Mattel and ITV unite in deal to air game show version of the board game following a stateside TV version…
Mattel the global toy and family entertainment company and ITV have today announced a UK TV version of Pictionary. The twenty-five half-hour episodes are based on world’s most popular drawing game. The show will be produced by Whisper North and hosted by Mel Giedroyc.
Mel Giedroyc:
“Everyone is familiar with Pictionary, and I am so excited to help bring the game to life on television. It is such a pleasure to be a part of and I know people will love the show.”
The stateside series is hosted by Jerry O’Connnell, produced by Fox First Run, and is currently now in its third series.
Based on Mattel’s popular board game of quick-fire sketches and hilarious guesses, Pictionary will follow the same rules as the familiar at-home game and will see two teams battle against each other. In the classic sketching and guessing game Mel Giedroyc will be joined by two celebrity team captains who will lead their teams of contestants.
Their mission is to draw images to match a word or phrase from a specific category and the teammates will have to guess correctly to score. The show proves you don’t have to be an artist to draw and in fact, if you can’t draw, it makes it even funnier! With the chance to win an incredible prize, the stakes are high…
Pictionary will launch on ITV1, STV and ITVX at the end of this year with a Christmas special and then series one will include a run of 24 episodes. It’s not the first picture-based game show for ITV, with Win, Lose or Draw! proving a hit in the 1990s for ITV Daytime.
Alex Godfrey, Vice President of Content Distribution, Mattel:
“Mattel is excited to see Pictionary’s popularity with viewers, and we can’t wait to bring this beloved game show to UK audiences, inviting even more fans of the classic game to join in on the fun.”
Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment & Daytime ITV:
“I am thrilled we are bringing this much loved game show to the UK. It’s perfect for all the family to enjoy and play along at home. With Mel Giedroyc at the helm, ‘Pictionary’ is in the hands of a true entertainer. Her infectious energy and quick wit make her the perfect choice to host the show.”
Pictionary is a Whisper North production for ITV who also produce the current UK versions of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune on ITV.
