Mel and Sue’s revival of The Generation Game has reportedly hit another setback after bosses turned to canned laughter to give it ‘extra buzz’.
Last year it was confirmed the former Great British Bake Off hosts would front a fresh spin on the classic gameshow for BBC One.
However, recent reports claimed the new series had been halved from four to two episodes over concerns it wasn’t good enough.
Now The Sun says that worried chiefs have gone further by adding an extra laughter track to make it more engaging.
“It was always going to be a challenge for Mel and Sue to have people chuckling the way Bruce did,” a source commented.
“The BBC has used canned laughter after listening back to the live audience and agreeing it needed a bit of extra buzz.”
Responding to the report, the broadcaster insisted that the majority of chuckles had been captured in the studio.
“The show was filmed in front of a live studio audience and the overwhelming majority of the laughter was from the recording,” a Beeb spokesperson told the newspaper.
The new Generation Game features modern challenges alongside classic features – such as its iconic conveyor belt.
Four family pairs from different generations will battle it out in a variety of games, including Bollywood dancing, plate spinning, and sausage making.
Among the mayhem, Mel and Sue will be joined by childrens’ favourite Basil Brush and several celebrity panellists.
Special guests include Pointless host Richard Osman, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and comedian Roisin Conaty.
The Generation Game returns to BBC One this Easter Sunday at 8.00pm.
