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Blankety Blank

Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show which first aired in 1979. The show is based on the American game show Match Game, with contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity panellists to fill-in-the-blank questions.

The original series ran from 18 January 1979 to 12 March 1990 on BBC1, hosted first by Terry Wogan from 1979 until 1983, then by Les Dawson from 1984 until 1990. A revival hosted by Paul O'Grady (under his drag alter-ego Lily Savage) was produced by Pearson Television's UK subsidiary Fremantle (UK) Productions for BBC One from 26 December 1997 to 28 December 1999, followed with ITV from 7 January 2001 to 10 August 2002 as Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.

David Walliams hosted a one-off Christmas special for ITV on 24 December 2016, with Bradley Walsh hosting a 2020 Christmas special of the show for the BBC, which in turn led to a second revival series that premiered on 2 October 2021.

Format

Main game

Two contestants compete, each attempting to match as many of the six celebrity panellists as possible in a series of fill-in-the-blank statements.

The main game is played in two rounds. The contestant with initial control in each round is given a blind choice of two statements, "A" or "B", and the host reads the chosen one aloud, with one word missing that is indicated by the word "blank". Statements are frequently written with comedic, double entendre answers in mind. A classic example: "Did you catch a glimpse of that girl on the corner? She has the world's biggest blank".

While the contestant thinks of an answer, the celebrities write their responses on cards, without conferring. Once all six have done so, usually indicated by the celebrities lighting up their name card, the contestant states their answer. The host then asks the celebrities to reveal theirs, one at a time. The contestant scores one point for each celebrity whose answer is either an exact match or reasonably close, as determined by a panel of off-screen judges. The opposing contestant then takes a turn with the unused statement.

Initial control of the first round is determined by coin toss, while the trailing contestant after the first round starts the second. Only the celebrities that a contestant fails to match in the first round participate on that turn in the second, so there is only ever a maximum of six points possible. This also increases the chance of a tie-break. If a contestant makes all six matches in the first round, they sit out for the second and the opponent is given one chance to tie the score. Should the trailing contestant fail to at least tie the score, the game ends immediately without the leader having to take a turn.

The high scorer after two rounds wins the game and advances to the Supermatch. Ties are broken with one final question in which both contestants write down their responses and the celebrities then give their answers, one at a time. The first contestant to raise their matching answer wins; if the tiebreaker ends with no winner, a new question is played.

The "A"/"B" choice was eliminated when Les Dawson became the host, and reinstated once Lily Savage succeeded him.

Supermatch

The contestant is presented with a fill-in-the-blank phrase and must attempt to choose the most common response based on a studio audience survey. They may ask any three celebrities for help, then use one of those responses or offer one of their own. The contestant earns 150, 100 or 50 Blanks for matching the first, second, or third most popular answers, respectively. Failing to match any of these answers ends the round immediately.

A second main game is then played with two new contestants, and the winner plays the Supermatch as above. The winner who scores higher in the Supermatch becomes the day's champion; any ties are broken as in the main game. The champion then chooses one celebrity to match against on a short phrase, and an exact match doubles the number of Blanks earned in the Supermatch. Regardless of the outcome, the champion receives a prize whose value depends on the final total of Blanks. Each episode offers a star prize for 300 Blanks, requiring a contestant to match the most popular answer in their own Supermatch and win the head-to-head final.

On Lily Savage's Blankety Blank, the contestant with the highest Supermatch score or winner of a tiebreaker played the head-to-head round for an additional prize. In the current revival, both players play the tiebreaker even without a tie.

Supermatch prizes

Prizes on British game shows prior to 1990 were poor by modern standards. The Independent Broadcasting Authority restricted the value of prizes on ITV shows, and BBC-programme prizes were also of a modest value. Channels regulated by the Independent Broadcasting Authority were limited to the giving away prizes with the maximum value usually being £1,750. The poor-quality prizes on Blankety Blank became a running joke throughout the show's various runs, particularly during the Dawson era. Dawson drew attention to the fact that the prizes were less-than-mediocre, not pretending that the show had "fabulous prizes" as others did, but making a joke of it, such as referring to them as "fire salvaged" prizes.

The consolation prize was the Blankety Blank chequebook and pen, which Dawson would often call "The Blankety Blank chequepen and book!" In 1993, the IBA prize limits had been lifted, and the star prize on the 1990s revival was generally a holiday.

In the 2021 series, the Supermatch prizes consist of £500, £750, and something worth more than £750.

