Broadcast reporting that ITV have commissioned words meets Mastermind meets bingo format Lingo, with Adil Ray to host. Congrats to Buzzerblog for spotting the contestant call out a few days ago and suggesting correctly it “sounded like Lingo“.
My main concern is that an hour of it feels like it might be a bit much. Still, though.
It’s not the first time the format has been tried in the UK, it’s fair to suggest it’s had much more success internationally.
I think the big problem with this is that it’s a format that so long-running on momentum and because there would be an outrage if it was cancelled, but it would never be commissioned now, just like Countdown. So if they were sold this on the basis that it’s hugely successful in France and the Netherlands, I think they’re going to be disappointed.
They bought it back to the Netherlands after a five year break, but it sounds like it’s getting “rested” this Autumn.
Well I suspect one reason they’re going with 3 teams is to make it go to an hour- maybe first part just teams trying to get words, then top 2 play with the Lingo cards? (you could do 3 teams 3 cards I guess)
It was either that or do something like this…
https://youtu.be/7K8eBrUUCIQ
Here’s the press release by the production company BTW- 30 eps ordered..
https://www.wildcardtv.com/news/itv-gets-set-to-lingo
It is perhaps interesting, perhaps not, that there is no mention of drawing balls mentioned in the press release.
I wonder if there’s genuine concern that if people hear “Bingo game show” they’re inherently going to gravitate to thoughts of Bob’s Full House