Celebrity Letters and Numbers

Last updated

Celebrity Letters and Numbers
Genre Comedy panel game
Based on Des chiffres et des lettres
by Armand Jammot
Presented by Michael Hing
Starring
Country of origin Australia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes38
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time50 minutes
Production company ITV Studios Australia
Original release
Network SBS
Release2 October 2021 (2021-10-02) –
present (present)

Celebrity Letters and Numbers is an Australian comedy panel game show on SBS which premiered on 2 October 2021. It is a revived version of the game show Letters and Numbers , which aired on SBS from 2010 to 2012, with an altered format with celebrity contestants competing rather than members of the public. [1] Co-hosts David Astle and Lily Serna returned from the original series, while comedian, journalist and actor Michael Hing replaced presenter Richard Morecroft as host. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Two series of twelve episodes were commissioned in July 2021 [5] with celebrity guests including Hamish Blake, Susie Youssef, Merrick Watts and Matt Okine. [5] [6] Series three premiered on 17 September 2022, [7] with series four set to air on 5 February 2024. [8] The show is similar to the British comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown , which also features celebrity comedians and airs on SBS in Australia. [9] ITV Studios Australia also took over as the production company (Shine Australia had produced the civilian version); the revamped program uses ITV-owned elements developed for the British Countdown such as its logo style and theme music. [10]

Gameplay

Unlike the original version of Letters and Numbers, each episode features three contestants competing individually and the winning contestant does not return for the next episode. Additionally, instead of winning a Macquarie Dictionary, the guest with the most points wins a single volume from the 1980s Oceaniapaedia encyclopedia, allegedly donated by the Hing family (in later series, winner gets an item from Hing's childhood bedroom, e.g. a set of goth rings). Another addition is the inclusion of a Dictionary Corner guest, as in the British show Countdown , who sits beside Astle. [3] The mix of letters and numbers rounds, the final nine-letter conundrum and the eight-letter word mixes preceding the commercial break are retained from the original series.

Scoring also differs slightly from the original Letters and Numbers. All contestants whose answers are valid win points, regardless of whether another contestant declared a longer word (in the letters game) or achieved a closer numerical target (in the numbers game). Spelling variations, such as American spellings, are also valid in Celebrity Letters and Numbers.

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 122 October 2021 (2021-10-02)18 December 2021 (2021-12-18)
2 125 March 2022 (2022-03-05)21 May 2022 (2022-05-21)
3 123 October 2022 (2022-10-03)26 December 2022 (2022-12-26)
4 TBA5 February 2024 (2024-02-05)2024

Season 1 (2021)

Note: Winners are listed in bold
No.TitleOriginal air dateAustralian viewers
1Episode 12 October 2021 (2021-10-02)209,000 [11]
Contestants: Suren Jayemanne, Jennifer Wong, Merrick Watts
Dictionary Corner guest: Bridie Connell
2Episode 29 October 2021 (2021-10-09)174,000 [12]
Contestants: Aaron Chen , Alex Lee, Matt Okine
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
3Episode 316 October 2021 (2021-10-16)137,000 [13]
Contestants: Susie Youssef, Dane Simpson, Hamish Blake
Dictionary Corner guest: Adam Richard
4Episode 423 October 2021 (2021-10-23)132,000 [14]
Contestants: Nikki Britton, Oliver Twist, Merrick Watts
Dictionary Corner guest: Adam Richard
5Episode 530 October 2021 (2021-10-30)124,000 [15]
Contestants: Dane Simpson, Tanya Hennessy, Todd McKenney
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
6Episode 66 November 2021 (2021-11-06)98,000 [16]
Contestants: Akmal Saleh, Mark Humphries, Greta Lee Jackson
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
7Episode 713 November 2021 (2021-11-13)108,000 [17]
Contestants: Jennifer Wong, Nakkiah Lui, Merrick Watts
Dictionary Corner guest: Adam Richard
8Episode 820 November 2021 (2021-11-20)100,000 [18]
Contestants: Lewis Hobba, Concetta Caristo, Susie Youssef
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
9Episode 927 November 2021 (2021-11-27)N/A
Contestants: Alex Lee, Adam Richard, Nikki Britton
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
10Episode 104 December 2021 (2021-12-04)N/A
Contestants: Susie Youssef, Nina Oyama, Mark Humphries
Dictionary Corner guest: Gabbi Bolt
11Episode 1111 December 2021 (2021-12-11)N/A
Contestants: Matt Okine, Jennifer Wong, Todd McKenney
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
12Episode 1218 December 2021 (2021-12-18)N/A
Contestants: Bob Downe, Nikki Britton, Susie Youssef
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie

