'Blankety Blank' Christmas special 2021: release date, guests, and everything we know

'Blankety Blank' Christmas special 2021 is again hosted by Bradley Walsh who has some fabulous guests this year.
'Blankety Blank' Christmas special 2021 is again hosted by Bradley Walsh who has some fabulous guests this year. (Image credit: BBC)

The Blankety Blank Christmas special 2021 is a Christmas TV highlight. Hosted by Bradley Walsh it will feature six celebrities on the panel and some brilliant prizes for the contestants. 

How clever will Mel B, Angela Rippon, Richard E Grant, Tom Allen, Sarah Millican, and Danny Jones be when it comes to filling in the blanks? The panel are of course suitably glammed up in festive outfits, and the set is all decked out with fantastic Christmas trees at its heart. This is just the show to heighten your Christmas mood as it'll be high spirits all the way if Bradley has anything to do with it.

Previous Blankety Blank hosts are from British telly's hall of fame, with Sir Terry Wogan, Les Dawson, and Lily Savage (aka Paul O'Grady) in charge back in the day. 

Bradley of course starting hosting Blankety Blank last Christmas and the show returned for a full series this autumn on BBC1 when Bradley told us: "It’s a joy to be back. I love nostalgic telly and Blankety Blank is one of those iconic formats that everyone remembers, so I’m grateful to be back for a brand-new series. 

"Filming the Christmas special last year was a lot of fun and it felt great to bring viewers a little bit of laughter during a particularly tough year. It’s the funniest show I’ve ever worked on. I think my first last Christmas special was so successful because the show is so legendary and can be enjoyed by the whole family. We’ve had great feedback from viewers who enjoyed the nostalgia of the show with the return of the theme tune, cheque book and pen and ridiculous questions!"

So here's our guide to the Blankety Blank Christmas show on BBC1 and its fabulous guests, plus a chat with Bradley Walsh about it all...

Richard E. Grant is among the 'Blankety Blank' panellists the Christmas.

Richard E. Grant is among the 'Blankety Blank' panellists the Christmas. (Image credit: BBC)

Comedian Sarah Millican will be filling in the blanks for a festive 'Blankety Blank'.

Comedian Sarah Millican will be filling in the blanks for this year's festive 'Blankety Blank'. (Image credit: BBC)

'Blankety Blank' Christmas Special 2021 air date

Blankety Blank will be at the heart of the BBC's 2021 festive schedule as it airs on Christmas Day Saturday Dec. 25 at 7.25pm. The Christmas show will also become available on BBCiPlayer shortly after its release date on BBC1.

Bradley Walsh on filming the 'Blankety Blank' Christmas special?

Bradley Walsh says: "Everyone was in good Christmas spirits. Absolutely. The panel were glammed up in festive outfits, the set was all decked out and we had a fantastic Christmas tree. Father Christmas also joined us on set, allowing me to arrive in style on the back of his sleigh. All the questions were Christmas-themed and there were some hilarious answers. Christmas specials are a joy to film - the mood on set is great because everyone is in high spirits. Filming them marks the start of the countdown to Christmas.

"As for myself, I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with my family and friends hopefully, fingers crossed. We usually like to share Christmas Day with two other families, which we obviously couldn’t do last year due to the restrictions. This year, we’re planning on celebrating being reunited which is something I’m extremely grateful for."

Oops! Danny Jones has difficulties spelling reindeer for his blank.

Oops! Danny Jones has difficulties spelling reindeer for his blank. (Image credit: BBC)

Angela Rippon's got her Christmas party hat on for 'Blankety Blank'.

Angela Rippon's got her fun Christmas party hat on for 'Blankety Blank' this Christmas. (Image credit: BBC)

Bradley gets the Christmas spirits high in 'Blankety Blank'.

Bradley Walsh keeps the Christmas spirits high in 'Blankety Blank'. (Image credit: BBC)

Is there a 'Blankety Blank' Christmas Special trailer?

 A Christmas Blankety Blank trailer has arrived yet, but we feel show it will appear on BBC1's festive season promotion clips. We will update as soon as we can. 

Nicholas Cannon
TV Content Director on TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week

I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.