Latest news with #LucyWorsley
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Victorian scam artist who tried to dupe the islanders of Skye
Hiding her true identity behind more than 40 aliases, con artist Annie Gordon Baillie made a living swindling shopkeepers across Victorian in the 1880s, the Scottish fraudster took her criminal activities to a new arrived on Skye during the Crofters' War, a violent clash between tenant farmers and landowners over land as an aristocratic novelist, she saw an opportunity to make a fortune - by convincing 1,000 islanders to relocate to a patch of Australian swamp. Annie's story is told in a new series of BBC Radio 4's Lady Swindlers with Lucy episode draws on newspaper articles, court reports and a book called The Adventures of a Victorian Con Woman: The Life and Crimes of Mrs Gordon Baillie by Mick Davis and David was born into poverty in Peterhead, a fishing port in Aberdeenshire, in February her 20s, she was defrauding shopkeepers and running up credit for goods she had no intention of paying the 1870s, Annie became more ambitious and set up a fake charity to establish a Protestant school for girls in Rome - a heartland of the Catholic poured in but the school was never built."The law catches up with her briefly in 1872 and she spends nine months in prison for fraud," said historian Worsley. Following her release from prison, Annie had a whirlwind few married an opera singer and the couple had three children. The family spent some time in New in November 1884, she turned up on the Isle of Skye "wearing fancy clothes and jewels," according to Worsley. "She passes herself off as a wealthy literary lady, who is writing a novel about the plight of the crofters of Skye," she added. Skye, along with other west coast island communities, was in the grip of the Crofters' throughout much of the 1800s, it was a dispute between landowners and communities of tenant farmers distressed by high rents, their lack of rights to land, and eviction threats to make way for large-scale farming process of moving families out of inland areas where they had raised cattle for generations to coastal fringes of large estates, or abroad to territories in Canada, had started with the Highland Clearances in the 18th and early 19th the clearances and the Crofters' War were marked by violent clashes between people facing eviction and landowners and the authorities. One of the bloodiest incidents was the Battle of the Braes on Skye in being attacked with stones by a crowd of men and women, about 50 police officers from Glasgow baton-charged the unrest spread to Glendale in Skye and in 1883 the frustrated authorities called for military intervention to help round up the early 1883, the iron-hulled Royal Navy gunboat Jackal appeared in Loch Pooltiel, off disembarked from the Jackal and landed at Glendale's Meanish Pier to help police in making sent reporters to cover the dispute's twists and turns, so Annie was well versed on the "war", and any opportunity to benefit for was all the rage among wealthy Victorians, and Annie tapped into as a "lady novelist", she told Skye's crofters she would fundraise for their cause. Annie did an interview on her "charity work" with the Aberdeen Evening News, turning up at a hotel in Portree in a striking crimson dressing gown and fingers adorned with jewelled historical and crime writer Denise Mina said the disguise distracted people from what Annie was really up to."She had a great eye for an emotive cause," Mina said."Physically, how would I describe her? She's very pretty, very petite and always well turned out."But Mina added: "She is taking money from crofters who are just about to go to war because they have been run off their land and burned out of their homes."She is going to raise money and leg it with the dosh."It is quite spiteful what she is doing, but it is all wrapped up in this lady façade." Annie's scam took a bizarre turn when she suggested the islanders quit Skye and emigrate to even travelled out to Australia to negotiate a deal for land as a new Melbourne, she was shown an unwanted area of marshy said 1,000 crofters could relocate there, and give up farming and become fishermen Mina said: "The whole point is the crofters don't want to leave - that's the whole dispute."The deal collapsed and Annie returned to London where more trouble awaited her. Publicity around her scheme had caught the attention of a Scotland Yard detective - Det Insp Henry Marshall - who had long been on the trail of Annie and her shopkeeper frauds across was arrested in 1888, leaving crofters on Skye still waiting for their "golden ticket" to a new life in was later jailed for five years for swindling the shopkeepers. The money involved in the frauds was believed to be far less than the true amount of Annie's ill-gotten gains over the years. After her release, she was soon back in jail - this time for stealing released from prison, she emigrated to New York where in 1902 there is a record of her being placed in a workhouse as punishment for vagrancy. And then she vanishes without a Swindlers' in-house historian, Prof Rosalind Crone, said Annie's story exposed the "dark side" of charitable giving in Victorian times."It wasn't always about helping the unfortunate or supporting worthwhile causes," she crofters, the war led to a public inquiry and eventually legislation that protected their land rights - and hopefully any chance of ever being scammed by phoney lady novelists again.