Season 2 (Early 2022)

Note: Winners are listed in bold
No.TitleOriginal air dateAustralian viewers
1Episode 135 March 2022 (2022-03-05)N/A
Contestants: Aaron Chen, Susie Youssef , Merrick Watts
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
2Episode 1412 March 2022 (2022-03-12)N/A
Contestants: Benjamin Law, Concetta Caristo, Bob Downe
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
3Episode 1519 March 2022 (2022-03-19)N/A
Contestants: Alex Lee , Dane Simpson, Nakkiah Lui
Dictionary Corner guest: Adam Richard
4Episode 1626 March 2022 (2022-03-26)N/A
Contestants: Mike Goldstein, Merrick Watts, Sacha Horler
Dictionary Corner guest: Tom Cashman
5Episode 172 April 2022 (2022-04-02)N/A
Contestants: Aaron Chen , Todd McKenney, Nakkiah Lui
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
6Episode 189 April 2022 (2022-04-09)N/A
Contestants: Tanya Hennessy, Benjamin Law, Merrick Watts
Dictionary Corner guest: Nakkiah Lui
7Episode 1916 April 2022 (2022-04-16)N/A
Contestants: Susie Youssef, Dane Simpson, Adam Richard
Dictionary Corner guest: Jennifer Wong
8Episode 2023 April 2022 (2022-04-23)N/A
Contestants: Akmal Saleh, Sacha Horler, Tanya Hennessy
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
9Episode 2130 April 2022 (2022-04-30)N/A
Contestants: Adam Richard, Merrick Watts, Nakkiah Lui
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
10Episode 227 May 2022 (2022-05-07)N/A
Contestants: Nina Oyama, Dane Simpson, Concetta Caristo
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
11Episode 2314 May 2022 (2022-05-14)N/A
Contestants: Colin Fassnidge, Nikki Britton, Concetta Caristo
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
12Episode 2421 May 2022 (2022-05-21)N/A
Contestants: Aaron Chen, Tanya Hennessy, Mark Humphries
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie

Season 3 (Late 2022)

Note: Winners are listed in bold
No.TitleOriginal air dateAustralian viewers
1Episode 253 October 2022 (2022-10-03)N/A
Contestants: Dave Thornton , Alex Lee, Luke McGregor
Dictionary Corner guest: Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall
2Episode 2610 October 2022 (2022-10-10)N/A
Contestants: Mark Humphries, Jenny Tian, Matt Okine
Dictionary Corner guest: Cal Wilson
3Episode 2717 October 2022 (2022-10-17)N/A
Contestants: Gen Fricker, Harley Breen, Concetta Caristo
Dictionary Corner guest: Adam Saunders
4Episode 2824 October 2022 (2022-10-24)N/A
Contestants: Ben Lee, Alex Lee, Hamish Blake
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
5Episode 2931 October 2022 (2022-10-31)N/A
Contestants: Jenny Tian, Rhys Nicholson, Michala Banas
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
6Episode 307 November 2022 (2022-11-07)N/A
Contestants: Oliver Twist, Concetta Caristo, Nath Valvo
Dictionary Corner guest: Carlo Ritchie
7Episode 3114 November 2022 (2022-11-14)N/A
Contestants: Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann, Alex Lee, Reuben Kaye
Dictionary Corner guest: Claire Hooper
8Episode 3221 November 2022 (2022-11-21)N/A
Contestants: Dylan Lewis, Alex Ward, Mel Buttle
Dictionary Corner guest: Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall
9Episode 3328 November 2022 (2022-11-28)N/A
Contestants: Sam Taunton, Jennifer Wong, Mark Humphries
Dictionary Corner guest: Karl Kruszelnicki
10Episode 345 December 2022 (2022-12-05)N/A
Contestants: Reuben Kaye, Zoë Coombs Marr, Oliver Twist
Dictionary Corner guest: Bridie Connell
11Episode 3519 December 2022 (2022-12-19)N/A
Contestants: Nikki Britton, Joel Creasey and Urvi Majumdar
Dictionary Corner guest: Tom Cashman
12Episode 3626 December 2022 (2022-12-26)N/A
Contestants: Merrick Watts, Mel Buttle, David Woodhead
Dictionary Corner guest: Tom Cashman

