ITV launching The Secret Game Show with camera hidden in offices and staff competing for cash prizes
AFTER the success of South Korean format The Masked Singer, I can’t blame ITV bosses for flicking through telly guides in the Far East as they look for their next big hit.
And clearly they think they’ve found it – in the form of Japan’s The Secret Game Show.
I’m told that ITV have registered a trademark against the name in the UK, indicating that they are bringing it to British telly.
According to public documents at the Intellectual Property Office, ITV Studios filed paperwork protecting the name on an entertainment show.
The Secret Game Show, which was devised by NBC and Japanese broadcaster ABC TV, is all about hidden cameras.
Its format sees several unsuspecting employees, nominated by a colleague or boss, star in a game show.
LIFE-CHANGING DOSH
The employees are instructed to perform a series of challenges in a bid to win a life-changing sum of dosh.
However, like some sort of secret Big Brother task, nobody in their office can find out what they’re doing.
Captured by hidden cameras, the contestants are “beamed” into a live studio audience as they try to secretly complete tasks within their workplace.
A source said: “The Far East has long been a hotbed of new TV ideas, and ITV hope they’ve found the next big UK hit in The Secret Gameshow.
“It sounds like a real hoot. It’s clearly on its way to the UK as they’ve just been approved for the trademark here in Blighty.”
It would follow in the footsteps of The Masked Singer, which originated from the South Korean programme The King of Mask Singer.
I for one am just glad that ITV are moving away from singing contests.
Imelda: My fears starring as Queen
YOU don’t get locked up in the Tower of London for angering the monarchy any more, but that doesn’t mean Imelda Staunton is any less terrified about playing The Queen in the upcoming fifth series of The Crown.
The veteran actress said: “When Claire Foy was in the first series, to all of us that felt like history.
“Then following on from that with Olivia Colman, again it seems like history. Now we start in 1991 playing someone much more recent.
“That’s the extra challenge I have, people saying, ‘Oh, I don’t think she’s like that at all’.
“I’m hoping she won’t be watching. I’m hoping she’ll probably say, ‘Do you know? I think I know myself now, I don’t need to watch anyone else who thinks they know me’.”
Imelda added that trying to get into character has proved overwhelming at times.
She said: “It’s not like a part I can put a spin on. My preparation has to be everything. It has to be watching her, reading about the past.
“I have to sit in my room getting frightened thinking, ‘I can’t do it, I can’t do it’ and then you say to yourself, ‘Yes you can’ and get on with it.”
I’m sure she’ll receive acclaim, but probably not a call to be made a dame.
Will.i.am’s liquid diet
WILL.I.AM is giving Gwyneth Paltrow a run for her money with his latest madcap health regime.
The Black Eyed Peas rapper calls himself a “liquitarian”, doesn’t eat on Mondays and Tuesdays and only has salads on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Most read in News TV
The Voice coach told the Table Manners podcast: “On Monday I juice, Tuesday I juice and Wednesday I juice with a salad and Thursday I juice with a salad and Friday I juice with an avocado.”
“On Saturdays and Sundays I have solids like a vegan burger. Sundays are like my hard carb day.”
I look forward to him taking the inevitable tumble when this yo-yo dieting takes its toll.
Holly's back
HOLLY Willoughby returned to This Morning yesterday in a pair of flat shoes after pulling a muscle in her back.
Writing on Instagram earlier, Holly, 40, said: “Morning . . . back in flats today . . . God knows what I’ve done to myself . . . better today, just being careful!”
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk