When is You Bet on TV? Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern to host reboot

ITV is bringing the classic gambling gameshow You Bet back to screens, with Dancing on Ice duo Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern as its new hosts.

This isn’t the first time the show has been brought back from the dead. After debuting in 1988 with Bruce Forsyth as its host, the series went on to run for almost a decade, with future Stars in Their Eyes frontman Matthew Kelly eventually taking over from Forsyth in 1991. Singer and actor Darren Day took over next in 1996, presenting the show until it finally went off the air in 1997.

Ant and Dec attempted to bring it to American audiences in 2008 but the reboot was short-lived. Cut to 2024 and ITV is rolling the dice on You Bet! one more time. Here’s everything we know about it so far…

When does You Bet start on ITV?

You Bet is coming back to ITV1 and ITVX for two special episodes helmed by Willoughby and Mulhern. The first episode will air on on Saturday, 7 December at 8:15pm.

What happens in You Bet?

Originally based on the German gameshow Wetten, dass..?, You Bet! invites a group of celebrities to place bets on the likelihood of the general public completing timed, high-stakes stunts and challenges.

The first celebrity panel is comprised of stand-up comic Rob Beckett, This Morning host Alison Hammond, ex-football manager Harry Redknapp and podcast presenter Rosie Ramsey. Beckett will also make an appearance in the second episode, alongside Lionesses footballer Mary Earps, Loose Women’s Judi Love and singer Olly Murs.

Among the challengers are Martin and Trixie, from Reading, who make a bet that they can identify any cacti from their collection with just their tongues. There is also skilled construction plant operator Will Power, from Kent, who bets he can use his digger to set off three fireworks while doing a wheelie.

The audience’s favourite challenger of the night wins £10,000 while the celebrity with the lowest score has to do a forfeit and perform with the cast of a major West End musical unrehearsed.

What happened to Ant and Dec’s You Bet reboot?

In 2008, Ant and Dec attempted to bring You Bet! to America under the new name Wanna Bet?

At the time, the pair were at the peak of their Saturday Night Takeaway fame but still largely unknown to US audiences. By featuring the input of some familiar American stars like Star Trek’s George Takei and model Ali Landry, the pair tried their best to sell the concept to this new demographic but unfortunately, it failed to connect with viewers.

Ultimately, Ant and Dec’s Wanna Bet? ran for just one, six-episode season before calling it quits.

You Bet! will debut on ITV1 and ITVX on 7 December