There is no debate as to who is going to host the “Jeopardy!” ITV reboot currently in the works.
After long-time host Alex Trebek passed away in November 2020, Sony allowed over a dozen guest hosts to take the stage to find the right shoes to fill the position.
After a great deal of controversy, “The Big Bang Theory” alum Mayim Bialik and “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions winner Ken Jennings were ultimately chosen to tag-team hosting duties for the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, it appears there will be very little hosting drama when ITV reboots the iconic game show, which has tapped Stephen Fry to host.
Stephen Fry Tapped To Host ITV ‘Jeopardy!’ Reboot In The U.K.
As reported by Deadline, Stephen Fry has been tapped to host the ITV reboot of “Jeopardy!” in the U.K. The daytime series will air a 20-part order that features the same format as the television show in the U.S.
In each round, contestants are presented with trivia clues phrased as answers and must correctly respond in the form of a question. Although there are only two rounds in the typical U.S. version of gameplay, there will be three rounds of “Jeopardy” in the U.K. version, similar to how there are three rounds of play in “Celebrity Jeopardy!“, which is also hosted by Mayim Bialik.
The beloved game show first appeared in the U.K. on Channel 4 in the late 1980s. It also appeared on ITV and Sky in the 1990s. ITV has said that Fry will bring a “modern twist to the cult classic” in a press release announcing the new series.
Stephen Fry Says He Is ‘Dizzy With Delight’ To Be Hosting ‘Jeopardy!’ For A U.K. Audience
In his own statement, Fry said, “In the United States, Jeopardy! is a phenomenon like no other. Whenever I’m in America, I do my d—dest to catch it every weekday. The idea of hosting it here in the UK makes me dizzy with delight. Such a dedicated quizzing nation as ours will, I hope, welcome this uniquely beguiling and endlessly rewarding game.”
ITV Head of Entertainment Katie Rawcliffe added, “There is no one better to host this classic game show than Stephen, bringing knowledge and entertainment to all of our viewers.”
While that is good news for “Jeopardy!” fans in the U.K., there is also good news for “Jeopardy!” fans living in the U.S. At the start of the year, Deadline reported that both “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” have been renewed for the 2027-2028 season.
‘Jeopardy!’ And ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Have Been Renewed Through 2028
Two of the most successful long-running game shows on air, “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” have been renewed for five more seasons, which means they will run through at least 2018. This will put “Wheel of Fortune” in its 45th season and “Jeopardy!” in its 44th.
Deadline reported that “Jeopardy!” is the most-watched show in syndication with around nine million viewers each week. Meanwhile, “Wheel of Fortune” – still hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White – is said to be the second most-watched same-day entertainment show on TV after “60 Minutes.”
In a statement, Steve LoCascio, President of CBS Media Ventures, said, “Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are the crown jewels of syndication, drawing larger audiences than almost every prime-time broadcast show. This new deal is a testament to the power of these shows and the power of broadcast television. Viewers and advertisers alike love these shows, and we are excited that this deal continues the legacy of these brands for years to come.”
Debra O’Connell, President of Disney Networks, went on to say, “We are thrilled to extend our long-running relationship with Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. These beloved shows are national treasures that we are proud to bring into the top local markets in the country along with ABC’s award-winning, market-leading news, and entertainment programming.”
Suzanne Prete, EVP of Game Shows for Sony Pictures Television, added, “We are delighted to continue to work alongside our great partners at ABC and CBS to bring two of the most iconic game shows in the world to loyal fans across the nation. The ABC stations have added incredible value to the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! franchises, and we couldn’t be happier to continue our long relationship with them.”
