5 PIECES TOGETHER CELEBRITY PUZZLING, HOSTED BY JEREMY VINE, WITH TEAM CAPTAINS SALLY LINDSAY AND CAROL VORDERMAN

8 X 60’ SERIES COMMISSIONED FROM POTATO AND WHEELHOUSE STUDIOS

5 is to launch new series Celebrity Puzzling, an exhilarating game show hosted by broadcaster Jeremy Vine, putting the nation's favourite stars through their paces through a series of mind-bending puzzles. The series is produced by Potato (part of ITV Studios) and Wheelhouse and has been commissioned by Federico Ruiz for 5.

Celebrity Puzzling (8 x 60’) is a weekly quiz show hosted by Jeremy with team captains, actress Sally Lindsay and quiz queen Carol Vorderman, who each week welcome a new celebrity guest to their respective teams. Together, they tackle a range of fun and fiendish puzzles – testing logic, lateral thinking and problem-solving - all vying for the ultimate prize: bragging rights as the best puzzle-solvers in showbiz.

The host of famous faces joining the teams each week include Stephen Bailey, Miles Jupp, Shaun Williamson, Les Dennis, Gareth Malone, John Thomson, Dom Joly, Russell Kane, Melvin Odoom, Paul Sinha, David James, Ore Oduba, Scarlett Moffatt, Dr Ranj Singh, Sam Quek and Rav Wilding. 

Jeremy Vine said:  "It's amazing to do a quiz that's so simple and yet feels so fresh in every way. Celebrity Puzzling is one of those shows where, from the very first edition, everything fell into place with our amazing 5 team, with Carol and with Sally, and we just had the greatest fun in the studio. Not to mention burning through quite a few brain cells as we all tried to solve those beastly puzzles!"

Sally Lindsay added: “I was honestly a bit nervous about this challenge as I’m more your general knowledge type but even though it was really competitive at times I surprised myself on some rounds! If you love a puzzle you will love this!”

Carol Vorderman commented: “I’m so excited to be a team captain on Celebrity Puzzling. Finally, all those years of loving numbers, words and brainteasers are about to pay off! Well, I hope that they are. Joining forces with my brilliant and really good mate Sally Lindsay, and with the ever-clever Jeremy Vine keeping us all in line, it’s going to be a battle of brains… and I’m going to be fighting all the way, of course!”

Federico Ruiz, Commissioning Editor, Unscripted, 5 added: “It’s a great thrill bringing together Jeremy and Sally, two much-loved stars of the 5 family, but from polar opposite ends of the schedule. When we signed Carol, we knew it was going to be something really special. It’s fun, warm and a joy to play along. And in case you’re wondering if quiz queen Carol has still got it… she most definitely has!”

Martin Scott, Executive Producer, Potato, added: “The joy of puzzling is something we cherish here at Potato, so its wonderful to be producing the series alongside Wheelhouse for 5. This fresh take on the Puzzling format truly tests brainpower in surprising ways across a wide range of mental dimensions. It’s great fun and a real challenge.” 

Glenn Hugill, Chief Creative Officer of Wheelhouse Entertainment and President of Wheelhouse Studios said: “Jeremy, Carol and Sally are so much fun to watch and even more fun to play along with! Here’s a not-so-tricky crossword clue – 5 ACROSS: Battle of brains from Wheelhouse and Potato, starring your new fave TV trio!’ (9, 8).”  

Celebrity Puzzling is an 8 x 60’ series was commissioned by Federico Ruiz, Commissioning Editor, Unscripted at 5. It is Produced by Potato (part of ITV Studios), and Wheelhouse (UK division), Directed by Richard van’t Riet and Executive Produced by Luke Shiach and Martin Scott (Potato) and Glenn Hugill (Wheelhouse).  ITV Studios will handle international distribution.

The series was filmed at Enfys Studios in Cardiff, Wales, and will be available to watch and stream on 5 this year.