The revival of UK Jeopardy began and ended in the blink of an eye, and by the estimation of many, its poor host was to blame.
Earlier this year, Stephen Fry announced that after a month, the game show was being replaced in the ITV lineup, marking the third time the show had failed in the UK. The third installment of the answers and questions show was a bust, but perhaps a new face behind the lectern could revive the show yet again. Before we explore some celebrities that I believe would make good Jeopardy! hosts, let’s examine where the latest version of the UK show got it wrong.
Who is Stephen Fry?
Stephen Fry made a name for himself as a comedy double act with Hugh Laurie. The native of Hampstead starred in several sketch comedy series with big UK names like Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean fame and Academy Award winner Emma Thompson.
For all of his accolades and experience as a comedian and presenter, not to mention his tireless efforts to raise mental health awareness, Fry never seemed right for the Jeopardy! hosting gig. As fans have pointed out, his delivery was shaky, he didn’t have a great flow, and his guest segments were rather dull.
Perhaps the standards of hosting Jeopardy! are too high since American host Alex Trebek passed away in 2020, but Fry was underwhelming nonetheless. Trebek was the perfect choice to come in for Art Fleming and host the show in the United States in 1984, with an array of knowledge and quick one-liners. Given his comedic background though, you’d have thought Fry would’ve had better banter and back-and-forth with contestants.
Fry wasn’t the best choice, but perhaps another UK big shot could make the show successful. Here’s a list of three celebrities I believe would make great UK Jeopardy! hosts.
James Corden
When James Corden decided to leave The Late Late Show in 2022, CBS decided to end the franchise that aired following The Late Show. That ended a run for the program that began in 1995 with Tom Snyder as the original host.
The now 45-year-old Corden has a musical background, though his first TV reporter role coming with the BBC in the mid-1990s, interviewing musician Meat Loaf. His film credits include Gulliver’s Travels, One Chance, Begin Again and, coming next year, The Smurfs Movie.
With Corden as host, The Late Late Show earned four Primetime Emmy nominations while winning two Creative Emmy Awards and being named the Best Talk Show in 2016 at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards.
Corden is quick-witted, well-read, has a strong delivery, and has a pleasant sound. He’s very sharp and could bring a little light-heartedness to the show. His car karaoke segments with several celebrity musicians were among his unique segments as a late-night host.
Craig Ferguson
Another popular host of The Late Late Show was Craig Ferguson, the program’s star from 2005-2014. He came to the show shortly after playing the role of Nigel Wick on The Drew Carey Show, and it was a surprise decision to many when he followed Craig Kilborn.
Among the many things that made his late-night hosting unique were his cold openings, random banter between him and Geoff Pederson, his gay skeleton robot sidekick, and a handful of goofy characters like Secretariat the horse, a rhinoceros and his puppets.
After departing the Late Late Show, Ferguson moved to daytime television, where he hosted Celebrity Name Game, where contestants were paired with a celebrity with a category and had to guess 10 names based on that.
He won two daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host, while The Late Late Show won a Peabody Award in 2009.
The Scottish comedian, like Corden, was witty, humorous, and humble, which would’ve made Alex Trebek proud. He’s got game show hosting experience, is comfortable in half-hour programming, and knows how to keep a nice flow to a show. One of the things that makes him stand out from other UK celebrities is his improvisational skills. When welcoming his guests on The Late Late Show he’d famously rip up his cards and just go off the cuff and make things up. This sometimes led to plenty of randomness, but everything was so natural and hilarious. He’d be great at the guest banter for UK Jeopardy and is knowledgeable on various topics.
Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie gained notoriety in North America when starring on the popular medical series House from 2004 to 2012, where he played the title character. He won two Golden Globes for his work on that show and earned countless Primetime Emmy nominations. Laurie and Fry, as mentioned, were a big hit on various comedy shows in the 80s and 90s.
The 65-year-old Laurie has a reputation for being sarcastic but his wit and no-nonsense attitude in his many roles, usually comes off as funny rather than offensive. His more prominent hosting roles include Saturday Night Live, so he’s not known as much in the realm, but he has plenty of star quality.
He may be an outside choice that could add something to a program like UK Jeopardy!
What do you think of these picks? Who would you want to see as host?