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Lucy Worsley returns for the second series of Lady Swindlers, meeting spooky scammers, brazen burglars and a clever counterfeiter
Lucy Worsley is back with a brand new series of Lady Swindlers, where once again the team are on the trail of swindlers, hustlers and women on the make. This is where true crime meets history - with a twist. Lucy and her team of all female detectives travel back in time to meet women who didn't play by the rules. Women trying to make it in a world made for men. Women who stepped outside their ordinary lives to do extraordinary things. What do their crimes and the times they lived in teach us about women's lives today? This season we meet world-famous spirit mediums, a woman who became known as the 'Yorkshire Witch', an international art thief and even a Victorian woman spiking men's drinks, as we travel back in time and across continents, from England and Scotland to the US. Lady Swindlers with Lucy Worsley begins on BBC Sounds and Radio 4 on Tuesday 13 May 2025. New episodes will be released weekly. Listen to Lady Swindlers with Lucy Worsley on BBC Sounds AT2 Interview with Lucy Worsley What was the reaction to last season's swindlers, and why are you back for season two? We thought we should return to swindling because there are so many fabulous female con-artists that we didn't have room for in season one! I was absolutely thrilled that this time we got to look at a fake medium, and no one's life is complete without their knowing about the 1920s New York armed robber called The Bobbed Haired Bandit. We've all enjoyed working on some stories that are a bit lighter and jollier than the deaths we covered in Lady Killers - there's a certain glamour to a lady burglar able to squeeze through a window of eight inches, and a fake philanthropist (gosh, she had some excellent outfits). Some of your new swindlers have creepy connections to the spirit world. How did they use their superpowers to swindle their victims? Aha - you're thinking of 'The Yorkshire Witch,' as she was called, that's Mary Bateman. She was a purveyor of fake cures and medicines - and her superpower wasn't so much actual magic as using her magnetic personality to get people to believe that she could cure their ills. She was famous for possessing a magic hen which laid eggs upon which were written the words 'Christ is Risen' - but I'm sorry to tell you she pushed the eggs back up the poor old hen's duct to make it look like she was laying them for real… Do you have any favourite swindlers or swindles from this season? I was particularly interested in the Fox Sisters, who were some of the best-known Spiritualist mediums in the nineteenth century. They achieved enormous celebrity and success passing on messages from the dead - but then when they'd fallen out of favour a bit and were on the downward slope of fame, one of them stirred things up again by admitting that all along she'd been faking - and the mysterious raps that people had been able to hear during the seances were actually made by her popping a joint in her foot. It reminds me of a modern-day YouTuber who sells a particular lifestyle, but then when they've taken things as far as they can go, can only gain even more attention by saying 'I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but nothing I said was true.' If you could spend one day in the shoes of a swindler, which one would you choose? I don't think I'd actually like to have been any of them! It's a lonely and stressful business, I think, tricking people for a living. If I had to, I'd choose Celia Cooney, the Bobbed Haired Bandit, because in later life she managed to put the past behind her, settle down to what she'd always actually wanted: a quiet life as a wife and mother. Astonishingly, it was only after she'd passed away that her children and grandchildren actually learned about her criminal history! Many of your swindlers have children, like coin counterfeiter Catherine Murphy. This is a theme we see in the headlines today too. In this series do you consider how women with children in the justice system are treated, then and now? I think that the consensus of us all on the Lady Killers team is that if you punish a woman by parting her from her children, her problems get handed down to damage the next generation too. Catherine Murphy, who coined fake money, wasn't doing it to get rich or famous - she must have just been desperately hard up and looking for work she could do at home, on the kitchen table. She was executed for her crimes, leaving her kids motherless, which is just heart-breaking. I'm absolutely not an expert on the modern justice system, but in most cases I can't see anything good coming out of custodial sentences for women with very young families. How do you think the swindlers would fare with the challenges of modern-day society? Some of the criminals, like Annie Gordon Baillie, had a skill for re-inventing themselves. She travelled to Scotland to pose as a lady novelist, wearing a dreamy costume involving tartan and red silk stockings, who was concerned the plight of the dispossessed crofters of Skye. Then she travelled to Australia and