SBS quiz show Letters & Numbers – known for its endless repeats since it was axed in 2012 – finally gets a reboot with a new host… but will fan favourite Lily Serna be returning?
After nine years of late-afternoon repeats, SBS has finally commissioned new episodes of cult quiz show Letters & Numbers.
The reboot will be hosted by comedian Michael Hing, replacing former ABC news anchor Richard Morecroft, who fronted the original show from 2010 to 2012.
The public service broadcaster confirmed the news to TV Tonight on Monday.
Guess who’s back! After nine years of late-afternoon repeats, SBS has finally commissioned new episodes of cult quiz show Letters & Numbers. Pictured (L to R): mathematician Lily Serna, host Richard Morecroft and dictionary expert David Astle
Hing is a co-host of Triple J’s drive-time show, and also presented SBS’s ancestry series Where Are You Really From? in 2018.
There’s no word yet on whether mathematician Lily Serna or dictionary expert David Astle will be returning for the new season.
Serna became a fan favourite during her years on Letters & Numbers.
New look: The reboot will be hosted by comedian Michael Hing (pictured in 2019), replacing former ABC news anchor Richard Morecroft, who fronted the original show from 2010 to 2012
An SBS spokesperson said: ‘Letters and Numbers has always been a hit with SBS audiences, and the iconic game show has been entertaining our viewers for years.
‘Though we can’t confirm anything just yet, we may have some exciting news to share soon. In the meantime, viewers can catch up at SBS On Demand.’
Despite only running for two years, Letters & Numbers has achieved cult status since its cancellation due to its daily repeats on SBS.
Popular: Serna became a fan favourite during her years on Letters & Numbers
The show had an average audience of 130,000 when it was axed, and old episodes still get about 90,000 viewers in the late-afternoon time slot.
The program was based on the popular British quiz show Countdown and the French program Des chiffres et des lettres.
Since the last episode of Letters & Numbers was recorded in 2012, Morecroft has retired to the country and Serna has welcomed her first child.
In December 2019, Astle was appointed as host of the Evenings radio program on ABC Radio Melbourne, replacing Lindy Burns.
Memorable: Despite only running for two years, Letters & Numbers has achieved cult status due to its daily repeats on SBS. One memorable episode featured the anagram ‘PENISDUMP’