The beloved darts quiz show Bullseye made a highly anticipated return to ITV screens this weekend, now hosted by former cricket star Freddie Flintoff. Originally aired from 1982 to 1995 and famously hosted by the late Jim Bowen, the show’s revival has captured the attention of both loyal fans and new viewers alike.
Following a successful trial episode last Christmas, ITV launched a full series on Sunday, drawing over 3.3 million viewers. While many praised Flintoff’s engaging presentation and the show’s faithful adherence to the original format, a significant portion of the audience at home found themselves distracted — and frustrated — by the persistent applause from the studio audience.
Social media quickly filled with complaints about the excessive clapping, which some viewers described as “migraine-inducing.” One X user, @kevtheman10, questioned the constant applause, saying, “They’re just clapping at everything. #Bullseye.” Another viewer, @Survivinthe20s, admitted, “I can’t deal with all this over-the-top clapping; it’s doing my head in,” even threatening to change the channel.
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Humor was mixed in with frustration, as @d_mateer joked, “The audience are in the lead with 1200 claps,” while @Anthony08876880 urged ITV to “get the hint” that applause before and after every question wasn’t necessary. @OliReading called for a “clap filter” to tone down the noise.
Despite the clapping controversy, the reboot has been a ratings triumph for ITV, attracting more viewers than popular shows like The Chase and The 1% Club over the same weekend. Fans also celebrated the impressive performance of teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler, who scored a perfect 180 in his first three throws, prompting some to dub the episode “The Luke Littler Show.”
Ultimately, Freddie Flintoff’s Bullseye revival appears set to continue, backed by strong viewership and a nostalgic format faithful to the show’s classic roots — with hopefully a quieter audience.