Blankety Blank is set to return to BBC One with a new Saturday night series, hosted by The Chase’s Bradley Walsh.
The return of the popular TV game show comes after the success of a nine episode run and two festive specials with Walsh.
The 2021 series drew in an average audience of 5.8 million, making it the UK’s highest new launching game show of 2021.
The long-running programme sees celebrities help contestants to fill in the missing words of a sentence, first running from 1979 to 1990 with presenters Sir Terry Wogan and then Les Dawson.
Bradley Walsh will now front a 10-episode run, with BBC bosses promising a “host of stars”, who will be confirmed in due course.
The last series featured the likes of Tess Daly, David Haye, Adil Ray, Jimmy Carr, Judi Love, Sue Perkins, Judy Murray, Craig Revel Horwood and Adjoa Andoh.
Bradley Walsh said: “I absolutely love recording this show. We have some of the funniest comedians and some of Britain’s most well-known faces join us on the panel, and they’re incredible, but for me, it’s the players that steal the show.
“I’m looking forward to getting back into the studio and having a blast filming.”
Kate Phillips, Director of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC, added: “It’s been so brilliant having Blankety Blank back on the Beeb.
“And Bradley really is the perfect host for this very funny family show, dealing with unpredictable celebrities, contestants, and prizes!”
Charlie Irwin, Director of Programmes at Blankety Blank’s production company Thames said: “It’s astonishing to think that Blankety Blank has been a part of our lives for 43 years and we’re honoured to be able to continue entertaining audiences – particularly those who don’t remember the original series!”
Fronted by Sir Terry Wogan from its debut in 1979 until 1983, he was succeeded by Les Dawson, the host until 1990.
O’Grady presented the revival as alter-ego Lily Savage on the BBC from 1997 to 1999, then on ITV from 2001 to 2002.
At its height of its popularity, the show had 20 million viewers.
Throughout the show’s time, it pulled in plenty of celebrity guests, including Kenny Everett, Lorraine Chase and Cheryl Baker.
Comic Kenny often had viewers in stitches – especially when he broke Sir Terry’s microphone.
The winner often came away with a slightly unimpressive prize, or the consolation Blankety Blank chequebook.
When a trip on Concorde was offered one week, Dawson told the audience, "Don't get excited - it just goes to the end of the runway and back."
