NBC to Launch Wordle Television Game Show in 2027 Hosted by Savannah Guthrie

NBC will turn Wordle into a television game show that begins airing in 2027, with Savannah Guthrie as host and Jimmy Fallon as co-producer. Guthrie, anchor of NBC’s Today show, will front the half-hour episodes that will see contestants compete for a cash prize. Jimmy Fallon’s production company, Electric Hot Dog, will co-produce the series alongside NBC.

The show has been in development for the past two and a half years, Guthrie and Fallon said. Production on the Wordle TV show is set to begin later this year. NBC will start shooting episodes this summer and is currently looking for contestants.

Casting for the first season is now open. The series will be filmed in Manchester, England, and shown in both the UK and the US. It is expected to replicate the Wordle typeface and colour scheme familiar to millions of online players.

Episodes will last half an hour. This will be the first time that The New York Times has collaborated with a TV broadcaster for an entertainment-based program. The New York Times has owned Wordle since 2022 after acquiring it from its creator.

Wordle was created and developed by Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle in 2021. The New York Times acquired Wordle in 2022, the same year it was the most Googled word of the year. As of last year, NYT Games users played more than 11 billion puzzles across all its games, up from 8 billion in 2023.

The daily online puzzle challenges players to guess a five-letter word in six attempts or fewer. Players receive feedback only through coloured tiles. A single Wordle puzzle is released every day, with all players attempting to solve the same word.

Wordle was inspired by the 1970s board game Mastermind. Josh Wardle has not played Wordle since the day he sold it. " In a statement he added: "Savannah has that rare combination of intelligence, charm, and warmth that makes everyone feel instantly welcome.

And she obviously knows how to host a show. " The announcement comes after the filming of the show was delayed following the disappearance of Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy, in February. Guthrie took an extended break from Today before returning in April.

She and her mother are both keen Wordle players. The project represents another step for The New York Times as it expands its games business beyond digital subscriptions. NBC described the forthcoming show as fast-paced and a great family game.