Blankety Blank
A British game show revived multiple times since 1997.
Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the American program Match Game, where contestants try to match answers given by celebrity panellists to fill-in-the-blank questions. It first aired in 1979 on BBC1 and has been revived multiple times, most recently with Bradley Walsh hosting a series that premiered in 2021. The show was axed by the BBC in July 2026 as part of cost-cutting measures.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy panel game
- Presenter
- Terry Wogan
- Les Dawson
- Lily Savage
- David Walliams
- Bradley Walsh
- Based on
- Match Game, Frank Wayne
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- 20
- Episodes
- 266 (inc. 12 Christmas specials, and 8 that were unaired)
- Runtime
- 30–60 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Format
Two contestants compete to match answers given by six celebrity panellists to fill-in-the-blank statements. The main game has two rounds; the contestant with initial control in each round chooses between two statements, labelled A or B, and the host reads the chosen one aloud with one word replaced by the word blank. Statements often aim for comedic double entendre answers. While the contestant thinks, celebrities write their responses on cards without conferring, then reveal them one at a time after the contestant states an answer. A contestant scores one point for each celebrity whose answer exactly matches or is reasonably close, as judged off-screen. The opposing contestant then takes the unused statement. Initial control of the first round is decided by coin toss; the trailing contestant starts the second round. Only celebrities not matched in the first round participate in the second, so a maximum of six points is possible per round, increasing the chance of a tie-break. If a contestant matches all six in the first round, they sit out the second and the opponent gets one chance to tie; if the trailing contestant fails to at least tie, the game ends immediately. The high scorer after two rounds wins and advances to the Supermatch. Ties are broken with one final question where both contestants write answers and celebrities reveal theirs one at a time; the first contestant to raise a matching answer wins, and if no winner emerges a new question is played. The A/B choice was eliminated when Les Dawson became host and reinstated when Lily Savage succeeded him.
Revivals and special editions
Blankety Blank returned as a one-off for Children in Need in November 2004, with Terry Wogan reprising his role as host and using his wand microphone; panellists included David Coulthard, Simon Cowell, Jamie Cullum, Maureen Lipman, Donny Osmond and Barbara Windsor. An interactive DVD game featuring Wogan was released in 2006. Another one-off aired on ITV's Gameshow Marathon on 21 April 2007, hosted by Vernon Kay, with panellists including Fern Britton, Andrew Castle, Lorraine Chase, Joe Pasquale, Vic Reeves and Holly Willoughby. A one-off for Comic Relief's 24 Hour Panel People was recorded on 6 March 2011 and broadcast live on the Red Nose Day website, with an edited version on BBC Three on 14 March; Paul O'Grady hosted as himself, and panellists included Keith Harris (with Orville the Duck), George Lamb, Stacey Solomon, David Tennant, David Walliams and Barbara Windsor. David Walliams hosted a Christmas special on ITV on 24 December 2016, with seven panellists including the Chuckle Brothers playing together at one position.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Blankety Blank first air?
Blankety Blank first aired on 18 January 1979.
When did Blankety Blank end?
Blankety Blank last aired on 12 March 1990.
More in British Television Series Revived After Cancellation
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