Season 4 (2024)

Note: Winners are listed in bold
No.TitleOriginal air dateAustralian viewers
1Episode 375 February 2024 (2024-02-05)TBD
Contestants: Merrick Watts, Jenny Tian, Dylan Lewis
Dictionary Corner guest: Matt Stewart
2Episode 3812 February 2024 (2024-02-12)TBD
Contestants: Harley Breen, Lizzy Hoo, AJ Lamarque
Dictionary Corner guest: Jude Perl

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Australian Survivor</i> Television series based on the reality show Survivor

Australian Survivor is an Australian adventure reality game show based on the international Survivor format. Following the premise of other versions of the Survivor format, the show features a group of contestants, referred to as "castaways" as they are marooned in an isolated location. The castaways must provide food, water, fire, and shelter for themselves. The contestants compete in various challenges for rewards and immunity from elimination. The contestants are progressively eliminated from the game as they are voted off the island by their fellow castaways. The final castaway remaining is awarded the title of "Sole Survivor" and the grand prize of A$500,000.

<i>Des chiffres et des lettres</i> French television program

Des chiffres et des lettres is a French television programme. It was created by Armand Jammot and tests the numeracy skills and vocabulary of two contestants. It is one of the longest-running game shows in the world, and the inspiration for Countdown on Britain's Channel 4.

<i>Dancing with the Stars</i> (Australian TV series) Australian celebrity talent show

Dancing with the Stars is an Australian light entertainment reality show which originally aired on the Seven Network from 2004 to 2015 and on Network 10 from 2019 to 2020. When it was on the Seven Network, it was broadcast live from the HSV-7 studios in Melbourne; on Network 10 it aired live from Fox Studios Australia in Sydney and Docklands Studios in Melbourne.

<i>All Star Family Feud</i> Australian TV series or program

All Star Family Feud was an Australian game show which aired on Network Ten from 14 March 2016 until 6 May 2018. The series, which is a spin off of Family Feud, sees celebrities compete in teams to raise money for their chosen charity. All Star Family Feud was filmed at Global Television Studios in Southbank, Melbourne from 2016 to 2017 and at Network Ten's Studios in Pyrmont, Sydney in 2018.

<i>MasterChef Australia</i> Cooking reality television series

MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking reality show based on the original British MasterChef. It is produced by Endemol Shine Australia and screens on Network 10. Restaurateur and chef Gary Mehigan, chef George Calombaris and food critic Matt Preston served as the show's main judges until 2019, when they were replaced by Series 4 winner and chef Andy Allen, food critic Melissa Leong, and restaurateur and chef Jock Zonfrillo.

Letters and Numbers was an Australian game show on SBS. It is hosted by former newsreader Richard Morecroft, co-hosted by David Astle and Lily Serna. Although it is based on the French game show Des chiffres et des lettres, its structure is similar to the UK version of the show, Countdown - with the titular difference being used to avoid confusion with the Australian music program Countdown.

<i>Housos</i> Australian TV series or program

Housos is an Australian comedy television series created by Paul Fenech for SBS, that screened on SBS One. The series is a satirical parody of low income Australian residents of fictional suburb Sunnyvale, New South Wales, who are living in Housing Commission public housing. In 2014, the series won the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program.

<i>Have You Been Paying Attention?</i> Australian television game show

Have You Been Paying Attention? is an Australian panel game television quiz show on Network 10. The series, which is produced by Working Dog Productions, is a mix of news and comedy which sees host Tom Gleisner quiz five guests on the week's top news stories.

<i>8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown</i> British comedy television panel show

8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown is a British comedy panel show on Channel 4. The show follows the game of Countdown, but presented in a comedic panel show format seen on 8 Out of 10 Cats, with the show being a crossover of the two.

<i>Im a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!</i> (Australian TV series) Australian reality television series

I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! is an Australian reality television series on Network 10 which is based on the British television show of the same name. The series aired mainly on Network 10 and 10 HD. The series sees celebrities living in the jungle with few creature comforts, and competing in various challenges to earn meals and other luxuries. The celebrities compete for $100,000 to be donated to their chosen charity. The series is set in Kruger National Park, South Africa, and is hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. It was previously hosted by Chris Brown.

<i>Hard Quiz</i> Australian game quiz show

Hard Quiz is an Australian television comedy quiz show which premiered on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on 19 October 2016. Hosted by Tom Gleeson, the show is a spin-off of his "Hard Chat" segment on the satirical television news program The Weekly with Charlie Pickering. It is filmed at the ABC Melbourne studios in Southbank in front of a studio audience.

