Ten replaces Pointless with Celebrity Name Game, fronted by Grant Denyer
Ten’s troubled 6pm timeslot has a new occupant, with Grant Denyer set to host Celebrity Name Game.
Denyer previously fronted Family Feud in the competitive timeslot, however it was axed last year due to declining ratings and audience fatigue with the format.
Denyer is back occupying the 6pm slot on Ten
Family Feud went out with 213,000 metro viewers last year, with Denyer admitting Ten had accelerated the program’s decline by running it too frequently.
“It did good things, but we are probably guilty of driving it into the ground a bit too early,” he said on his Sydney 2Day FM Breakfast show. “We gave it a bit too much. It’s six days a week, twice a day, plus All Star Episodes.”
Family Feud was replaced by quiz show Pointless, hosted by Dr Andrew Rochford and Mark Humphries, however this format also struggled to secure solid ratings.
It premiered with 493,000 metro viewers, across Ten’s main channel, as well as multi-channels Eleven and One (now known as 10 Peach and 10 Bold), however the numbers steadily declined from there.
In February, speculation mounted that Australia’s version of Pointless was not long for this world, with additional theories that Family Feud could fill the void.
Now, Ten has revealed Denyer will return to the 6pm spot in weekdays, but with a different program. The network made sure in its release, however, to play on the nostalgia and positive sentiment associated with the Family Feud format.
“Celebrity Name Game is a new, fast-paced game show that will leave you on the edge of your seat, with the biggest names on pop culture on the tip of your tongue,” a statement from Ten said. “True to Family Feud form, you’ll be left screaming the answers at the television and playing along from the comfort of your couch.”
Ten called the program the “most unpredictable game show on television”, with a $10,000 prize up for grabs.
Other Ten personalities will also assist with the competition, including former Goggleboxers and recent jungle participants Yvie Jones and Angie Kent, Beau Ryan from Chris and Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway, and Dancing With The Stars’ Courtney Act.
Denyer won the TV Week Gold Logie last year, and was deemed Australia’s most popular television personality. He currently hosts Dancing With The Stars alongside Amanda Keller, and also fronted Ellen DeGeneres’ spin-off Game of Games.
He currently appears alongside Ash London and Ed Kavalee on 2Day FM’s Sydney Breakfast program, which secured a 4.4% audience share in the first radio ratings survey of the year.
Network 10 in total spiral, Grant who?
Why push D-List personalities, just put re-runs on MASH or The Simpsons back on…
User ID not verified.
Mmmmm, Sumptuously Simpsons.
User ID not verified.
Just what we needed, more Grant Denyer. /s
User ID not verified.
Wasnt Denyer hosting Game of Games? How was that rating?
User ID not verified.
Really?? Grant Denyer again!!!!! This is a great show, Ive watched the US version, but we need a different host!! Ugh, heres hopeing he wont be making his usual sexual comments like hes been doing on DWTS!!!!
User ID not verified.
I really enjoy Pointless but if you have to axe it PLEASE bring back Family Fued which we lived!!
User ID not verified.
Do the TV executives of all networks who are responsible for approving new shows and giving air time to lame personalities like Grant , do they even watch TV? .
They are so out of touch!
User ID not verified.
We are really disappointed Pointless is ending. Really enjoyed it.. Its good to give other celebrities a go.
User ID not verified.
Well when Pointless goes there is no reason to watch 10 it is the only dhow i watch on free to air perhaps Fox will pick it up with all the other stuff free to air used to show
User ID not verified.
No more Grant Denya Pleeaase
Talk about overload of someone
User ID not verified.
Pointless leading into The Project are the only shows I watch on 10. The family loves Pointless. Very sad. Where to now?
User ID not verified.
Thank goodness. This was the worst show, could never understand how they could replace a high rating game show with this rubbish
User ID not verified.
Am I the only one who finds Grant Denyers mere presence annoying??
Plus those stills of him smiling infuriate the crap out of me.
