Call My Bluff is a British panel game show built around the fun and challenge of defining unusual and obscure words. First broadcast in the 1960s and enjoying various revivals, the programme invites two teams of celebrity contestants, usually drawn from comedy, broadcasting, and the arts, to outwit each other by presenting definitions of less‑well‑known vocabulary.
Each round features a word that few people have heard before, and the competing teams must invent two plausible but false meanings to try to mislead their opponents, alongside the real definition. The team opposite then has to decide which of the three offered definitions is correct, with points awarded for successful bluffs and correct choices. The mix of clever wordplay, bluffing prowess, and humour makes the show both intellectually engaging and entertaining.
Over the decades, Call My Bluff has cultivated a loyal audience who enjoy the blend of language exploration and comedy. It plays on the delight of discovering unfamiliar words and laughing at the inventive but incorrect definitions that accompany them. The show also subtly celebrates the richness and quirks of the English language, demonstrating how even a single word can spark curiosity and debate.
Its appeal lies in being accessible to viewers without specialist knowledge while still offering a satisfying intellectual challenge. The show has had several hosts over its history , including notable figures such as Robin Ray, Robert Robinson, Derek Griffiths, Bob Holness, and Fiona Bruce. Notable captains included Frank Muir, Patrick Campbell, Sandi Toksvig, and Alan Coren.
