Blankety Blank is making a comeback with Bradley Walsh as host

It will air on the BBC

Author: Alex RossPublished 30th Apr 2021

Ever since the original version of comedy game show Blankety Blank ended back in 1990, a number of revival versions have hit our screens, in 1997, 2001, 2016, and most recently in 2020 for a Christmas special with Bradley Walsh.

Well, we've got some good news for fans of the hit show as it has been announced that following the success of last year's Christmas special, Bradley Walsh is now back to record a full series!

Airing on the BBC, Bradley will host 10 episodes of the show, with each episode featuring a panel of six celebrities to fill in missing blanks in order to win some amazing prizes for the 2021 contestants.

Speaking about his upcoming involvement in the show, Bradley said: “I struggle to remember the last time I laughed as much as when I was filming Blankety Blank - so when they asked if I’d be up for doing a series, I jumped at the chance, I’m just so pleased I get to be a part of it. I stand on the shoulders of giants like Les Dawson and Sir Terry Wogan but I’m hoping to put my own stamp on the fantastically nostalgic show.”

Blankety Blank first hit our TV screens with Terry Wogan way back in 1979, running until 1983 before Les Dawson took over as host until 1990.

The comedy game show was then revived in 1997, running for two years with Paul O'Grady (as Lily Savage) as host. David Walliams then stepped in for a Christmas special in 2016, before Bradley Walsh took over in 2020.

Check out which other TV shows we'd love to make a comeback:

Footballers' Wives

Broadcasting between 2002-2006, Footballers' Wives followed fictional Premier League football club Earls Park, as well as all of the drama from both the players and their fiery wives!

Bad Girls

Set inside a fictional women's prison, Bad Girls aired on ITV between 1996-2006 and featured some very famous faces, including Claire King and Debra Stephenson.

Benidorm

Airing for a huge 10 series between 2007 and 2018, ITV/STV sitcom Benidorm was a huge hit with fans. Ever since the show ended, fans have been begging creator Derren Litten to create more.

The Bill

First broadcast in 1983, police drama The Bill certainly proved popular, airing until 2010. The show focused on the lives and work of police officers and starred well-known actors such as Trudie Goodwin, Graham Cole and Mark Wingett.

Don't Try This At Home

Who remembers sitting down in front of the TV on a Saturday night, watching on as Davina McCall helped members of the public take on tough and fearful challenges?


This needs to come back!

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

She was confident, funny, magical AND she had a talking cat. Sabrina made us all want to be a witch!


The show was also rebooted between 2018 and 2020 as a Netflix series called Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Ugly Betty

Believe it or not, it's been a massive 16 years since Ugly Betty last aired on our screens! The show, which featured actress America Ferrera, followed a character called Betty Suarez, who despite her lack of 'style', landed a job at a very prestigious fashion magazine.

Where The Heart Is

The British drama, which was filmed in the Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite, proved very popular with viewers between 1997-2006, showcasing the lives of a group of district nurses and their families.

It's a Knockout

It was stupid, it was crazy, but it was certainly fun! It's a Knockout started way back in 1966, but the show made a number of returns on BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5!

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

We'd love to see Will Smith get back into his character alongside Carlton Banks, however we got the next best thing earlier this year, with the Fresh Prince reboot called Bel Air, which was released earlier this year where Jabari Banks played Will Smith.

Stars In Their Eyes

A true classic! Stars In Their Eyes, originally hosted by Leslie Crowther, first aired in 1990 with Matthew Kelly taking over in 1993. The show did make a return with Harry Hill in 2015, but it didn't quite take off!

The Queen's Nose

Who would have thought that rubbing a 50p coin would be so interesting? We used to love watching the adventures of Harmony as she used up her magic wishes.

Gossip Girl

Although the show was given a reboot in 2021 with a brand new cast, it didn't live up to expectations of the original series, which aired between 2007-2012.

Fun House

We used to love watching two schools battle each other in three rounds of madness. Bring back the gunge and Pat Sharp's crazy hairstyles!

Grange Hill

Despite being at school all day, we loved to come home and watch other people be at school. Strange. But gripping story lines and relatable characters had us glued to our screens.

London's Burning

Airing between 1988 and 2002, London's Burning documented the lives of a fictional London Fire Brigade Blue Watch at the fictional Blackwall fire station.

The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory was on TV from 2007 until 2019. The show centred around two physicists who shared an apartment, Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter and Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, and their friendship with Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco, who lived opposite.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones lasted for eight seasons between 2011 – 2019. The show starred Sean Bean as Eddard 'Ned' Stark and Kit Harington as Jon Snow.


House of Dragons is the new prequel but we really wish we'd have gotten more (or another ending) to the original Game of Thrones TV show. Who knows, maybe when the last book is out they might make some more episodes…

Although bosses have promised further details, such as celebrity guests and broadcast details in due course, Kate Phillips, Director of Entertainment at the BBC, said: “Blankety Blank has it all - ridiculous questions, unpredictable celebrities, bizarre prizes and, in Bradley a very funny and much loved host. I can’t wait for everyone to watch and start filling in those blanks!”

Amelia Brown, Managing Director of Thames, added: “To be able to team this legendary format with the legend that is Bradley Walsh in a series, is so exciting and a match made in heaven. We can’t wait to get into studio with Bradley and a host of brilliant panellists.”

Blankety Blank is expected to air on BBC One later in the year.

Now read:

All of the TV shows we can’t wait to return in 2021

Paul Sinha confirms why he's NOT involved in new series of Beat The Chasers

The best comfort TV boxsets to get your through lockdown

How to listen to Downtown Radio:

Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.