We hadn’t spotted this but the new series of Decimate begins at 2:15pm today on BBC One.

We hear it has new question writers, although we don’t know if they can save the show from still being a bit dull.

So thanks to a friend for pointing this out, Des Chiffres et Des Lettres returned with a brand new look and a new-ish format to France 3 a few weeks ago in a bid to appeal to the youths, presumably:

Here’s what we’ve gleaned, which may or may not be completely accurate:

• The show now has three distinct parts: the standard figures and letters bits, a duels segment, and in what must surely be a format first, a bonus round for cash prizes.
• The first part begins with a “sesame”, a speed duel, the winner of which can determine whether the tenth and final round of the first part is a numbers or letters game.
• Ten rounds are played, alternating between 30-second letters games and 40-second numbers games (down from the traditional 45). Players no longer pick letters alternately, each player now gets to select the letters for an entire round. But they do so by declaring how many vowels they want in the line-up and ten letters are drawn (it’s been ten since 2010). Furthermore you’re awarded a minimum of seven points for winning a letters game now. Numbers games are unchanged except for time, unlike in Countdown players don’t get to choose how many big numbers there are.
• In the second segment there are five duels played – if you haven’t seen DCEDL they’re a bit like Conundrums but a bit different – spell the long word, find two words that fit a category amongst the ten letters, finding a ten letter proper noun and a shorter common noun within it, tough mental calculation, that sort of thing. There are five of them worth 7 points each.
• It used to be each match was a best of three episodes but it now sounds like one loss and you’re gone. The winner gets to play the bonus round. 8 sets of letters, two minutes, and they have to find a word of the length asked for for each set. €100 for each set beaten so €800 to be won total.

So there we are. They fit a lot into that half hour.

We picked up some details on this a few months ago but it looks like a press release has dropped for Society Game, a new show from South Korea that looks like it shares DNA with Bother’s Bar favourite The Genius (series three discussion linked, others on the Specials Board) – from what we gather same director, same production company (CJ E & M, although interestingly a co-prod with Endemol) and it sounds like Bandage Man might be involved.

But if you’re looking for a show built around clever games my gut feeling suggests you may be a bit disappointed. It looks like contestants are split into two camps, one camp has a leader who will be authoritarian, the other will be democratic. Camps are given physical and mental challenges and it sounds like someone from the losing camp will get kicked off.

So it’s not The Genius, although there’s no reason it won’t be entertaining in more [extreme] ways. the set-up sounds quite interesting at least and will finally answer the age old question as to whether a dictatorship or democracy is OFFICIALLY better I’m sure.

They seem to have gone all-out on the set:

As usual we heartily recommend following Bumdidlyumptious’ Twitter for latest news (and their page). Whether we cover the show with its own page will depend on if it’s going to be subtitled and if it looks like it might be any good or not. The first episode is on October 16th, so allowing some time to sub we only have about a month to wait.

I’m afraid we have no news regarding The Genius Game UK, although we were all aware that it would be a hard sell. Still, TV is a glacial process at the best of times so you never know.

I used to find it a tedious piece of wackoonery but now I’m out of the Demo I’ve come to accept it. Like, whatever.

However I have nephews now and that means CBeebies when I’m visiting family on a weekend. And that means awesome kids show Swashbuckle! Here is the first episode Youtube came up with.

Saturday,
7:15pm UK/8:15pm Germany,
Pro Sieben or naughty internet streaming

Tweet us! #bbsds

It’s back for another three episodes (at least) ergo so are we.

Join Dan, David, myself and special guest commentator Scott (who did a great job filling in last time) (*) as we watch two German celebrities battle it out over fifteen games both spectacular and mundane for Elton’s €100,000 case – LIVE.

During the boring bits we’ll have our own games and gossip (David seems very excited about a game involving a spreadsheet amongst other fun on offer), and we’ll try and remember to read out your tweets on the #bbsds hashtag.

But who are our two gladiators battling it out on Saturday night? NONE OTHER THAN professional dancer Massimo Sinató and national German handball goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. One’s got a hat, the other looks intense. Who will win? Music will be provided by hip-hop artists den Absoluten Beginnern and Felix Jaehn feat. Alma. My favourites!

Here are all the details you need:

Here is a link to our commentary stream (LIVE! from 7:15pm)
This stream is commentary only. You will need to have a naughty stream running at the same time for the visuals. We are likely to be about 15-20 seconds behind the visual stream (and about a full minute behind if you’re watching an actual satellite feed), sorry.

This is the stream we will be viewing. (this now requires a username and password – get one from here) Put the name and password in where it says “jetzt kostenlos anmelden”.

Alternative stream (seems to work alright)

You can also try looking up “Pro 7 Onlive Live” although we can’t guarantee dodginess of links.

Follow us on Twitter for immediate news if something goes wrong. Or because we’re fun guys!!!!

@bothersbar, @danielpeake, @davidjbodycombe @sensei256

(*) Don’t panic legendary legacy commentator Lewis fans, he’s hoping to be available for the next one.

Tschüß!