Celebrity panellists

Unaired pilots (1978)

Series 1 (1979)

Series 2 (1979)

Series 3 (1980)

  • Show 1 (4 September 1980) – Katie Boyle, Janet Brown, Lorraine Chase, Barry Cryer, Val Doonican, Kenny Everett
  • Show 2 (11 September 1980) – Paul Daniels, John Junkin, Barbara Kelly, Maureen Lipman, Patrick Moore, Madeline Smith
  • Show 3 (18 September 1980) – Lennie Bennett, Judy Carne, Roy Kinnear, Julia McKenzie, Albert Pontefract, Nyree Dawn Porter
  • Show 4 (25 September 1980) – Ray Alan (with Lord Charles), Christopher Biggins, Pat Coombs, Liza Goddard, Tom O'Connor, Beryl Reid
  • Show 5 (2 October 1980) – Arthur Askey, Norman Collier, Sandra Dickinson, Diana Dors, David Hamilton, Isla St Clair
  • Show 6 (9 October 1980) – Tim Brooke-Taylor, Windsor Davies, Carol Drinkwater, Alfred Marks, Beryl Reid, Barbara Windsor
  • Show 7 (16 October 1980) – Norman Collier, Liza Goddard, David Jason, John Junkin, Annie Ross, Molly Weir
  • Show 8 (23 October 1980) – Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lorraine Chase, Noele Gordon, Larry Grayson, Roy Hudd, Sylvia Syms
  • Show 9 (30 October 1980) – Patti Boulaye, Paul Daniels, David Hamilton, Peter Jones, Libby Morris, Dilys Watling
  • Show 10 (6 November 1980) – Lennie Bennett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Jack Douglas, Karen Kay, Rula Lenska
  • Show 11 (13 November 1980) – Isla Blair, Henry Cooper, Les Dawson, Brian Murphy, Beryl Reid, Isla St Clair
  • Show 12 (20 November 1980) – Shirley Anne Field, Rolf Harris, The Krankies, Libby Morris, Tom O'Connor, Madeline Smith
  • Show 13 (27 November 1980) – Patricia Brake, Judy Geeson, Roy Hudd, David Jacobs, Beryl Reid, Willie Rushton
  • Show 14 (4 December 1980) – Kenny Everett, Pearly Gates, Maureen Lipman, Patrick Moore, Tony Selby, Sylvia Syms
  • Show 15 (11 December 1980) – Lorraine Chase, Bernard Cribbins, Paul Daniels, Jill Gascoine, Pete Murray, Barbara Woodhouse

Series 4 (1981)

  • Show 1 (3 September 1981) – Lenny Henry, David Jacobs, Roy Kinnear, Beryl Reid, Madeline Smith, Tracey Ullman
  • Show 2 (10 September 1981) – Kenny Everett, David Hamilton, Sally James, Derek Nimmo, Wendy Richard, June Whitfield
  • Show 3 (17 September 1981) – Katie Boyle, Lorraine Chase, Liza Goddard, Russell Harty, Roy Hudd, Jimmy Tarbuck
  • Show 4 (24 September 1981) – Sandra Dickinson, Arthur English, John Junkin, Spike Milligan, Beryl Reid, Dilys Watling
  • Show 5 (1 October 1981) – Frank Carson, Norman Collier, Anita Harris, Ruth Madoc, Patrick Moore, Madeline Smith
  • Show 6 (8 October 1981) – Barry Cryer, Noele Gordon, Larry Grayson, Roz Hanby, Anita Harris, Alfred Marks
  • Show 7 (15 October 1981) – Pat Coombs, Sandra Dickinson, Jack Douglas, Carol Drinkwater, Patrick Moore, Jimmy Tarbuck
  • Show 8 (22 October 1981) – Lorraine Chase, Henry Cooper, Cyril Fletcher, Karen Kay, Beryl Reid, Bernie Winters
  • Show 9 (29 October 1981) – Anita Harris, Lenny Henry, Fred Housego, Maureen Lipman, Dinah Sheridan, Jimmy Tarbuck
  • Show 10 (5 November 1981) – Janet Brown, Frank Carson, Windsor Davies, Shirley Anne Field, Liza Goddard, Pete Murray
  • Show 11 (12 November 1981) – Tony Blackburn, Lorraine Chase, Leslie Crowther, Carol Drinkwater, Mike Reid, Dinah Sheridan
  • Show 12 (19 November 1981) – Patricia Brake, Billy Dainty, Shirley Anne Field, Fred Housego, Roy Hudd, Beryl Reid
  • Show 13 (26 November 1981) – Barry Cryer, Anna Dawson, Sandra Dickinson, Michele Dotrice, Kenny Everett, Patrick Moore
  • Show 14 (3 December 1981) – Judith Chalmers, Leslie Crowther, Carol Drinkwater, David Hamilton, Rula Lenska, Jimmy Tarbuck
  • Show 15 (10 December 1981) – Dawn Addams, Bernie Clifton, Julia McKenzie, Brian Murphy, Derek Nimmo, Tessa Wyatt
  • Show 16 (17 December 1981) – Janet Brown, Billy Dainty, Paul Daniels, Cyril Fletcher, Rula Lenska, Tessa Wyatt

