Which Game Show Will Be Revived Next? Schofield Tipped For Primetime Comeback

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Which Game Show Will Be Revived Next? Schofield Tipped For Primetime Comeback

It's a great time to be a retro game show fan at the minute. 

Hole in the Wall looks set to make a comeback with Alison Hammond at the helm, and ITV have confirmed darts series Bullseye will return with Freddie Flintoff overseeing the oche action. 

Bullseye last aired a full series in 2006 - when Dave Spikey fronted a reboot following Jim Bowen's 14-season run, which ended in 1995 - and Hole in the Wall ran on the BBC for two seasons from 2008 to 2009. 

News of the reboots have sparked speculation on betting sites about which other former game show might return.

There are also rumours about which darts professionals will appear on Bullseye and who the new celebrity team captains will be on Hole in the Wall.

Schofield's Primetime Comeback? 

Phillip Schofield has been linked to several shows since he quit This Morning in 2023, after admitting to lying about an "unwise, but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague.

He returned to the small screen last year, with an appearance on Channel 5 show Cast Away, in which he was completely alone for 10 days on a desert island.

Schofield is now 11/8 favourite on betting apps to be a team captain on the rebooted Hole in the Wall. 

Who Will Be Team Captains On Hole In The Wall Odds

Captain

Odds

Probability

Phillip Schofield

11/8

42.1%

Josie Gibson

6/4

40%

Joe Swash

13/8

38.1%

Dermot O'Leary

2/1

33.3%

Holly Willoughby

5/2

28.6%

Anton Du Beke

3/1

25%

Prue Leith

7/2

22.2%

Paul Hollywood

4/1

20%

Kate Lawler

5/1

16.7%

Judi Love

6/1

14.3%

Noel Fielding

13/2

13.3%

Ben Shephard

7/1

12.5%

Austin Healey

8/1

11.1%

Darren Gough

10/1

9.1%

According to The Sun newspaper, Alison "jumped at the chance" to front the show, with a source telling the publication: "Hole In The Wall got great ratings when it first came out so the Beeb have decided to bring it back.

"They are currently filming the pilot to see how it shapes up. They wanted to sign Alison and she jumped at the chance to do it."

Alison has remained supportive of her former This Morning colleague Phillip following his departure from the ITV programme, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he became one of the new team captains. 

The show sees Lycra-clad celebrities attempt to squeeze their bodies through bizarrely-shaped holes in a moving wall, and avoid falling into a pool of water. 

In the original 2008 series, then-Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer Anton Du Beke and former cricketer Darren Gough were team captains. 

Anton took over hosting duties from the late, great Dale Winton for the second series in 2009, and former EastEnders star Joe Swash and ex-professional rugby union player Austin Healey were the new team captains. 

Alison's pals and fellow This Morning presenters Josie Gibson (6/4) and Dermot O'Leary (2/1) could also be in contention.

The Great British Bake Off co-stars Dame Prue Leith (7/2), Paul Hollywood (4/1) and Noel Fielding (13/2) might also feature.

If Phillip doesn't get the nod then his and Alison's former This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby (5/2) might even have a go.

She still co-hosts ITV's Dancing on Ice, but recently explored opportunities away from the channel when she fronted Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt. 

However, if the BBC opt to recruit a blast from the past or two then Swash (13/8) might be in demand again, and Anton (3/1) could even return to his team captain roots. 

Luke's Bullseye Return? 

As well as Hole in the Wall, darts game show Bullseye is also set for a comeback. 

ITV aired a one-off special of the programme, with Freddie at the helm, over the festive period and it attracted audiences of more than 8.6 million. 

As a result, the channel have now commissioned a four-part series and a Christmas special for this year. 

Darts ace Luke Littler was the only pro player who guest starred in the one-off festive special, but he wasn't mentioned in the recent press release confirming the new series. 

Darts Player

Odds

Probability

Luke Littler

1/3

75%

Michael van Gerwen

11/10

47.6%

Phil Taylor

7/4

36.4%

Luke Humphries

2/1

33.3%

Beau Greaves

3/1

25%

Peter Wright

4/1

20%

Gary Anderson

5/1

16.7%

Fallon Sherrock

6/1

14.3%

Raymond van Barneveld

8/1

11.1%

Adrian Lewis

10/1

9.1%

While he is 1/3 favourite to be the first professional darts player to appear in the new season, his lack of mention in the release could mean others might be in contention. 

Michael van Gerwen is 11/10 second favourite to get the nod, while now-retired darts legend Phil Taylor is just 7/4

Taylor featured in the last two Christmas specials of the Bowen-fronted Bullseye, in 1991 and 1992, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him back at the show's oche. 

Of the current professional darts stars, Luke Humphries (2/1), Peter Wright (4/1) and Gary Anderson (5/1) could all be in contention, as might women's world number one Beau Greaves, who is a 3/1 chance.

Blind Date Up Next 

Following the exciting news of Bullseye and Hole in the Wall's comebacks, it is expected that TV bosses will revive other former game shows. 

Blind Date is the Evens favourite to be rebooted next - and Alison might even get the hosting nod if it does. 

Paul O'Grady presented four series from 2017 to 2019 after replacing his late pal, legendary TV presenter and singer Cilla Black, who fronted the original 18-series run.

Following Paul's death in 2023, Alison replaced him as the host of ITV's For the Love of Dogs, and it wouldn't be a surprise if she fronted a Blind Date revival, too.

But Holly or Claudia Winkleman could also be in contention.

Next Game Show To Be Revived Odds

Game Show

Odds

Probability

Blind Date

Evens

50%

The Generation Game

11/8

42.1%

They Think It's All Over

6/4

40%

Blockbusters

2/1

33.3%

Robot Wars

3/1

25%

The Crystal Maze

4/1

20%

Big Break

5/1

16.7%

Ready Steady Cook

6/1

14.3%

Distraction

13/2

13.3%

Scrapheap Challenge

7/1

12.5%

Shooting Stars

8/1

11.1%

Pets Win Prizes

9/1

10%

Wipeout

10/1

9.1%

Win, Lose Or Draw

10/1

9.1%

Claudia took over from the late Sir Bruce Forsyth on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, and his former show The Generation Game is just 11/8 for a revival. 

Sir Bruce was at the helm in 1971, and presenting duo Mel and Sue brought it back in 2018, but it was panned by the critics. 

Other game shows in contention for a return include sports comedy panel show They Think It's All Over (6/4) - a cheekier and more risque version of A Question Of Sport - and Blockbusters (2/1). 

Robot Wars - which was revived by Dara O Briain and Angela Scanlon for three series, from 2016 to 2017 - is just 3/1 for a comeback. 

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