Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow

***Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow*** (also known as ***Epic Gameshow***) is a five (six in series/season 3)-part miniseries where five (six in series/season 3) classic game shows are recreated. *Play Your Cards Right* was one of them, and it will be the only show covered here. In series one, this episode had only two versions, the first one with celebrity couples aired on 30 May 2020 while the civilian edition with non-celebrity couples aired on 27 June 2020 while the second edition in series two that featured celebrities only aired on 3 April 2021. In December 2020, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second series which consists of 11 episodes, 8 standard episodes with two celebrity editions that would air weekly and 3 specials that would air later in the year. Another "Celebrity Edition" aired in its third series on 18 June 2022. The series itself ended on 25 December 2022 after three series.

The other four (in series 1) were:

* *The Price is Right*
* *Take Your Pick!*
* *Strike it Lucky (Strike it Rich '86)*
* *Bullseye*

The other four (in series 2) were:

* *Bullseye* (Civilian & Celebrity Editions)
* *The Price is Right*
* *Name That Tune* (Civilian & Celebrity Editions)
* *Strike it Lucky (Strike it Rich '86)* (Civilian & Celebrity Editions)

The other three (in series 3) were:

* *Bullseye*
* *Strike it Lucky (Strike it Rich '86)* (Civilian & Celebrity Edition)
* *Child's Play* (Regular & Christmas Editions)

## Gameplay

### Main Game

Two sets of two (celebrity) couples competed for charity. Each couple plays the standard PYCR front game, but with three questions instead of four in the first two rounds and only one in round three; winning a round earns the couple £1,000. The two winning couples from each game then play a seven-card showdown; one question is asked for the option to go first or second; control passing between couples with every wrong guess. Whichever couple wins earns another £1,000 and plays a new Epic Endgame for £30,000.

### Epic Endgame

In the Epic Endgame, the winning couple faces a pyramid of twelve cards. The bottom row has five, then three, two, one, and one card. Each row is played separately, with the last card of the previous row becoming the base card of the new row; when a row is cleared, the couple could stop and keep the money or risk losing the money and play on.

The couple has three change cards to use at any time, and wrong guesses earn strikes; three strikes and they're out. The money is as follows:

 Level 3
 Level 2
 Level 1

## Summary

### Series 1 Celebrity Show

The celebrity couples playing the first night in Series 1 were:

* Eamonn Holmes & Ruth Langford (playing Alzheimer's Society)
* Chris & Rosie Ramsey (playing for Chloe & Liam Together Forever Trust)
* Ore & Portia Oduba (playing for Click Sergants)
* Martine McCutcheon & Jack McManus (playing for Mind)

#### Main Game

##### Game 1

In round one, Chris & Rosie won the first two questions and were passed control on the third but they kept on missing on the second position, causing Eamonn & Ruth to win round one. But in round two, Chris & Rosie rallied back by sweeping the board to win round two and tie the game.

In the tiebreak, Chris & Rosie were given the ace of spades as their base card and Eamonn & Ruth got the five of diamonds. Chris & Rosie won the question, decided to play, but they missed on the last card and Eamonn & Ruth won game one. Chris & Rosie do get the £1,000 they won for winning their round.

##### Game 2

Of the six questions asked in that game, Ore & Portia won all but one of them. Ore & Portia won the game and shut out their opponents. And while they won both their rounds by default, they froze on the third position in round one and on the second position in round two. Martine McCutcheon & Jack McManus do still get a guaranteed £1,000 for their charity.

##### Head to Head

Ore & Portia Oduba won the lone question and decided to play first after the seeing a queen as the base card. Ore & Portia called four cards right before asking to change a card. In this case, they change an eight to a jack. But they miscalled on it; for they called lower than the jack but it was higher as a queen came up. So Eamonn & Ruth took a turn, called the last card right and advanced to the Epic Endgame.

#### Epic Endgame

The evening's winning celebrity couple, Eamonn Holmes & Ruth Langford started the bottom row with a four as their base card. They kept the card and called the next one right. They missed the next card, got a strike and changed the six to a seven. But they still managed to get the last two cards on that row right for £2,500. They chose to risk the money and go to level two. Eamonn & Ruth swept the second line and won the £5,000. They chose to risk the money and go to level three. They got the first card right but missed the other for their second strike. Since they had to call the last card right to advance, the ace was moved to where the queen was. Then they called the replacement card right and won the £10,000. Eamonn & Ruth decided to go on and change the five to a three after which they called the next card right for £15,000. Eamonn & Ruth decided to go for the big one, the top prize of £30,000. They called the top card lower than the jack. After a brief moment of silence, Alan turned the top card over to reveal a six, winning Eamonn & Ruth the £30,000 top prize for a grand total of £33,000 for their favorite charity.

## Trivia

In the celebrity episode (Series 1) for the post-production intro, it showed the names of Eamonn Holmes & Ruth Langsford instead of Ore & Portia Oduba. However, the error was corrected later when it reran for the sign language audiences in March 2021.

In this celebrity episode (Series 1), Ore Oduba walked off the set due to losing *Play Your Cards Right* when it was revealed that he and his wife Portiamissed out on the opportunity on a chance to play in the final round and win a mega jackpot of cash to their favorite charity.

The civilian episode (Series 1) which aired on 27 June 2020 (or June 27, 2020) had fans fuming over thinking that *Bullseye* was going to be played but another episode of *Play Your Cards Right* with civilian couples instead of celebrity couples aired in its place. *Twitter*users had comments such as "Hold on where is #bullseye #epicgameshow" and "Where's #Bullseye at man, s\*\*\*\*y play your cards right again man lol #epicgameshow". The *Bullseye* episode in question actually aired the week after on 4 July 2020.

## References

1. ↑ Ore Oduba Storms Off Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow as He Loses Play Your Cards Right
2. ↑ Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow Fans Rage After Much-Loved Game is 'Replaced'