pretty penny
Huge ITV game show confirms return for second series – and casting is underway
The winners of the first series walked away with a colossal £210,000
ITV have revealed that its major new game show hit is to return for a second series.
The exciting news was confirmed on Good Morning Britain as the morning show's entertainment host Richard Arnold spilled all on its return weeks after The Sun told how the show was due to be back.
6
6
6
The Fortune Hotel became a success for ITV when it first launched earlier this year hosted by comedian Stephen Mangan.
Set in luxury surroundings in sunny Grenada, the show saw pairs of contestants from family members to friends attempt to be the holders of a suitcase containing an eye-watering £250,000 in cash.
The strategic guessing game, saw players swapping and changing their cases all the while keeping quiet on the exact contents of their case.
Confirming The Sun's story that the show would be back, Richard was presented with one of the programme's suitcases which contained a note for him to read out to show hosts Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh.
More on The Fortune Hotel
Opening up the envelope, Richard Arnold said: "10 rooms, eight empty cases and £250,000 on the line.
"The Fortune Hotel will soon open for business and it is almost check in time."
The GMB star went on to confirm that "casting is well and truly underway" for the show whose first series was won by Sheffield-based mother and son Will and Jo-Anne.
Richard also appeared to confirm that Stephen Mangan would be back as host for the second round as he alluded to his hosting duties after confirming the show would be making a comeback.
Most read in News TV
Later, series one winner Will spilled all on his time on the show telling the ITV presenters that he was fresh back from a lavish trip to Ibiza where he had been "spending his winnings".
The TV personality and influencer added: "[The show] has completely changed mine and my mum's lives for the better.
ITV issue major update on series two of The Fortune Hotel with Stephen Mangan following 'fakery row'
"I'm doing things I never thought I'd be able to do at 20 years old.
"I am going to view a house next week so yeah it has just absolutely changed our lives."
Will and Jo-Anne ended up walking away with an incredible £210,000 at the conclusion of the programme after managing to win the lucky cash-filled case.
A delighted Ranvir went on to admit she was so excited for the show to come back after getting hooked in by the sleeper hit.
6
More than 2.6 million people tuned into a nail-biting episode of the hit show earlier this year after it climbed in the ratings as social media was set alight at the mystery guessing game.
The show has since been able to generate 5.9 million streams on ITVX.
The show was also noted for its similarities to the BBC's runaway hit and new flagship show, The Traitors.
Insiders feel The Fortune Hotel could prove more successful than ever next time around after acknowledging The Traitors' similar slow-and-steady rise to the top.
They told The Sun: “The Fortune Hotel hasn’t been able to shake the comparisons to The Traitors, but people seem to have forgotten that it was only towards the end of the first series that the BBC One show gained a real following.
“ITV has clearly seen enough in the stats, including a solid start with the crucial 16-34 audience, to plough on for series two.”
Some contestants have engaged in devious scheming by forming alliances, and viewers have been captivated by the drama.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The source added: “It took even the players a few days to work out how to really play the game, but now the in-fighting and suspicions are bubbling over.”
6
6
The Fortune Hotel series one is available on ITVX.