Blankety back with Bradley

Bradley Walsh hosts reborn game show

GAME show Blankety Blank is making a comeback, with The Chase star Bradley Walsh at the helm.

If the pilot goes well... a full series will follow A TV SOURCE ON NEW BLANKETY BLANK SHOW

BBC bosses commissioned a topsecret pilot after Bradley agreed to host. A source said: “Bradley is honoured to be following in the footsteps of such great presenters and TV legends. “It’s a lot of pressure reviving such a well-loved format but Bradley’s up for it.

“If the pilot goes well... a full series will follow.”

Sir Terry Wogan presented the show from its debut in 1979 to 1983, succeeded by Les Dawson, the host until 1990. Paul O’Grady presented a revival as Lily Savage on the BBC from 19971999, then on ITV from 2001-2002.

At its height the show had 20 million viewers but a BBC Annual Report noted: “The prominence of its success in the schedules led to suggestions that the whole network had become trivialised.” The show was last on our screens for a one-off ITV Christmas special in 2016, hosted by David Walliams, with Anne Robinson, Louis Walsh, Lesley Joseph, Joe Lycett, Brooke Vincent and the Chuckle Brothers as guests.

This week footage emerged of Captain Tom Moore on Blankety Blank. Aged 63, he was on the 1983 Christmas special, hosted by Wogan.

But he did not do well and left with the infamous consolation prize – a Blankety Blank cheque book and pen.

First, it may be an idea to explain to younger viewers what a chequebook is...