Could your favorite comedians soon be battling it out—literally—for laughs and glory on ITV?
Reports suggest ITV is developing an exciting new show based on the Dutch hit Let’s Play Ball. This larger-than-life competition would see teams of comedians racing to move a massive ball across challenging terrains filled with physical puzzles. Think Ninja Warrior meets It’s a Knockout—with plenty of comic chaos along the way. Each episode would take on a unique local flavor, using iconic British landmarks as backdrops. So don’t be surprised if you spot a giant ball rolling majestically across Tower Bridge or up the slopes of Arthur’s Seat.
Produced by Banijay-backed studios Initial and Zeppotron—the same creative team behind Last One Laughing UK—the show is still in its early development phase. There’s no confirmation yet that it will make it to air, but industry watchers are already buzzing about its potential. After all, Let’s Play Ball has been one of the biggest recent successes to emerge from the Netherlands’ innovative format scene.
The concept first gained traction on YouTube, where it was hosted by Dutch creators StukTV and raked in more than 1.2 million views before moving to national broadcaster SBS6. Banijay's executive James Townley has hinted that talks are underway with several international networks keen to adapt the format. Could Britain be the next to join the craze?
If ITV decides to greenlight the show, it would join an ongoing trend of celebrity-based competition series that combine humor, physical challenges, and unpredictable entertainment. The network is already producing The Box, fronted by Gary Lineker, where celebrities face off in a series of wild tasks after being sealed inside bright yellow containers and dispatched to mystery locations. Meanwhile, on the streaming side, Last One Laughing UK has become a hit for Prime Video and is now entering its second season.
Interestingly, Let’s Play Ball shares creative DNA with Destination X, the popular Belgian guessing game now launching in both the UK and the US. That crossover of formats underlines a growing global appetite for adventure-style reality TV that mixes comedy, competition, and travel.
The show also carries a digital twist. As Banijay executive Sil Geurtsen pointed out earlier this year, it exemplifies how television producers can harness online platforms like YouTube to test and build audience appetite before going mainstream. If ITV proceeds, it might leverage the power of content creators and social media engagement to build hype even before the premiere.
ITV has declined to comment on the project so far—but fans of outrageous humor and big-scale antics are already watching closely. Would you tune in to see your favorite comedians heaving a massive ball through mud, water, and mayhem? Or do you think this format is just another gimmicky spin on celebrity reality shows? Let’s hear your thoughts below—this one’s bound to roll into controversy.
