LONDON, UK — America's long-running quiz game "Jeopardy!" is making another trip across oceans. UK broadcast network ITV has commissioned a new version of the answer-and-question game show.
Casting calls have also gone out for Australian expatriates living in the UK for a version to be aired by an as-yet unnamed Australian broadcaster.
Both versions will be recorded on the same stage in the United Kingdom and will be hosted by British humorist and writer Stephen Fry.
“In the United States, ‘Jeopardy!’ is a phenomenon like no other," Fry said in a statement announcing the two series. "Whenever I’m in America, I do my damnedest to catch it every weekday. The idea of hosting it here in the U.K. makes me dizzy with delight."
In its home country of the United States, "Jeopardy!" has had an illustrious run. Originally networked by NBC from 1964-1975, the "response in the form of a question" game was rebooted for syndication in 1984, offering substantially more cash. Today, the half-hour syndicated version continues a strong run, with the ABC network running celebrity and various themed tournaments in an hourlong format. To accommodate the expanded time, a "Triple Jeopardy!" round was added to the ABC version.
ITV has ordered 20 hourlong editions of the program that is expected to mimic the ABC version of the American show. No details about the Australian format have been announced.
Both countries ran native versions of "Jeopardy!" in the past. The U.K. edition ran sporadically between 1983 and 1996 for a total of 285 half-hours.
Australian "Jeopardy!" had a successful run from 1964 to 1975. A revival in 1993 met with poor ratings and was cancelled six months into its run.