Series 5 (1982)

  • Show 1 (4 September 1982) – Patricia Brake, Carol Drinkwater, Larry Grayson, David Hamilton, Vincent Price, Beryl Reid
  • Show 2 (11 September 1982) – Pat Coombs, Jack Douglas, Kenny Everett, Anita Harris, Patrick Moore, Wendy Richard
  • Show 3 (18 September 1982) – Lorraine Chase, Henry Cooper, Roy Hudd, Nerys Hughes, Gloria Hunniford, Jimmy Tarbuck
  • Show 4 (25 September 1982) – Judith Chalmers, Leslie Crowther, Sandra Dickinson, Ken Dodd, Liza Goddard, Jonathan King
  • Show 5 (2 October 1982) – Tony Blackburn, Sarah Greene, Cyril Fletcher, Anita Harris, Spike Milligan, Beryl Reid
  • Show 6 (9 October 1982) – Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lorraine Chase, Lynsey de Paul, Fred Housego, Ruth Madoc, Bernie Winters
  • Show 7 (16 October 1982) – Tom O'Connor, Dana, Jim Davidson, David Hamilton, Susan Hanson, Gloria Hunniford
  • Show 8 (23 October 1982) – Lynsey De Paul, Fenella Fielding, Clement Freud, John Junkin, Wendy Richard, Ted Rogers
  • Show 9 (30 October 1982) – Barry Cryer, Dana, Kenny Everett, Noele Gordon, Danny La Rue, Maggie Philbin
  • Show 10 (6 November 1982) – Katie Boyle, Frank Carson, Bonnie Langford, Henry McGee, Patrick Moore, Tessa Wyatt
  • Show 11 (13 November 1982) – Floella Benjamin, Lorraine Chase, Norman Collier, Kenny Everett, Patrick Moore, Beryl Reid
  • Show 12 (20 November 1982) – Janet Brown, Suzanne Dando, Sandra Dickinson, Larry Grayson, Lenny Henry, Henry McGee
  • Show 13 (27 November 1982) – Pat Coombs, Ken Dodd, Stu Francis, Nerys Hughes, Roy Kinnear, Tessa Wyatt

Series 6 (1983)

  • Show 1 (3 September 1983) – Windsor Davies, Sandra Dickinson, Kenny Everett, Larry Grayson, Beryl Reid, Anneka Rice
  • Show 2 (10 September 1983) – Russell Grant, Anita Harris, Gloria Hunniford, Roy Kinnear, Wendy Richard, Ted Rogers
  • Show 3 (17 September 1983) – Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lynsey de Paul, Ruth Madoc, Nicholas Parsons, Kathy Staff, Freddie Starr
  • Show 4 (24 September 1983) – Leslie Ash, Dana, Cyril Fletcher, Mike Read, Beryl Reid, Bernie Winters
  • Show 5 (1 October 1983) – Tony Blackburn, Janet Brown, Annabel Etkind, Henry McGee, Ted Rogers, Sheila White
  • Show 6 (8 October 1983) – Lynda Baron, Lorraine Chase, Janet Ellis, Kenny Everett, Russell Grant, Patrick Moore
  • Show 7 (15 October 1983) – Sandra Dickinson, Larry Grayson, Patricia Hayes, Roy Kinnear, Jan Leeming, Bernie Winters
  • Show 8 (22 October 1983) – Joe Brown, Norman Collier, Lynsey De Paul, Gloria Hunniford, Danny La Rue, Wendy Richard
  • Show 9 (29 October 1983) – Floella Benjamin, Barry Cryer, Sabina Franklyn, Patricia Hayes, Roger Kitter, Patrick Moore
  • Show 10 (5 November 1983) – Lorraine Chase, Pat Coombs, Sandra Dickinson, Roy Hudd, John Inman, Derek Nimmo
  • Show 11 (12 November 1983) – Cilla Black, Henry Cooper, Sabina Franklyn, Keith Harris (with Orville the Duck), Lenny Henry, June Whitfield
  • Show 12 (19 November 1983) – Nerys Hughes, Jonathan King, Anneka Rice, Ted Rogers, Wayne Sleep, Sheila Steafel
  • Show 13 (26 November 1983) – Judith Chalmers, Henry Cooper, Sabina Franklyn, Roy Hudd, Diana Moran, Freddie Starr
  • Show 14 (3 December 1983) – Lorraine Chase, Kenny Everett, Noele Gordon, Patrick Moore, Cleo Rocos, Paul Shane

