YOU BET fans have made complaints as the iconic show fronted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern returned.
The iconic ITV gameshow saw competitors take on strange challenges as a panel of celebrity guests gambled on their success.
Rob Beckett, Alison Hammond, Harry Redknapp and Rosie Ramsey made up the star gamblers as contestants vied for a £10,000 prize.
Challenges included one couple identifying different types of cactus just by licking them.
Another challenge was identifying different board games by the sounds they make when they are emptied from their boxes.
However, some viewers were annoyed that ITV did not bring back all the original features of the 80’s TV format.
A number of viewers took to X – formerly known as Twitter – as they noticed that no on-screen countdown was included in the tied challenges.
One viewer asked: “Where’s the onscreen clock for the challenges?”
A second exclaimed: “I miss the clock on screen with these challenges. This is not like the original, can we bring it back?”
While a third posted: “Watching YouBet! Where is the on-screen clock during the challenges? As a reboot goes this is NOT it.”
But that was not the only factor that ITV1 viewers complained about.
Previously the likes of Bruce Forsyth, Matthew Kelly and Darren Day previously fronted the show on their own.
However, the new Saturday night show featured both Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern appear together on-screen.
Many fans of the original format also noticed that the commercial network used different music in the challenges as the theme tune was also changed.
Taking to the social media platform, another viewer stated: “The tunes changed, it should have 1 presenter.. bizarre.”
A fifth raged: “If it isn’t bad enough then two are presenting, the challenges NEED the old/tense music. One of my fave shows ruined #YouBet”
By Joshua Rom
When Holly Willoughby finally announced her departure from This Morning in October 2023 it felt almost like a crescendo. After her feud with Phillip Schofield, dealing with the revelation about his workplace relationship, months of speculation, a lacklustre return to the daytime show and a horrendous kidnap plot it seemed like her own departure was almost a relief.
She made her return to TV on Dancing On Ice, a show that first shot her to superstardom that she knew inside and out. This was combined with a long-standing colleague from her days in children’s TV to serve as her co-host in the form of Stephen Mulhern. It was a safe and steady bet for the star that placed emphasis on the continuity of her career despite unprecedented challenges.
She was previously announced as one of the hosts for a new jungle challenge show for Netflix called Bear Hunt. The streamer reportedly spent £1million on a ‘ring of steel’ security detail made up of ex-special forces and former military guns to protect her against drug gangs and kidnappers. We are still yet to see this show but with contestants such as Mel B, Shirley Ballas and Steph McGovern it is sure to be a must-watch.
But You Bet! feels like a proper homecoming for the star as she returns to ITV with her first new format since she left This Morning. Her partnership with Stephen Mulhern will continue and the new show could cement them as the new golden hosting couple of the most popular commercial broadcaster. Huge names like Olly Murs and Harry Redknapp will only bolster their star power and viewers will surely love the on-screen reunion with her former colleague and BFF Alison Hammond. Plus, you cannot go wrong with a beloved TV game show format from the 90s. The BBC can attest to this with the success of Gladiators.
On paper, this news has all the qualities for a major success and maybe it will be the show to usher in a new era for Holly Willoughby.
“Love you Holly, You are probably the best woman TV presenter we have in this country and are a true legend. It’s wonderful to see you on your comeback trail after you death plot But I for one really don’t think you should be hosting #YouBet. This is a one person job,” suggested a sixth fan.
Meanwhile, someone else remarked: Just wish the OG theme tune was kept.”
As another user added: “Why did you change the theme tune? It’s a classic #YouBet”
You Bet! is available to watch on ITV1 and ITVX.
