Critical popcorn

There’s just something about bingo that clings. Be it the unmistakable call of “legs eleven!” in a full-on bingo hall, or the more subtle satisfaction in marking off one number on an easily torn piece of paper, bingo has this weird, dogged grip on pop culture. It has always been there, often running in the background at others right in full view, and never quite burning out. And maybe that is because, for so many of us, it’s wrapped up in memories-family gatherings, smoky old halls, local pubs with sticky tables, or just those chaotic moments when someone yells “Bingo!” a little too quick and gets that look from the crowd.

Bingo’s a cultural relic that survives but always reinvents itself. While some would write it off as something their nan plays on a Tuesday night, a little dig into pop culture proves this wrong. From sitcoms to quiz shows, retro arcade cabinets to the latest bingo games online, it’s everywhere!

One of the most famous bingo-centric game shows was Bob’s Full House, hosted by the legendary Bob Monkhouse in the ’80s. It was part quiz show, part bingo game, and somehow, it worked. Contestants had to answer general knowledge questions to fill their bingo cards, and the result was a mix of tension, excitement, and Bob’s signature quick wit. It was peak British TV – a little bit chaotic, a little bit weird, but undeniably entertaining.

And let’s not forget sitcoms. Whenever a TV character ends up at a bingo game, it’s usually either a moment of unexpected triumph or absolute disaster. The Simpsons, for instance, has had more than one bingo-related moment, usually featuring Patty and Selma chain-smoking their way through a game. Mrs. Brown’s Boys made a whole episode about a rigged bingo night. And if you go back far enough, you’ll find bingo popping up in everything from Only Fools and Horses to Father Ted.

Bingo has been here for centuries, but it is also somewhat of a chameleon that takes on the colour of the time in which it exists. It started with packed houses of bingo callers with giant mechanical ball dispensers, then shifted to arcade-style bingo machines at seaside amusement arcades.

Fast-forward to today, and bingo has fully embraced the digital world. It’s everywhere – on apps, in online casinos, and even in video games that technically aren’t about bingo but still sneak in the format. Some online games mix bingo with RPG mechanics, while others have turned it into a full-on adventure game.

So, why does bingo keep showing up in pop culture? Maybe it’s because it’s such a simple concept, one that can be easily molded into whatever setting it lands in. It can be serious, it can be silly, it can be the backdrop for comedy or the cause of chaos.

But more than that, it’s social. Whether it’s a local bingo hall, a television studio, or an animated monster hotel, bingo brings people together. It’s a game of chance, sure, but it’s also a game of moments, shared glances, near-misses, the pure joy of a full card. And maybe that’s why, no matter how much pop culture shifts and changes, bingo never quite disappears. It just finds a new way to play.