Series 7 (1984)

Series 8 (1985)

  • Show 1 (11 January 1985) – Faith Brown, Pat Coombs, Des Lynam, Sally James, Mike Reid, Chris Serle
  • Show 2 (18 January 1985) – Stan Boardman, Paul Heiney, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, Gary Wilmot, Tessa Wyatt
  • Show 3 (25 January 1985) – Liz Fraser, Cherry Gillespie, Roy Kinnear, Pete Murray, Dave Lee Travis, June Whitfield
  • Show 4 (1 February 1985) – Janet Brown, Bobby Davro, Patricia Hayes, Fred Housego, Tessa Sanderson, Roy Walker
  • Show 5 (8 February 1985) – Tony Blackburn, Sheila Ferguson, Sabina Franklyn, Rula Lenska, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Willie Rushton
  • Show 6 (19 February 1985) – David Copperfield, Barry Cryer, Sharron Davies, Guy Michelmore, Anna Raeburn, Bertice Reading
  • Show 7 (26 February 1985) – David Jacobs, Aimi MacDonald, Bernard Manning, Ian McCaskill, Claire Rayner, Wincey Willis
  • Show 8 (5 March 1985) – Katie Boyle, Lynsey de Paul, Fred Feast, Lesley Judd, Jonathan King, Dave Wolfe
  • Show 9 (12 March 1985) – Leslie Ash, Frank Carson, Sarah Greene, Duncan Norvelle, Chris Tarrant, Barbara Windsor
  • Show 10 (19 March 1985) – Michael Barrymore, Emily Bolton, Sue Cook, Sandra Dickinson, Rolf Harris, Nicholas Parsons

Series 9 (1985–86)

Series 10 (1986–87)

Series 11 (1987–88)

  • Show 1 (18 September 1987) – Lynda Baron, Roy Castle, John Conteh, Linda Nolan, Mike Reid, Lena Zavaroni
  • Show 2 (25 September 1987) – Frank Bough, Bill Buckley, Anne Gregg, John Pitman, Gillian Reynolds, Kathy Tayler
  • Show 3 (2 October 1987) – Jim Bowen, Linda Davidson, John Junkin, Rustie Lee, Linda Lusardi, Paul Shane
  • Show 4 (9 October 1987) – Joe Brown, Dana, Paul Heiney, Janice Long, Claire Rayner, Frankie Vaughan
  • Show 5 (16 October 1987) – Beverley Adams, Frank Carson, Barry Cryer, Christian Dion, Su Ingle, Nina Myskow
  • Show 6 (23 October 1987) – Bernie Clifton, Doc Cox, Gloria Gaynor, Maggie Moone, Gillian Taylforth, Dave Lee Travis
  • Show 7 (30 October 1987) – Geoff Capes, Norman Collier, Bella Emberg, Rula Lenska, Dinah Sheridan, Dennis Waterman
  • Show 8 (6 November 1987) – Cherry Gillespie, Debbie McGee, Duncan Norvelle, Wendy Richard, David Wilkie, Charlie Williams
  • Show 9 (13 November 1987) – Cheryl Baker, Bernard Cribbins, Mark Curry, Jean Fergusson, Roy Walker, Barbara Windsor
  • Show 10 (20 November 1987) – Thora Hird, Terry Marsh, Mo Moreland, Cynthia Payne, Bernie Winters, Steve Wright
  • Show 11 (4 December 1987) – Joe Brown, Charlie Daze, Nerys Hughes, Victor Kiam, Ellie Laine, Angela Rippon
  • Show 12 (11 December 1987) – Pat Coombs, Henry Cooper, Barry Cryer, Debbie Greenwood, Jenny Hanley, Tom Pepper
  • Show 13 (18 December 1987) – Emlyn Hughes, Jan Leeming, Jessica Martin, Tom O'Connor, Ted Robbins, Sally Thomsett
  • Show 14 (1 January 1988) – Ken Bruce, Bernie Clifton, Bonnie Langford, Ian McCaskill, Aimi MacDonald, Kathy Staff
  • Show 15 (8 January 1988) – Suzy Aitchison, Harry Carpenter, Frank Carson, Claire Rayner, Liz Robertson, Phillip Schofield
  • Show 16 (15 January 1988) – Karen Barber, Les Dennis, Peter Goodwright, Lisa Maxwell, Mary Parkinson, Peter Powell
  • Show 17 (22 January 1988) – Norman Collier, Vince Hill, Joe Longthorne, Wendy Richard, Anne Robinson, Tessa Sanderson
  • Show 18 (29 January 1988) – Floella Benjamin, Suzanne Dando, Wayne Dobson, Arthur English, Aimi MacDonald, Freddie Trueman
  • Show 19 (12 February 1988) – Karen Kay, The Krankies, Bill Owen, Anna Raeburn, Alvin Stardust
  • Show 20 (19 February 1988) – Pamela Armstrong, June Brown, Gary Davies, Samantha Fox, Henry Kelly, Kenny Lynch
  • Show 21 (26 February 1988) – Lionel Blair, Debbie Greenwood, Danny La Rue, Aimi Macdonald, Duncan Norvelle, Bertice Reading

