Dutch, French nets have Pointless plan

A Dutch public broadcaster has commissioned a local version of game show Pointless, which is also set to comeback on France 3.

AVRO / TROS has ordered the Dutch version of the show, which is from the Endemol Shine Group stable. Endemol Shine Netherlands will produce the show, which will run to 25 episodes and have an access daily slot this summer.

In France, meanwhile, Pointless was last on air four years ago, but will return to France 3 after Endemol France struck a deal with the public broadcast channel.

The format is locally known in France as Personne n’y Avait Pensé! and will return to the territory this month with Cyril Feraud returning to host.

Endemol and Shine operate separately in France – the only territory where Endemol Shine employs this structure.

“Pointless is a much-loved, warm and witty quiz show with simple game play at its heart,” said Lisa Perrin, who was this year named managing director Creative Networks at Endemol Shine Group.

“These new deals in the Netherlands and France, along with continued ratings success in the UK reinforce the show’s widespread appeal.”

Pointless, in which contestant attempts to find answers to questions no-one else has thought of, launched in the UK on the BBC in 2009. Last year the Remarkable Television-produced quiz received a 200-episode recommission order.

It has also been sold into Poland and Serbia.