got some very high-up government officials to take her fairly seriously as an emissary from the crofters looking for land where they could start new lives. It was all rubbish, but she inhabited her fantasy worlds so convincingly that I can imagine her making a very good living as an influencer or lifestyle celebrity today. The swindlers span numerous locations and time periods, from London to New York and from the 18th century to the 1950s. What do you consider the most fundamental takeaway regarding women's social history? A positive message to take away is that sometimes female criminals were successful simply because the people around them couldn't believe that a woman could have done such things. One criminal, Elizabeth Manning, was spiking men's drinks in Victorian London and robbing them: that's a reversal of the power balance between the genders that's quite surprising. In the case of our 'Lady Burglar', the judge found it incomprehensible that a woman could have done what she was accused of. But negatively, I guess that as long as there's poverty or inequality in society, some women are going to do bad things, not necessarily because they're bad at heart, but because they want things they don't have for their families and children. What has been your favourite part of creating Lady Swindlers? The ethos of our show is that it's about women and their voices: both long-dead women, but also women alive in the world today. We always invite a modern-day expert female expert to comment on each historical case. That person might be a crime novelist, like Denise Mina, or a top female police officer with experience of burglary, like Jackie Malton, or someone who's prosecuted similar crimes to the drink-spiking we looked at, like Nneka Akodulu KC. On top of that, our whole editorial team and of course our in-house historian Professor Rosalind Crone are female as well. It's quite special and joyful (and it feels more unusual than it should be!) to work so closely with an all-female team! Interview with Lady Swindlers' historian Rosalind Crone Hi Ros! You are the resident historian on Lady Swindlers. What does your role involve? As resident historian, I play a key role in selecting cases and coordinating (and often doing) the research for each episode. Some of our cases come from a footnote or a brief mention in a book or a document from the time, and require us to work entirely from scratch in finding the sources and figuring out what happened – what I like to call 'shoe leather history'. I also work closely with the producers on script development, and then of course you hear me, on location and in the studio, explaining to Lucy and the guest detective what we have found and what it means, while placing the case in a broader historical context. Lady Swindlers, like Lady Killers, is a carefully curated collection of crimes and misdeeds committed by women, and we aim to be as representative of the female experience as possible, while opening up rarely explored areas of life in the past. How do you begin researching a series like this? What documents tell you more about our swindlers? We are fortunate in that the period we cover – from the mid eighteenth century through to the mid twentieth century – has an abundance of primary source material, or original documents, on crime and society. This is the age of the newspaper and the development of systematic reporting on crime and illicit behaviours, and so we have detailed accounts of court proceedings as well as editorial – opinions – from newspaper editors as well as correspondents. For the eighteenth century, we have biographies of notorious criminals, including many women who committed 'outrageous' or noteworthy transgressions, though we always need to take some of the claims in these with a pinch of salt. Across the period, some women sold their stories to biographers and journalists. The rise of the prison also generated new records containing early biometric data – such as height, complexion, and distinguishing marks – alongside other information like age, place of birth or residence, and occupation. The invention of parole in 1853 triggered the compilation and preservation of 'penal records' on every convict released before the end of their sentence – these large folders contain information about an individual's experience of imprisonment, including their medical history, the offences they committed in prison, the letters they wrote to friends and family on the outside, and any petitions they submitted to the authorities. How did the courts and public perception differ when dealing with female versus male swindlers in the past? The courts and the public responded in seemingly contradictory ways to female swindlers. On the one hand, they were regarded as extraordinary, as something quite unusual. On the other hand, women were believed to have a greater capacity for deception than men, this was an unfortunate characteristic of femininity which needed to be brought under control, or combatted. We see a similar contradiction in society's approach to female killers too. In the nineteenth century, women were believed to be naturally more moral and virtuous than men, but also that