Surely I’m not alone here?
User ID not verified.
Nothing wrong with pointless Mark Humphries was quite refreshing and good sense of humour and the offside with the Dr Andrew was really good. What a shame it got axed because of some jokes made get over yourself we enjoyed a bit of a giggle . Better than the UK one .What a lost , more fool you .
Idiots !
User ID not verified.
Could Grant please replace Andrew O’Keefe ……
User ID not verified.
Could Grant please replace Andrew O’Keefe..
User ID not verified.
Please bring back the wonderful hansome Mark Humpries .so pleasing on the eye, I just loved pointless and i loved both cpmpares Dont need any more of Grant Denyer,he is sickening
User ID not verified.
Love Pointless! Instead of axing it work on making it better.More like the U.K.version ditch the live audience for a start.Please not Grant Denyer back again.
User ID not verified.
No more Grant Center please….I beg you
User ID not verified.
I loathe him…..I was relieved they took him off the first time….then came dancing with the stars and that new Sunday night one with Chris and Julia……get him off the air for good
User ID not verified.
Grant is a bit annoying don’t you think?? Trying too hard to be humorous when he’s not a natural comic. He is trying out any fashion idea that channel 10 throws at him and looks out of sorts each time I bother to watch. Surely there has to be a better game show host than him alone?? Bring back an aussie icon like Tony Barber!!!!
User ID not verified.
Please no more of Grant please tell me what was wrong with Pointless great show something different no more of channel 10 for me
User ID not verified.
I love Pointless and those 2 dishy hosts Mark & Andrew, though I did prefer the 1 hour UK version that was screened on ABC. Maybe it was just in the wrong timeslot to attract viewers? So sad to see it go. I will not be watching Grant Denyer!
User ID not verified.
Now we have to put up with the vet Chris he seems to be on everything!!!!!
User ID not verified.
So much junk on tv !!!
User ID not verified.
Why do they worry.Nobody watches this channel anyway.It would be a great saving of electricity if they shut the whole sorry affair down.
User ID not verified.
Why do they bother.Channel 10 is at the bottom of the ratings list.They could save a heap of electricity by shutting the whole sorry affair down.
User ID not verified.
Why more Grant Denyer?! Can’t he just retire already. Biggest flop going
User ID not verified.
The name Pointless exactly how i would describe this show ? .Grant Denya great host BUT too much of him gets tiresome just saying
User ID not verified.
Enjoyed watching both Family Fued and Pointless as an alternative to watching the News on other stations. Look forward to another light hearted entertainment show in this time slot.
User ID not verified.
Can’t Stand Andrew Okeefe he is just not right for for the CHASE. I turn the Chase on for the last 15 minutes. Pity Bradley from the UK wasn’t living over here I would watch all of the Chase then. Andrew won’t ever be another Bradley!
User ID not verified.
Pointless was the only class act ten had left.
User ID not verified.
I’m tired of people bashing..Grant Denyer is talented, quick witted and professional. Those of you who have only got something negative to say about someone, need to look at themselves and rate their own performance in their own workplace..providing they do work ..?.. and contribute to society. ..doubtful.
User ID not verified.
Any chance Ten could make a show out of melbourne?? The Sydney thing is being noticed by us down here?
User ID not verified.
Can’t believe pointless is going, format is good and haven’t seen hosts more entertaining on commercial tv in Australia. Andrew and Mark the banter will be missed. Let all go back to mindless drab!!
User ID not verified.
Having too much doses of him in everything is going to make me sick….not good DJ or rating
User ID not verified.
I love Pointless. Mark and the Doc are so funny and refreshing. Give it another go. I like Grant but…. too much, too much..?. He’ll get burnt out again.
User ID not verified.
Can’t wait for this to start, love the host, great to see him back
User ID not verified.
Can’t wait for this to start, Grant Denyer is a great host
User ID not verified.
