Game shows are well and truly back in the mainstream on British television screens, with Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Deal or No Deal recently making grand returns. There are various options that viewers would love to see back on air, with The Wall up there with the top contenders.
The series was presented by Danny Dyer and ran for four seasons from 2019 to 2022. The format was well received, and its cancellation left viewers hungry for more. It could be the ideal time to bring The Wall back to UK screens.
The Wall was inspired by Plinko
The Wall uses a massive pegboard inspired by Plinko, a mini-game from another hugely popular game show. Plinko originally appeared in The Price is Right, but it has gone on to become a well-known standalone title.
Indeed, Plinko has even inspired iGaming titles, including the popular Plinko Go game. This is offered as an alternative to slots and uses the gameplay that made Plinko so well-loved on The Price is Right. A digital object is released from the top of the board, and it travels down, hitting pegs along the way. These cause it to change direction, so it’s impossible to predict where it will land. If it lands in a multiplier slot, the player gets a return on their stake.
Thanks to the notoriety of Plinko, viewers got the hang of the format on The Wall quickly. The beauty of the BBC One show was that it also brought in other elements to mix up the gameplay, with different things happening in each round. This simplicity works well in a game show format and doesn’t require too much thought from viewers.
UK show shelved in 2022
There were four seasons of The Wall, spanning 37 episodes in total. These usually featured normal members of the public, but there were also numerous celebrity specials released each year. Some of the stars featuring on the show included Ronan Keating, Katie Piper, and Martin Kemp.
Unlike some series that are cancelled, The Wall didn’t suffer from a lack of viewers. Instead, it was Dyer who decided to leave the show in 2022. The actor left his role in Eastenders at the same time, and the BBC opted to shelve the game show.
American version remains on air
The Wall was inspired by the American version of the same name, which has been running since 2016. There have been 85 episodes so far, and the NBC offering is still going strong. The fact that popularity isn’t waning on that show suggests that it would be wise to continue the British version.
Despite some of the top UK game shows originally being propelled by the presenters, most have been rebranded under other hosts over the years. There’s no doubt that Dyer was an excellent star to have fronting The Wall, but there are plenty of other big names that could replace him. BBC should find a new celebrity host and get The Wall back on screens as soon as possible.