once they got involved in crime they also had a greater capacity for wickedness, which could be hard to rectify or reform. It is also worth saying that much ink has been expended by historians in the debate over whether, historically, women have been treated more leniently or harshly by the courts. The answer is that it depended so much on context. Expectations of women and stereotypes of femininity could deliver both lenient and harsh treatment; the same expectations and stereotypes could lead to the criminalisation or condemnation of some forms of behaviour, while hiding others from public view. This series of Lady Swindlers includes some crimes by women which were largely overlooked by contemporaries and might have been far more prevalent than the official records of crime and justice suggest. While expectations and stereotypes were not a true reflection of the lives that women led, systems of thinking shaped women's lives and the female experience in important ways, and continue to do so today. Meet the Swindlers! Mary Bateman 'Yorkshire Witch' Experts: Deborah Hyde from BBC Sounds' Uncanny, and Professor Rosalind Crone Locations: Leeds, North Yorkshire and York Castle Prison Lucy Worsley is in North Yorkshire investigating a woman who claims she has the power to heal and to banish evil. Lucy is investigating the life of Mary Bateman who is living in Leeds in the first decade of the 19th century, a time when, despite huge leaps forward in science, many people still believe in the power of the supernatural. Mary is working as a 'wise woman' selling magic charms and potions and showing off her prophetic chicken. But, as Lucy discovers, there's a very dark side to Mary's business too. Joining Lucy to explore Mary Bateman's story is the writer and broadcaster Deborah Hyde, known to millions as one of the sceptical voices on the hit BBC podcast about the supernatural, Uncanny. Lucy is also joined by historian Rosalind Crone, Professor of History at the Open University. Lucy and Ros visit the part of Leeds where Mary lived and worked among a rapidly expanding population, and York Castle Prison where Mary's story ends. Lucy wants to know: does Mary Bateman believe she has special powers to heal and defeat the powers of evil? Or is she just a ruthless swindler? And what can Mary's story tell us about women and belief in the supernatural today? Annie Gordon Baillie 'Serial Swindler' Experts: Crime Writer Denise Mina, and Professor Rosalind Crone Locations: Scotland In this episode we are on the trail of an elegant con artist, Annie Gordon Baillie who used over 40 aliases to amass a fortune. Lucy is joined by iconic crime writer Denise Mina, author of the Garnethill Trilogy and Three Fires, and Lady Swindler's in-house historian Professor Rosalind Crone to find out more about one of this serial swindler's most famous scams involving Scottish crofters. Gordon Baillie concocts an elaborate scheme to help the crofting community on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. She promises to fund their cause, give them a voice and provide them with their own land, while pocketing any donations. Lucy is also joined by archivist Catherine MacPhee. Catherine paints a picture of what life was like for the crofters of Skye. Lucy and Ros visit Old Scotland Yard to find out more about a tenacious detective, Henry Marshall, who finally brings Annie to justice. Lucy asks how did a poor, illiterate woman pass herself off as aristocracy and get away with swindling for so long? And shows that Annie's charitable fundraising has a very dark side. Catherine Murphy 'Money Maker' Experts: Broadcaster, Novelist and Podcast Host Steph McGovern, and Professor Rosalind Crone Locations: Tower of London Lucy Worsley is on the trail of a single mother of three children who risks her life making counterfeit coins on her kitchen table in 1780s London. In this episode Lucy is exploring the life of counterfeiter Catharine Murphy, but counterfeiting money is treated by the law as treason, and for women at this time the punishment for treason is death by burning at the stake. With Lucy to explore Catharine Murphy's story is the broadcaster, novelist and co-host of The Rest is Money podcast Steph McGovern, who shares with Lucy her insights into the relationship women have with money and risk today. Lucy is also joined by historian Rosalind Crone, Professor of History at the Open University. Lucy and Ros visit the former Royal Mint inside the walls of the Tower of London to look at counterfeit coins, and the site of Newgate Prison, where women condemned to death for treason suffered horrific executions. Lucy wants to know: what made women coiners like Catharine risk an agonising death? To what extent was currency fraud a female crime then, and how much is it a female crime today? And should women with children be treated differently to other offenders by the justice system? Celia Cooney 'Bobbed Haired Bandit' Experts: Historian Debbie Applegate, and News Correspondent Erin Moriarty Locations: New York, USA Lucy Worsley and her team of all female detectives are heading to the glitz and glamour of 1920s New York, to meet an armed robber known as the 'Bobbed Haired