Ten should dump Denyer. Please look for a fresh face. Why is he chosen for so many shows? Never my choice.
User ID not verified.
Just love Grant Denyer
User ID not verified.
Grant Denyer is a good host. I am also disappointed that pointless Australia is being axed. I hope ch 10 doesn’t become pathetic and not put Mark Humphries and Andrew Roachford together again on another game show. The English version of pointless is also good but ch 2 has to show every episode from day 1 not after show 500 +
User ID not verified.
Shame for the Pointless hosts. Ten butchered the format to fit a half hour slot with 3 commercial breaks: the charisma of Andrew and Mark kept it half afloat – there was a very solid show in there somewhere.
As for the Name Game – good to see breakthrough talent like Grant Denyer getting a go. Perhaps Ten could also find room for the cruelly underexposed Julia Morris and Chris Brown…
User ID not verified.
I read that as Celebrity Gnome Game, so Grant Denyer seemed like perfect casting.
User ID not verified.
I’m really disappointed to read this. I thought Pointless was a great show – replaced with mindless crap
User ID not verified.
I hate the name of the new show.
Pointless was fantastic as we’re Mark & Andrew. I don’t see why Pointless was axed. In Harden NSW, Pointless is broadcast on “Peach” & not Ten which is not called Ten!
User ID not verified.
This statement has not been said by me before, so let me post it!
I hate the name of the new show.
Pointless was fantastic as we’re Mark & Andrew. I don’t see why Pointless was axed. In Harden NSW, Pointless is broadcast on “Peach” & not Ten which is not called Ten!
User ID not verified.
Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!
This is what I get when I try to post a comment.
User ID not verified.
I agree …too much milking of the few bankable “stars”at 10 as well . Yes ,even you , Dr Chris ! And if Grant Denyer appears I switch off .Does Master chef still exist ?? Bring it on …at least it has some integrity and does not demean the intelligence of the audience . Think the Project and why it works so well.
User ID not verified.
It’s the most unpredictable game show on television
User ID not verified.
Seriously? Why can’t we get some real celebrities in Australia? Why can’t we get some good TV series and films made in Australia? The only good ones are indie films. Nine and CBS are huge corporations. Surely they can just throw some money and poof: one stone 3 birds?
User ID not verified.
I wish Grant Denyer would just go away.
User ID not verified.
*hoping
User ID not verified.
I used to enjoy Pointless , which was a sort of reverse trivia game .
If 10 must bring in a game show , let it be with some intelligence most of the game shows seem to be slapstick humour , at the viewers expense , if you enjoy game shows with dumped green slime or other inane antics ,
you have a perfect host in Grant , he’s been around failure shows since ‘Moby Dick was a Sardine’ , i thought the gold logie was going to be his gold watch or last hurrah . Perhaps he could go back to be a ” racing car driver” another failure !
If you persist in having to have a game show with this nonce , perhaps it could be titled ” game show V5.0 “
User ID not verified.
SO disappointed to see POINTLESS go…great host and co-host, a good show to keep the brain active! I wont watch a show full of supposed celebrities thinking of names of other so called ‘celebrities…Channel 10 I am switching off!!!
User ID not verified.
No.
You are definitely not alone.
I enjoyed Pointless. Funny and intelligent men, hosting for a change from boringly, boring GD.
User ID not verified.
Thank you. You have expressed my feelings and thoughts exactly.
User ID not verified.
I totally agree…
He is everywhere…why?
User ID not verified.
Celebrity name game is absolutely boring . We are sick of celebrities on game shows. It’s a put off. Where is the contestants competition show’s.. channel 10 has some very uninteresting programs. Where are the movies. Where is the matinee movies where are the night owl movies where are the docos where are the British comedy shows where are the Australian comedy shows. Channel 10 is just a stale format all round. And it’s been like that for years. There’s more than stupid cooking shows and bullshit reality shows. When are the network management ever going to wake up and listen to us viewer’s
User ID not verified.