Series 12 (1988)

  • Show 1 (9 September 1988) – John Dunn, Henry Kelly, Vicki Michelle, Hilary O'Neil, Wendy Richard, Freddie Trueman
  • Show 2 (16 September 1988) – Lynda Baron, Joe Brown, Eddie the Eagle, Bonnie Langford, Greg Rogers, Rose-Marie
  • Show 3 (7 October 1988) – Floella Benjamin, Nerys Hughes, Ellie Laine, Chris Serle, Paul Shane, Roy Walker
  • Show 4 (14 October 1988) – Christopher Biggins, Gavin Campbell, Su Ingle, Sandy Ratcliff, Claire Rayner, Steve Wright
  • Show 5 (21 October 1988) – Simon Dee, Linda Nolan, Bill Oddie, Judi Spiers, Kathy Staff, Mark Walker
  • Show 6 (28 October 1988) – Rachel Bell, Frank Carson, Suzanne Dando, William Gaunt, Tom Pepper, Sheila Steafel
  • Show 7 (4 November 1988) – Henry Cooper, Debbie Greenwood, Jan Leeming, Phillip Schofield, Dave Lee Travis, June Whitfield
  • Show 8 (11 November 1988) – Brian Blessed, Paul Coia, Doc Cox, Louise Jameson, Rustie Lee, Carmen Silvera
  • Show 9 (25 November 1988) – Vince Hill, Caron Keating, Linda Lusardi, Claire Rayner, Mike Reid, Bill Wiggins
  • Show 10 (2 December 1988) – Geoff Capes, Bernie Clifton, Barry Cryer, Bella Emberg, Debbie McGee, Adrienne Posta
  • Show 11 (9 December 1988) – Lionel Blair, Mark Curry, Lisa Maxwell, Mollie Sugden, Gillian Taylforth, Frankie Vaughan
  • Show 12 (16 December 1988) – Stan Boardman, Jean Boht, John Craven, Peter Goodwright, Aimi MacDonald, Jane Marie Osborne

Series 13 (1989–90)

