Wheel of Fortune could be the next classic gameshow to get a revival
Former co-host Jenny Powell wants show back after almost two decades off airWheel of Fortune could be the next classic gameshow to get the revival treatment, if former co-host Jenny Powell has her way.
It’s been almost twenty years since Wheel of Fortune last aired in the UK on ITV.
If you’re unaware, it involves contestants spinning a giant wheel to determine how many points they earn in a hangman-style word game.
Now Jenny, who revealed the letters on six series of the show, has set the wheels in motion for a reboot.
“I’ve had talks about bringing Wheel of Fortune back,” she told the Daily Star.
“I have actually enquired about who owns the right to the show. I’m working on it.
“I think it would be great to bring it back. It’s a classic format and everything is going really retro now.”
Wheel’s original run was fronted by male main presenters, including Nicky Campbell, Bradley Walsh and John Leslie.
They were joined by glamorous female assistants, such as Carol Smillie and Terri Seymour.
Jenny reckons a modern version should be gender-swapped – potentially with her hosting alongside a male sidekick.
“There needs to be a bit of role reversal this time,” she continued. “When I did it I was just the bird in high heels who turned letters around.
“But in this day and age it’s different. You can’t imagine a woman being told, ‘Look, love… you are just going to stand at the side and turn letters’. That just wouldn’t happen now.”
A ‘TV insider’ told the newspaper: “A lot of viewers will be pleased to have Wheel of Fortune back on TV. It was a really popular format because people could easily play along at home.
“Jenny is synonymous with the show, so she’d be the perfect person to host it.”
Wheel – which ran between 1988 and 2001 and is frequently repeated on Challenge – would be the latest in a long line of old gameshows to make a comeback.
Just this month, a brand new version of Blockbusters began on Comedy Central, hosted by Dara O’Briain.
ITV has relaunched Catchphrase and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, while Channel 4 has resurrected The Crystal Maze.
Jenny is a contestant on new 5Star reality show Celebs On The Ranch, which begins tomorrow night at 9pm.
