Iconic game show Wheel of Fortune is set to make a comeback on UK television screens in 2024, with ITV1 and ITVX securing the rights to air the popular series. Contestants will once again have the opportunity to spin the wheel and vie for fantastic prizes. The show will be hosted by BAFTA award-winning presenter Graham Norton, adding a touch of star power to the beloved game.
Whisper North, a production company under the Sony Pictures Television-backed Whisper Group, will be responsible for bringing the show to life. The revival will consist of an 8-episode run, featuring two special celebrity editions. The heart of the show will remain the gigantic carnival wheel, where contestants will spin their way towards a life-changing cash prize.
Wheel of Fortune combines elements of skill and luck, with participants first spinning the wheel to determine a cash value. They must then pick a letter in an attempt to solve the puzzle. For each correct letter revealed, they will earn multiples of the initial cash amount. However, the stakes are high as the wheel also contains segments that can lead to bankruptcy or loss of a turn, potentially wiping out the contestants’ entire winnings.
Aside from cash, contestants will have the chance to win impressive prizes, which will be added to their cash pot, aiding their progress towards the bonus round. While everything is up for grabs, only one fortunate contestant will have the opportunity to amass a significant sum and take it home.
Expressing his excitement about the upcoming show, Graham Norton shared, “I’m beyond excited to be bringing such an iconic American show to a new British audience. My first-ever TV job was a game show on ITV, so this feels like coming full circle. You might even call it a wheel!”
Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, also expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “We are thrilled to have the much-loved Graham Norton bringing this iconic game show to our viewers. Anything can happen on the spin of a wheel, and it is going to be so much fun.”
Sunil Patel, CEO of Whisper, added, “We’re thrilled to be bringing such a well-known and globally loved show to ITV primetime, and of course, to be working with the incredible Graham Norton, who we know will bring the show alive for contestants and audiences alike.”
The UK version of Wheel of Fortune will be produced by Whisper North exclusively for ITV1 and ITVX. The series was commissioned by Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, and Leanne Clarke, Commissioning Manager for Media and Entertainment at ITV. The Executive Producers for Whisper North, Kerri Reid and Tom McLennan, will be overseeing the production.
The original U.S. version of the show is produced by Sony Pictures Television Studios, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The distribution of the U.S. series, along with the format rights, is handled by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
