British Wheel of Fortune fans had to wait over 20 years for the classic game show to reappear on their screens, but it’s finally back in 2024. Graham Norton now hosts the wheel-spinning game show on ITV, and it has been great to see the reboot in its modern format.
The original run of the show lasted for over 13 years with 746 episodes, so the new offering faces a tough task beating that. However, due to the immense popularity of the lucky wheel format in the mainstream, it does stand a chance.
Lucky Wheel Games Highlight Popularity of Format
One of the reasons why ITV may have decided to bring back Wheel of Fortune now is due to the recent craze of lucky spinning wheel games in popular culture. They have become a mainstay of online casinos, with certain lucky prize wheels allowing players one free spin each day to attempt to win prizes. These are used as a bonus to encourage players to return, and they achieve this through offering lucrative rewards such as 50 free spins to use on selected slot games.
There are other instances of Wheel of Fortune-inspired games in the booming iGaming market as well, most notably in live casino categories. As interest in live-streamed games blew up, developers innovated and went beyond the traditional casino classics of roulette and blackjack. One of the first major branches away from this type of playing was Crazy Time, a spinning wheel game that was heavily influenced by Wheel of Fortune. Thanks to the popularity of this game, there have been many other spinning wheel releases in the years since. Perhaps the fact that these games are trending played a part in influencing ITV to reboot Wheel of Fortune in the UK.
Graham Norton Hosting 2024 Revival
When Wheel of Fortune was on air during its original run, it had several legendary presenters. These included Nicky Campbell, Bradley Walsh, John Leslie, and Paul Hendy. For the new version to be a success, ITV needed to bring in another iconic name, and Graham Norton fitted the bill. The Irish presenter is one of the most recognizable faces on British television, and his charm has added some serious appeal to the new set of episodes. Alison Hammond was a close contender for the role, but Norton undoubtedly has greater pulling power than the Great British Bake Off presenter.
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The new version of Wheel of Fortune has been lauded for its elements of nostalgia, while still offering a fresh experience for viewers. However, some viewers have expressed their concern that a few of the clues for the word game have missed the mark. This aspect of the reboot may need some refinement if the new offering is to last as long as it did during its original run.
It’s great that Wheel of Fortune has made it back onto British televisions, and the reboot has managed to capture a lot of the magic of the original. However, the show runners may need to iron out a few kinks if the new version is to go on to enjoy the same success as the classic show.
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team