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Wheel of Fortune reboot inspiring the return of other game show classics

April 2, 2025

Wheel of Fortune may have originated in the USA, but the UK version was just as iconic. It ran from 1988 to 2001 on ITV and was a staple of British television in homes up and down the country. When it came back to our screens in 2024 and once again attracted mass audiences, it highlighted how many people want to watch these classic shows again.

Indeed, thanks to the success of the Wheel of Fortune reboot, television networks in the UK are turning to other iconic series and sprucing them up for today’s viewers.


Wheel of Fortune Reboot Has Been a Great Success

ITV’s decision to bring back Wheel of Fortune with Graham Norton as the host has proven to be a shrewd move by the network, with the first series reeling in 5.7 million viewers. This made it ITV’s biggest entertainment launch since 2022, and it’s no surprise that the company now wants to see which other shows could use a revival.

Wheel of Fortune was helped by the fact that it’s still one of the most recognisable game formats ever. The game show is still going strong in the USA, where it has aired continuously since 1975. Wheel of Fortune has also been represented in other media, such as the bustling bingo industry. The Wheel of Fortune Megaways game is one of the top-played slots on the market, and the retro branding stands out among other modern titles like Big Bass Bonanza Megaways and Wild West Gold Megaways.

You Bet! and Family Fortunes Return

There are countless television classics ripe for reboots, and ITV quickly pinpointed some that it wanted to bring back for modern audiences. You Bet! was the first, and the offering that was previously hosted by Bruce Forsyth returned for two special episodes at the end of 2024. National treasures Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby presented it, and it was met with such great feedback that a reboot series was immediately ordered.

Family Fortunes was rebooted in 2020 with Gino D’Acampo as host until 2023 when it concluded, but there’s a chance that this could be back on television soon as well. The revival series was met with positive feedback, and it showed how there’s still a lot of interest in the old classics.

What Other Game Shows Could be Brought Back?

Now, many viewers are wondering which other television game shows will be back on screens in the coming years. Rumours suggest that Hole in the Wall could be the next one, with Alison Hammond rumoured to be the host.

Bullseye will be back again soon as well, with a full series due in 2025. Freddie Flintoff will once again be hosting the iconic darts game show after presenting the Christmas special in 2024.

It’s great to see that some of the best game shows of all time still have a place in today’s sprawling entertainment market. If you thought your favourite series were never coming back, you may want to think again. There could be many more revivals in the coming years.

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