Stephen Fry to host Nine’s Australian version of Jeopardy! from Whisper North

Nine Network in Australia has commissioned a local version of classic US quiz format Jeopardy! and acquired the forthcoming UK version, with both shows being hosted by Stephen Fry.

Stephen Fry

UK prodco Whisper North, which is producing the British version in Manchester for ITV, will also produce the six-part Aussie version from the same city.

“Jeopardy! has a format that – strikingly unusual as it seems at first – just gets under the skin of an audience, and reveals more and more depths of delight,” said British actor, presenter and comedian Fry (Blackadder, QI).

The show will feature Australian contestants and be branded Jeopardy! Australia. Production starts next month, shooting alongside the 20-part UK version.

The executive producers are Kerri Reid, Tom McLennan and Fry. Whisper North is a division of UK production company Whisper, which is owned by Sony Pictures Television (SPT).

The original US show, created by gameshow legend Merv Griffin and on-air since 1964, is produced by SPT and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution, which also shops the format rights.

“Nine is thrilled to welcome two great institutions to the network: Jeopardy! the world’s greatest quizshow format, and Stephen Fry, the doyen of TV hosts,” said Adrian Swift, Nine’s head of content, production and development.