Bradley Walsh says it’s a ‘thrill’ to follow in hero Les Dawson’s footsteps as he hosts return of Blankety Blank on Christmas Day
He is hosting a 2020 Christmas Special of Blankety Blank as it returns to BBC.
And Bradley Walsh said it was a ‘thrill’ to follow in his hero Les Dawson’s footsteps after working on the show as he says he’s ‘not feeling the pressure’.
Blankety Blank debuted in 1979 and was hosted by Terry Wogan before Les took over in 1984, followed by Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage from 1996 to 1997 and again from 2001 to 2002 on ITV.
Thrill: Bradley Walsh said it was a ‘thrill’ to follow in his hero Les Dawson’s footsteps after working on Blankety Blank as he says he’s ‘not feeling the pressure’
And now the hit comedy game show is returning for a Christmas Special on BBC One.
The TV presenter, 60, said: ‘I’m not feeling the pressure so much, just the fact that I love bit of nostalgic telly and to follow in the footsteps of Sir Terry Wogan and one of my heroes Les Dawson, having worked on the show as a studio warm-up for Les a few times, it’s a thrill for me.’
The game show sees two contestants compete to fill-in-the-blank statements to match the answers of six celebrity panelists.
In September 1998, The Chase host appeared alongside Fern Britton, Richard Orford, George Sewell, Gayle Tuesday and June Whitfield on the celebrity panel.
Hero: Blankety Blank debuted in 1979 and was hosted by Terry Logan before Les (pictured in 1984) took over in 1984
When asked how Bradley will bring his own presenting style to the classic format, he said: ‘I think the show runs itself.
‘I think alongside the celebrity panel and the contestants, I don’t think you bring your own style, I like to work organically so I’m hoping people like Jimmy Carr and Sue Perkins will bring their style to it as well and we can bounce off each other.
‘I’m really looking forward to working with them all again, I’ve worked with them all before but I’m really looking forward to working with the contestants, that’s what I like. I like working with the contestants – it’s great.’
The comedian also revealed the Blankety Blank cheque book and pen would be making a return, but it will be gold rather than silver.
Gold! The comedian also revealed the Blankety Blank cheque book and pen would be making a return, but it will be gold rather than silver
He said that he would not be practising gameplay at home as he likes ‘to work spontaneously’.
Bradley said: ‘I like to work spontaneously so I get the rules in my head and literally watch a couple of old re-runs just to refresh myself and that’s how I work.’
The actor said he will be having a small, intimate Christmas at home with his immediate family due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said: ‘We normally spend it out, we go out with three other families, so there’s about 30 of us that go out and have Christmas in our local golf club, it’s wonderful.
‘And this year it’s not going to happen because they’ve shut golf clubs down and there’s social distancing so now it’ll be a small intimate Christmas just at home with me and my immediately family that live at home.’
- Blankety Blank: Christmas Special will air at 7pm on Christmas Day on BBC One
Festive season: The Chase host said he will be having a small, intimate Christmas at home with his immediate family due to the COVID-19 pandemic