Bandit'. Lucy is investigating the bobbed hair and flapper dresses of New York's Jazz Age, on the heels of a 20 year old bandit, Celia Cooney. She and her husband Ed hold up local grocery stores and pharmacies in the hope of achieving a better life for their unborn child. But, as Lucy discovers, the papers quickly latch on to two key details - Celia's stylish bobbed hair, and the fact she is a woman with a gun. With Lucy to explore Celia Cooney's story is the Emmy Award winning journalist and CBS news correspondent Erin Moriarty, who gives us an insight into why the press were so enthralled by Celia, and can tell us how Celia's New York compares to the city today. Lucy is also joined by historian, author and Pulitzer Prize winner Debby Applegate, who explains more about the Jazz Age - there was a dark side lurking alongside the flappers and parties. And in a Lady Swindlers first, Lucy speaks to Kat Palmiotti, the granddaughter of Celia Cooney, to find out how her family discovered her grandmother's biggest secret. Lucy wants to know: what makes a woman like Celia Cooney, with a steady job and a baby on the way, turn to crime? And how much was the mania that surrounded her fuelled by the fact she was a woman, and one with a stylish hairstyle? Minnie Pheby 'Lady Burglar' Experts: Former Police Detective Jackie Malton, and Professor Rosalind Crone Locations: London In this episode of Lady Swindlers, Lucy Worsley meets a prolific 'lady burglar' breaking into London homes under the cover of darkness. Minnie Pheby is a strong and agile young woman who defies all the gender stereotypes of Victorian society – not a homemaker, but a home breaker. She's the devil compared with the idealised 'angel in the house', sneaking into middle class homes in the dead of night. In West London as the Victorian era draws to a close, Minnie sleeps on a pillow of stolen dresses in a squat furnished with life's little luxuries, all the proceeds of crime. Lucy and historian Professor Rosalind Crone are visiting the scenes of the crimes, and reexamine the case with former Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Malton, famously the inspiration for Prime Suspect's DCI Jane Tennison, who knows Minnie's patch very well. She gives her expert insights on burglary, women in policing and what really makes a difference for repeat offenders like Minnie. Together, the all-female team ask: how common were lady burglars? How were they portrayed in the press? Why were the Victorians both appalled and fascinated by their physical capabilities and boldness? Fox Sisters 'Spirit Mediums' Experts: Psychologist and Lay Minister Dr Thema Bryant Locations: Hydesville, New York The Lady Swindlers team travel to New York state to meet world famous spirit mediums, the Fox sisters. Dogged by claims of fraud and trickery, we'll need all our detective skills to separate fact from fiction. We visit the Fox Sisters home in Hydesville, New York and talk to Dr Thema Bryant, psychologist and lay minister about this fascinating case. Amelie Decuzpere 'International Art Thief' Experts: Illustrator and Graphic Artist Malika Favre, and Professor Rosalind Crone Locations: London Lucy is exploring the lodging houses and pawnbrokers of Victorian London on the trail of French art thief Amelie Decuzpere. She and her husband Paul make a habit of moving into new lodgings and swiftly disappearing, taking with them everything that isn't nailed down. But, as Lucy discovers, they also have an eye for a valuable old master painting. With Lucy to explore Amelie Decuzpere's story is the illustrator and graphic artist Malika Favre who shares Amelie's experience of living in London as a young French woman. Lucy is also joined by historian Rosalind Crone, Professor of History at the Open University. Lucy and Ros visit the Bow Street Museum of Crime and Justice to find out how the police went about tracking down Amelie, and the site of a London pawnbroker's shop where Amelie was a frequent visitor. Lucy wants to know: how different were women's lives in England and France in the mid nineteenth century? And how does a foreign Lady Swindler navigate the English justice system? Elizabeth Manning 'Hocusser' Experts: Nneka Akudolu KC, barrister, and Professor Rosalind Crone Locations: London, Brixton Prison Lucy Worsley is on the trail of Elizabeth Manning, a daring Lady Swindler known as a hocusser, who spikes men's drinks and empties their pockets in Victorian London. Most men she hocusses are too embarrassed to report the crime, but when will Elizabeth's luck run out? With Lucy to explore Elizabeth Manning's story is the barrister Nneka Akudolu KC who shares her experience of prosecuting spiking cases today. Lucy is also joined by historian Rosalind Crone, Professor of History at the Open University. Lucy and Ros visit the site of the lodgings where Elizabeth hocussed at least one of her victims, and Brixton Prison, the destination of many women who were trying and failing to make a living in Victorian London. Lucy wants to know: how did Elizabeth Manning go about hocussing her victims? How common was this crime in Victorian England? And what can Elizabeth's story tell us about spiking today?
