ITV announces all-star line-up for festive Blankety Blank

ITV is really ramping up the festive camp this Christmas, regurgitating the classic BBC gameshow Blankety Blank with none other than David Walliams at the helm.

Walliams it the fourth person to present the show, following in the footsteps of the late, great Terry Wogan, Les Dawson, and Lily Savage

X Factor judge Louis Walsh and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Lesley Joseph will be joined by Coronation Street actress Brooke Vincent, comedian Joe Lycett, and The Weakest Link’s Anne Robinson for this year’s reboot.

Oh, and the Chuckle Brothers too, who will presumably be forced to share a seat.

“I was delighted to be asked to take part in the Blankety Blank Christmas Special,” Lesley Joseph said. “It’s an iconic TV programme that I have watched many times over the years.

“I am thrilled to be working with David Walliams and am very excited to be part of ITV’s Christmas line-up.”

Boyband svengali Louis Walsh was equally excited about the prospect of taking home one of the show’s souvinir checkbook and pen trophies: “”I am really excited to be taking part in Blankety Blank after 14 years off air,” he said.

“The worst case scenario is that contestants leave with just a Blankety Blank cheque book and pen, and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want one of those!”

We can think of a few people, Louis.

Host David Walliams previously tweeted that he has “very big shoes to fill”, and hinted that he may well dig out Terry Wogan’s iconic oversized microphone especially for the occasion.

“It seems like you all want the stick microphone back on #BlanketyBlank,” he laughed. “But who should snap it in two like Kenny Everett did go [sic] Terry Wogan?”

He also joked that most younger viewers of the show will have no idea what the show’s famous booby prize of a chequebook and pen actually ARE.

The show goes on out on Christmas Eve at 6.30pm. If it pulls in a big audience ITV plans to commission a new series.