Game show with beloved BBC star host ‘axed’ despite rave reviews from fans
CHANNEL 5 bosses have decided to shelf one of their new game shows after just one series.
Puzzling was headed up by TV historian Lucy Worsley, who previously admitted she was nervous for the new venture.
She told the Sun TV mag: “I’m a wreck, an utter heap of nerves. This is all new to me, and the pressure of it is extraordinary.
“There are so many things that could go wrong, for the contestants but also for me.
“I’m under huge pressure to get the question out quickly but correctly. It’s been a real joy, but also terrifying.
“Normally I’m out with a very small crew stuck on a rainy street corner in Edinburgh. I’m not used to working with such a large, complex team in such a big TV studio.”
Now it seems those fears were founded, as Puzzling has been ditched after airing for just one series.
The game show required contestants to use their language skills, lateral thinking, visual intelligence and memory to solve various mind boggling puzzles.
Before taking on the new role as gameshow host, Lucy was known for presenting historical documentaries on the BBC.
One of them that became especially popular, called Suffragettes, showed Lucy’s journey into the actions of the women who campaigned for the vote as their fight descended from a peaceful protest into anarchy.
She has also fronted British History’s Biggest Fibs, Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors and A Very British Murder.
Some fans were sad to hear Puzzling had been axed, with one person taking to social media to let a friend know the news, saying: “Noo we liked watching this!”
However, the game show did receive a lot of flack for having Lucy Worsley at the helm while it was running, as several viewers complained she didn’t have the charisma for the role.
One critic shared: “I adore Lucy Worsley when she’s allowed to be Lucy Worsley. But this quiz thing is painful.”
Another added: “Lucy Worsley is an interesting enough history presenter but utterly lacking charisma as a quiz host.
“C5‘s Puzzling is a bad HoG/OC rip-off with a migraine-inducing set design. Anaemic and unengaging.”