US version of 'Gameshow Marathon' planned

ITV's Gameshow Marathon format is heading for the US, according to a report in today's Variety.

The series - a breakout hit when it aired as part of ITV's fiftieth anniversary celebrations earlier this year - is expected to air on CBS from the Spring.

The format will remain the same, with six celebrities competing over the course of seven episodes, but some of the classic gameshows from the UK series will be replaced by US equivalents. Among those expected to feature are Card Sharks (Play Your Cards Right), Match Game (Blankety Blank) and What's My Line?.

"It's an incredibly fun idea - pure, unadulterated entertainment," said Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment. "It's simultaneously a celebration and homage to the classic gameshows of which I was a huge fan."