This is a list of Australian television-related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that are scheduled to occur in 2019, the 64th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

Lego Masters is an Australian reality television show based on the British series of the same name in which teams compete to build the best Lego project. It is hosted by Hamish Blake and judged by Lego designer Ryan "The Brickman" McNaught. The series premiered on 28 April 2019 on Nine Network.

SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins, also known as SAS Australia, is a reality quasi-military training television programme based on the original British SAS: Who Dares Wins that is broadcast on Seven Network since 19 October 2020. Upon release of the first season, the show's name was changed to simply SAS Australia. The series features four ex-Special Forces soldiers acting as the directing staff (DS), with Ant Middleton as the chief instructor.

Win the Week is an Australian television comedy quiz show, which premiered on the ABC on 23 June 2021. The series is presented by Alex Lee, who quizzes three teams of paired celebrities and everyday Australian captains on the week's top news stories. At the end of each round, the team captains had the opportunity to "Stay" with their celebrity teammate or "Betray" them by swapping them with a celebrity from another team. In the first series, the winner of each show won a framed themed calendar with the week they had won coloured in gold. From the second series, the winner of each show won a golden "Betray" buzzer trophy.

Making It Australia is a reality competition television series co-hosted by comedians Susie Youssef and Harley Breen and based on the American series of the same name. The series premiered on Wednesday, 15 September 2021 on Network 10.

<i>Mastermind</i> (Australian game show) Australian TV series or program

Mastermind is an Australian television quiz show aired on the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). Produced by BBC Studios, the series is based on the original British game show of the same name created by Bill Wright. The show features an intimidating setting with challenging questions on specialised subjects of the contestant's choice, followed by a general knowledge round.

Celebrity Mastermind is an Australian television quiz show aired on the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). A spin-off of Mastermind, the series is produced by BBC Studios and is based on the original British game show of the same name created by Bill Wright. The show features an intimidating setting with challenging questions on specialised subjects of the contestant's choice, followed by "slow burn" question and a general knowledge round.

The Traitors is an Australian reality television series broadcast on Network 10, based on the Dutch series De Verraders, which premiered on 16 October 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Hing</span> Australian radio announcer and comedian

Michael Hing is an Australian comedian, television and radio presenter, podcaster and actor from Sydney, Australia. Hing is currently a co-host on Network Ten’s The Project. He previously co-hosted Triple J's drive program Hobba and Hing with Lewis Hobba.

References

  1. ↑ Lennard, Dann (30 September 2021). "Get your dictionaries, calculators and vocal cords ready for 'Celebrity Letters and Numbers'". Special Broadcasting Service . Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Zanda (3 September 2021). "Michael Hing confirmed to host Celebrity Letters & Numbers on SBS". Mumbrella . Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 Knox, David (3 September 2021). "SBS revives Letters & Numbers". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Di Lorio, Michael (3 September 2021). "The First Trailer For Celebrity Letters & Numbers Has Landed And I'm Capital 'E' Excited". Pedestrian.tv. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. 1 2 "After nine years, SBS to air a new season of Celebrity Letters & Numbers". Mediaweek. 3 September 2021. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  6. ↑ Quinn, Karl (2 September 2021). "Brainiacs, assemble: Letters & Numbers is back". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Top new series in September 2022". SBS Guide. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Knox, David (30 January 2024). "Returning: Celebrity Letters & Numbers". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  9. ↑ Ward, Sarah (3 September 2021). "SBS Is Bringing Back Beloved Game Show 'Letters and Numbers' — This Time with Celebrities". Concrete Playground. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  10. ↑ Knox, David (22 February 2022). "Returning: Celebrity Letters & Numbers". TV Tonight . Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  11. ↑ Knox, David (3 October 2021). "Saturday 2 October 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  12. ↑ Knox, David (10 October 2021). "Saturday 9 October 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  13. ↑ Knox, David (17 October 2021). "Saturday 16 October 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  14. ↑ Knox, David (24 October 2021). "Saturday 23 October 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Knox, David (31 October 2021). "Saturday 30 October 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  16. ↑ Knox, David (7 November 2021). "Saturday 6 November 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  17. ↑ Knox, David (14 November 2021). "Saturday 13 November 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  18. ↑ Knox, David (21 November 2021). "Saturday 20 November 2021". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 21 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.