Can Bullseye Reclaim Its Status as One of the Nation’s Best Game Shows?

Bullseye is up there with the greatest game shows in British history, with the original series running from 1980 to 1995. There’s no doubt that the classic presented by Jim Bowen helped inspire loads of people to get into darts, cementing the game as a quintessential British pastime.

There have been various attempts at reviving Bullseye over the years, and the latest reboot is the best of all. Now, with Freddie Flintoff presenting, Bullseye has the chance to reclaim its status as one of the country’s most beloved game shows.

 

 

Bullseye Return Was Hugely Popular

When Bullseye returned to UK screens last year, it was planned as a one-off Christmas special. It turned out to be much more popular than ITV had expected, however, drawing in approximately seven million viewers. This inspired the network to commission a full series, which was released in November.

The series was only planned as four episodes and a Christmas special, perhaps to test the waters and see if there would be a sustained audience for the revival. According to reports, a second season is already planned, and it will hopefully consist of more episodes.

There’s a lot to love about the new format. Along with having the hugely popular Flintoff as host, it also draws on nostalgia, with many of the sights and sounds of the original. There are also a few new elements to freshen things up, including Bully’s Head-to-Head, which takes place between the Pounds for Points and Bully’s Prize Board rounds.

 

New Series Needs to Take Advantage of New Franchise Model

The best way for the new Bullseye to maintain its initial success could be to branch out into other media to extend its reach and help more people discover it. This is a common technique in modern media, with many other popular game shows appearing in other formats to ensure they have a diversified audience.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Deal or No Deal are two prime examples of this marketing model, and both shows have highly recognisable franchises that spill over into other media. Both have been represented in the UK slots market with branded games, and there are also mobile titles that give players a chance to experience their themes in a different way. Bullseye has had related slot games in the past as well, so it would be a great idea to bring these back to boost the new series.

 

Could Spinoffs Cement Bullseye’s Success?

There’s even the potential for new Bullseye spinoffs, which didn’t exist before when the first show aired. Various other game shows have explored this idea, such as Deal or No Deal Island and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Hot Seat. With Bullseye’s varied format, it could lend itself to spinoffs that focus on specific rounds.

 

 

The new Bullseye series has been so well-received that it now has the potential to go on for many years with its new look. However, it may need to turn to modern marketing methods, such as franchise extensions, to reach as wide an audience as possible.