ITV & ITVX order ‘Jeopardy!’ from Whisper North, as reboot trend in UK continues

Stephen Fry

ITV1 and sibling streamer ITVX have ordered a reboot of veteran quiz format Jeopardy! for the UK, with Stephen Fry attached to host.

The 20 x 60-minute show is being produced by Sony Pictures Television-backed Whisper North and sees contestants using their best general knowledge to win rounds, amassing winnings and ultimately claim a cash prize.

The format, which is based on the US show that first aired on NBC in 1964, is sold by Paramount Global Content Distribution and was first produced by Sony. The UK reboot will allow participants to play an extra round compared to the original format, increasing the stakes for the players.

ITV previously rebooted the format between 1990 and 1993, following a 1980s remake for Channel 4. Sky was the last UK-based buyer, running a local version for a year from 1995 to 1996.

Fry said: “Such a dedicated quizzing nation as ours will, I hope, welcome this uniquely beguiling and endlessly rewarding game.”

Katie Rawcliffe, ITV’s head of entertainment, added: “Bringing Jeopardy! to a brand new audience as part of our weekday schedule is exciting. There is no one better to host this classic game show than Stephen, bringing knowledge and entertainment to all of our viewers.”

Format reboots became a source of contention in the UK last year, following a flurry of veteran formats coming back to screens including the BBC ordering Survivor and Gladiator, and ITV confirming it had a new version of Big Brother in the works.