  • Show 1 (7 September 1989) – Terence Alexander, Cheryl Baker, Gary Davies, Frances Edmonds, Vicki Michelle, Duncan Norvelle
  • Show 2 (14 September 1989) – Rachel Bell, Gyles Brandreth, Buster Merryfield, Maggie Moone, Rose-Marie, Steve Wright
  • Show 3 (21 September 1989) – Trevor Brooking, Joe Brown, Dana, Jimmy Hill, Rustie Lee, Judi Spiers
  • Show 4 (28 September 1989) – Pamela Armstrong, Colin Berry, Rodney Bewes, Paul Shane, Joan Sims, Gillian Taylforth
  • Show 5 (5 October 1989) – Bill Buckley, Jilly Goolden, Henry Kelly, Tom O'Connor, Bertice Reading, Kathy Tayler
  • Show 6 (12 October 1989) – Stan Boardman, Bella Emberg, Diana Moran, Linda Nolan, Dave Lee Travis, John Virgo
  • Show 7 (30 November 1989) – Jill Gascoine, Anne Gregg, Roy Hudd, Ted Robbins, Barbara Shelley, Gary Wilmot
  • Show 8 (7 December 1989) – Jean Alexander, Roy Barraclough, John Conteh, Andy Crane, Louise Jameson, Tessa Sanderson
  • Show 9 (14 December 1989) – Christopher Biggins, Lorraine Chase, Bernard Cribbins, Phillip Schofield, Vivien Stuart, Barbara Windsor
  • Show 10 (21 December 1989) – Ray Clemence, Pat Coombs, Barry Cryer, Derek Hatton, Aimi Macdonald, Lisa Maxwell
  • Show 11 (1 January 1990) – Lynda Baron, William Gaunt, Bonnie Langford, Adrian Mills, Mike Reid, Carmen Silvera
  • Show 12 (8 January 1990) – Frank Carson, Doc Cox, Sharron Davies, Jenny Hanley, Mo Moreland, Kevin Woodford
  • Show 13 (15 January 1990) – Joe Brown, Bernie Clifton, The Krankies, Janice Long, Anthea Turner
  • Show 14 (22 January 1990) – Tina Baker, Bruno Brookes, Pamela Power, Wendy Richard, Frankie Vaughan, Bernie Winters
  • Show 15 (29 January 1990) – Floella Benjamin, Michael Groth, Vince Hill, Sue Lloyd, Gail McKenna, Charlie Williams
  • Show 16 (5 February 1990) – Henry Cooper, Caron Keating, Ellie Laine, Dave Lee Travis, Jeff Stevenson, Mollie Sugden
  • Show 17 (12 February 1990) – Aiden J. Harvey, Nerys Hughes, Debbie McGee, Vicki Michelle, Billy Pearce, Roy Walker
  • Show 18 (26 February 1990) – Lynsey de Paul, Karen Kay, Patrick Macnee, Barry McGuigan, Mick Miller, Linda Thorson
  • Show 19 (5 March 1990) – Gavin Campbell, Julian Clary, Polly James, Danny La Rue, Jane Marie Osborne, Rose-Marie
  • Show 20 (12 March 1990) – John Craven, Mark Curry, Thora Hird, Matthew Kelly, Linda Lewis, Cleo Rocos

Series 14 (1998)

Series 15 (1999)

Series 16 (2001)

Series 17 (2002)

Series 18 (2021)

Series 19 (2022)

Series 20 (2023)

Series 21 (2025)

Revivals and special editions

Blankety Blank returned to British screens in November 2004 as a one-off edition as part of the BBC's annual Children in Need telethon, in which Terry Wogan reprised his role as the host of the show, accompanied by his wand microphone. Panelists included David Coulthard, Simon Cowell, Jamie Cullum, Maureen Lipman, Donny Osmond and Barbara Windsor.

In 2006, the show was released as an interactive DVD game, featuring Wogan.

Another one-off edition was shown on 21 April 2007 as part of ITV's Gameshow Marathon hosted by Vernon Kay. Panelists included Fern Britton, Andrew Castle, Lorraine Chase, Joe Pasquale, Vic Reeves and Holly Willoughby.

A one-off edition of the programme was recorded in aid of Comic Relief's 24 Hour Panel People, on 6 March 2011. The recording was broadcast live on the Red Nose Day website and, in an edited version, on BBC Three on 14 March. Paul O'Grady returned as host, this time as himself. Panelists included Keith Harris (with Orville the Duck), George Lamb, Stacey Solomon, David Tennant, David Walliams and Barbara Windsor.

On 22 August 2016, it was announced that David Walliams would front a Christmas special on ITV. The episode aired on Christmas Eve from 6.30–7.30pm and had seven panellists instead of the usual six, with the Chuckle Brothers playing together at one position.

On 14 December 2020, it was announced that Bradley Walsh would host a Christmas special on BBC One and the episode aired on Christmas Day from 7.00-7.40pm. At 5.26 million viewers, it was the third most watched Christmas Day programme in the overnight ratings. This special was so successful that the BBC announced on 30 April 2021 that it had been commissioned for a full series to air on Saturday nights later in the year on BBC One. A further series of 10 episodes (including a Christmas special) had been commissioned for transmission in 2022.

Transmissions

Series

Christmas specials

Notes

References

External links