Former Countdown host Jeff Stelling to front ITV quiz show ‘Alphabetical’

Jeff Stelling is to step once more into a quiz show set as the former Countdown anchor takes the helm of ITV’s latest game show, Alphabetical

“I’m thrilled to be back as a quiz-master fronting the brilliant Alphabetical for ITV. It’s one for the wordsmiths out there with no shortage of quick-fire questions. It’s high-tempo, exhilarating and I can’t wait for the viewers to see it.” – Jeff Stelling

Alphabetical is a fast-paced quiz show, which sees three contestants compete against a returning champion in series of games based around the alphabet. Over the course of four rounds the aim is to accrue as much time as possible in preparation for the final. However, two contestants will be eliminated leaving just the reigning champion and their challenger to go head-to- head in an effort to win the jackpot.

The tense final requires the remaining two contestants to make their way around the entire alphabet by answering a question based on each letter. They are racing against the clock with just 100 seconds, plus the time they have accrued. By successfully completing the alphabet the winner walks away with the jackpot. Or, if both contestants fail to achieve this, the jackpot remains unclaimed with the prize money accumulating with every day it rolls over.

The production has been comissioned for a ten-episode run with each edition lasting an hour. The show has been redeveloped by Adam Adler, creator of The Cube and Managing Director of Gameface Productions – the production outfit established by Adler, Andrew O’Connor and Paul Sandler last year in a joint venture with ITV Studios.

“Sometimes darling, you just think to yourself, wouldn’t it have been easier and nicer to bring back Chain Letters?” – TV Critic Vivian Summers

Alphabetical is based on the ITV Studios format, The Alphabet Game featuring the famous finale from the long-running hit Spanish version Pasapalabra.