and filming it is an absolute joy.”
Blankety Blank is a Thames production for BBC One. Would-be contestants can apply to be on the show by visiting bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/take-part/blankety-blank.