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hit quiz show set for celebrity version – a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses
The problem solving gameshow was shelved nearly two years ago GAME ON Hit quiz show set for celebrity version – a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HIT quiz show is set for celebrity version - a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses. The game show required contestants to use their language skills, lateral thinking, visual intelligence and memory to solve various mind boggling puzzles. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 A hit quiz show is set for celebrity version - a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses Credit: Channel 5 2 The much loved problem-saving gameshow is hosted by Lucy Worsley Credit: Channel 5 The primetime quiz Puzzling is set to return to 5 for a second series, nearly two years after its first outing. The problem-saving gameshow, hosted by Lucy Worsley, was shelved for 2024 before being revived by 5 for a second run this year. Production listings suggest the new run of episodes - yet to be announced by 5 - will include at least one celebrity special reports TV Zone. At the time some fans were sad to hear the show had been axed, with one person saying: "Noo we liked watching this!" However, the game show did receive a lot of complaints for having Lucy at the helm, as several viewers complained she didn't have the charisma for the role. One critic said: "I adore Lucy Worsley when she's allowed to be Lucy Worsley. But this quiz thing is painful." Another added: "Lucy Worsley is an interesting enough history presenter but utterly lacking charisma as a quiz host. "C5's Puzzling is a bad HoG/OC rip-off with a migraine-inducing set design. Anaemic and unengaging." Lucy had previously revealed she was under "huge pressure". She told the Sun TV mag: "I'm a wreck, an utter heap of nerves. This is all new to me, and the pressure of it is extraordinary. Channel 5 in major U-turn over quiz show as it returns - a year after it was shelved by bosses "There are so many things that could go wrong, for the contestants but also for me. "I'm under huge pressure to get the question out quickly but correctly. It's been a real joy, but also terrifying. "Normally I'm out with a very small crew stuck on a rainy street corner in Edinburgh. I'm not used to working with such a large, complex team in such a big TV studio." Before taking on the new role as game show host, Lucy was known for presenting historical documentaries on the BBC. Puzzling seeks to challenge Britain's brightest minds as they do battle to be hailed Britain's ultimate puzzler. At the start of each episode, six super smart strangers are split into two teams of three. The two teams try to accrue the most points through their powers of puzzling deduction. Every area of our player's mind will be tested across five puzzling rounds – In Other Words (language), Pressure Points (calculation), Rule Breakers (lateral thinking), Picture This (visual intelligence) and Memory Bank (memory). Then, in a dramatic plot twist, the winning team turn on each other to be named the 'Best of the Best' and earn a place in the series Grand Final where the ultimate puzzler will be crowned. The last series of Puzzling is available now on 5.
