Tonight, 7:15pm UK time (8:15pm local)
ProSieben (or naughty internet streaming)

Tweet us! #bbsdstar

TONIGHT! We are offering a live commentary on Schlag den Star, the celebrity based spin-off of Schlag den Raab where a member of the public attempts to beat a celebrity across nine exciting games in order to take home €50,000.

Tonight! A member of the public will be taking on THE comedian Matze Knop. Stefan Raab will be on hand to act on the contestant’s behalf on one of the games if they wish, as a joker.

As ever we’ll be using this naughty stream to commentate from.

HERE IS THE LINK TO OUR LIVE COMMENTARY.

Unlike Schlag den Raab this is a pre-recorded show so will run to time, it’ll be done by 9:30pm UK time (10:30 local) so we won’t have to change stream at any point. We know our commentary is likely about 10 seconds behind that live feed and about a minute behind what you see on television, sorry.

The commentary team consists of me, Only Connect‘s David Bodycombe, television professional Daniel Peake, and Fifty 50 Show podcast host Lewis Murphy. JOIN THE CONVERSATION by commenting on our YouTube feed or tweeting us with #bbsdstar. We enjoy your company!

Free on Friday? Live in or close to London?

“Chocolate Media is looking for people to take based in paid auditions / run throughs for a new quiz show idea. Based in central London, and starting this Friday. Please send your name and a photo to jamie.willcocks@chocolatemedia.tv”

It’s been described to me as “a very strategic quizzer’s quiz”.

Also I’m told the last callout I ran for them came up with some great people, so well done punters. I should start an agency for people who want to take part in quiz run-throughs, clearly.

Meanwhile! Here’s the first promo of The Chase US via loads of people on Twitter:

I’m hearing reports that Brooke Burns may surprise. And that’s great! I’m always happy to be wrong in a good way.

I am excited I might throw up a little, the press release for the new season of Fort Boyard is up. The list of new games isn’t quite complete I don’t think (it doesn’t mention Willy’s Kitchen, Mr Boo at all) and there are likely to be new duels and Hall of Judgement games as well.

Only seven games listed, which is a bit disappointing (as ever), but at least they look quite good:

• The Casino – players earn coins from a one-armed bandit. The trouble is whilst the bandit is on the wall at one end of the room, the handle is attached to a chair near the door which will spin for ten seconds each time it’s pulled. Between the two a narrow beam, and inevitable hilarity. Earn enough coins to win the key.
• The Library – A redo of the Librarian’s Column – the key is in a perspex box underneath a stack of books, the column must be destroyed to get the key. But oh no! The column was also holding up a bit of ceiling which is now blocking the door. Rebuild the tower to get out. NEW FOR 2013 – it’s done on a turntable.
• The Haunted Manor – Players search an old manor for bits of code that will unlock the box with the key in. But there are lots of surprises in store…
• The Laundrette – Two players get in a giant washing machine. They must run to rotate the drum to build up a water level in a pipe, if the drum stops spinning the water will fall. Build it high enough to get the key.
• Submarine Training – This looks like something directly lifted from I’m a Celeb, contestant in a tank which gradually fills up with water and eels and so on, they must use tools to open tubes which will release the code to the clue cannister. There is also an emergency button to end the game.
• The Umbrellas – Contestants walk a tightrope whilst holding on to two umbrellas attached to their own guide ropes. For some reason.
• The Pump – Contestant rides a bike underwater to pump air into a large pipe, when enough has been pumped the code is released.

Intriguing stuff, they are filming the UK version right now. Fort Boyard in France is set to begin on July 6th.

Fifty 50 Show reaches its MILESTONE thirtieth episode where I chat with Lewis Murphy about lots of gameshow related news with emphasis on the new Million Pound Drop. Look out for the brilliant dubstep gag I make, which you’ll already have heard if you were about on Twitter yesterday morning. Enjoyed recording this one.

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• Show notes!
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SPEAKING OF WHICH next Saturday’s MPD special guests are none other than Sarah Alexander and Mr Brian Butterfield himself Peter Serafinowicz. I’d love to watch, but unfortunately on Saturday we’ll be providing a live commentary for the first Schlag den Star on Pro Sieben. More details on Saturday.

Meanwhile on Sunday it’s the SUPER FUN SUPER SIZED SUPER STACKED BSOP SUPER FINAL. 5000 chips and ten minute blinds and it’s open to anyone with a PokerStars account who can legally play and is willing to stake the $20 + $2 entry fee. It will determine the winner of the BSOP, but even if you can’t win (and even if you’ve never played before), you’re welcome to come and join us, there’ll hopefully be lots of money on the table. SKILL YOUR WAY TO VICTORY. It’s the last game of the BSOP season!

Watching Big Brother. Has anyone noticed this?

Mole Michael

Ben Linus, from Lost.

From Wikipedia: He began as the antagonist but becomes something of an uneasy ally to the main characters; even so, however, throughout the series, he is persistently characterized by spontaneous coldblooded actions and the shroud of moral ambiguity, Michael is the People’s Puppet.

Actually while we’re here:

Matthew Fox, Dr Jack Shephard from Lost.

Callum from Big Brother.

Mmm. Whilst we’re here! Hold ’em on Sunday night from 8pm – $5.50, open to anyone.

Big Brother started last night and it was good fun, Emma Willis was great and Rylan was much better than anticipated on Bit On The Side. The big twist is that contestant Michael is an actor and is “The People’s Puppet” – not a true housemate and can’t win, and he’ll be doing our evil bidding. I think his story will be fascinating come the end of the series, this is much more interpersonal than say The Mole. I suspect to pull it off you’re going to need rather sociopathic tendencies. We’ll see how long he’s able to pull it off for.

Anyway there’s a second launch show tonight with six more housemates going in, let’s hope it does a bit better than it did against The Secret Life of Cats last night.

Except it’s up against the new series of The All New Million Pound Possibly Two Million Pound Drop, also at 9pm on C4. What’s gonna happen?

Meanwhile they’re bringing back Blind Date with Cilla for a one-off 50th anniversary of Cilla in showbiz special. Let’s hope they bring back the “ditch or date” element and voiceover Tommy which were really successful in rejuvenating the show in its final years *straightface*.

In other Endemol news, the celeb line-up for Your Face Sounds Familiar has been released and, well…

• Alexander Armstrong
• Bobby Davro
• Denise Lewis OBE
• Natalie Anderson (Emmerdale)
• Matt Johnson (dunno)
• Cheryl Fergison

Alexander Armstrong. Blimey. Also Bobby Davro. I wonder. Anyway, starts end of June on ITV.