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hit quiz show set for celebrity version – a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses
A HIT quiz show is set for celebrity version - a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses. The game show required contestants to use their language skills, lateral thinking, visual intelligence and memory to solve various mind boggling puzzles. 2 A hit quiz show is set for celebrity version - a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses Credit: Channel 5 2 The much loved problem-saving gameshow is hosted by Lucy Worsley Credit: Channel 5 The primetime quiz Puzzling is set to return to 5 for a second series, nearly two years after its first outing. The problem-saving gameshow, hosted by Production listings suggest the new run of episodes - yet to be announced by 5 - will include at least one celebrity special reports Quiz shows However, the game show did receive a lot of complaints for having Lucy at the helm, as several viewers complained she didn't have the charisma for the role. One critic said: "I adore Lucy Worsley when she's allowed to be Lucy Worsley. But this quiz thing is painful." Another added: "Lucy Worsley is an interesting enough history presenter but utterly lacking charisma as a quiz host. "C5's Puzzling is a bad HoG/OC rip-off with a migraine-inducing set design. Anaemic and unengaging." Most read in News TV Lucy had previously revealed she was under "huge pressure". She told the Sun TV mag: "I'm a wreck, an utter heap of nerves. This is all new to me, and the pressure of it is extraordinary. Channel 5 in major U-turn over quiz show as it returns - a year after it was shelved by bosses "There are so many things that could go wrong, for the contestants but also for me. "I'm under huge pressure to get the question out quickly but correctly. It's been a real joy, but also terrifying. "Normally I'm out with a very small crew stuck on a rainy street corner in Edinburgh. I'm not used to working with such a large, complex team in such a big TV studio." Before taking on the new role as game show host, Puzzling seeks to challenge Britain's brightest minds as they do battle to be hailed Britain's ultimate puzzler. At the start of each episode, six super smart strangers are split into two teams of three. The two teams try to accrue the most points through their powers of puzzling deduction. Every area of our player's mind will be tested across five puzzling rounds – In Other Words (language), Pressure Points (calculation), Rule Breakers (lateral thinking), Picture This (visual intelligence) and Memory Bank (memory). Then, in a dramatic plot twist, the winning team turn on each other to be named the 'Best of the Best' and earn a place in the series Grand Final where the ultimate puzzler will be crowned. The last series of Puzzling is available now on 5.
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Hit quiz show set for celebrity version – a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses
A HIT quiz show is set for celebrity version - a year after it was saved from the axe by TV bosses. The game show required contestants to use their language skills, lateral thinking, visual intelligence and memory to solve various mind boggling puzzles. 2 2 The primetime quiz Puzzling is set to return to 5 for a second series, nearly two years after its first outing. The problem-saving gameshow, hosted by Lucy Worsley, was shelved for 2024 before being revived by 5 for a second run this year. Production listings suggest the new run of episodes - yet to be announced by 5 - will include at least one celebrity special reports TV Zone. At the time some fans were sad to hear the show had been axed, with one person saying: "Noo we liked watching this!" However, the game show did receive a lot of complaints for having Lucy at the helm, as several viewers complained she didn't have the charisma for the role. One critic said: "I adore Lucy Worsley when she's allowed to be Lucy Worsley. But this quiz thing is painful." Another added: "Lucy Worsley is an interesting enough history presenter but utterly lacking charisma as a quiz host. " C5 's Puzzling is a bad HoG/OC rip-off with a migraine-inducing set design. Anaemic and unengaging." Lucy had previously revealed she was under "huge pressure". She told the Sun TV mag: "I'm a wreck, an utter heap of nerves. This is all new to me, and the pressure of it is extraordinary. Channel 5 in major U-turn over quiz show as it returns - a year after it was shelved by bosses "There are so many things that could go wrong, for the contestants but also for me. "I'm under huge pressure to get the question out quickly but correctly. It's been a real joy, but also terrifying. "Normally I'm out with a very small crew stuck on a rainy street corner in Edinburgh. I'm not used to working with such a large, complex team in such a big TV studio." Before taking on the new role as game show host, Lucy was known for presenting historical documentaries on the BBC. Puzzling seeks to challenge Britain's brightest minds as they do battle to be hailed Britain's ultimate puzzler. At the start of each episode, six super smart strangers are split into two teams of three. The two teams try to accrue the most points through their powers of puzzling deduction. Every area of our player's mind will be tested across five puzzling rounds – In Other Words (language), Pressure Points (calculation), Rule Breakers (lateral thinking), Picture This (visual intelligence) and Memory Bank (memory). Then, in a dramatic plot twist, the winning team turn on each other to be named the 'Best of the Best' and earn a place in the series Grand Final where the ultimate puzzler will be crowned.
