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The national bingo game have took the decision to suspend the national bingo caller of the year 2008 competition, citing the difficulties that the bingo industry are facing at the moment, behind their decision to put a halt to this year’s event. This move is unprecedented since this sought after bingo caller of the year title began back in 1994 by the bingo association, and was subsequently taken over by the national bingo game itself in 1999.
Patrick Bowler was the first ever winner of the bingo caller of the year title back in 1994 and Blake Robson won this prestigious title in 2007, where he was presented with his trophy by Emmerdale’s Lorraine chase, who hosted the event.
The National Bingo game made this statement on their website – “Due to the considerable challenges and issues facing the bingo industry at present, it has been decided to suspend the national bingo caller of the year competition for 2008. It is fully anticipated that the competitions will be reinstated in an even more exciting and further reaching format next year and we look forward to re-launching our search for Britain’s premier bingo callers at that time”.
The national bingo games regional finals normally take place in September, with the final taking place in November, however I did read a report recently about how Gala Bingo caller Roger Hartley had secured his place in the grand final of the national bingo caller of the year competition that is due to take place on 29th June in Birmingham. I think there must have been some confusion with this, as this was not the national bingo caller of the year competition Roger is taking part, but Gala Bingos own annual bingo caller of the year finals that take place on this date each year and they remain completely separate to the national bingo games bingo caller of the year competition.
So to just clear up any confusion, Gala Bingo's “bingo” caller of the year finals will go ahead as planned and they remain unaffected by the national bingo game withdrawing their own competition. Roger along with 7 other finalist will battle it out on June 29th not only to be crowned Gala Bingo Caller of the year and win a cash prize, but also for the chance of auditioning to be a bingo caller on Gala TV.
It is sad to see the national bingo game suspend their bingo caller of the year competition for 2008, but let’s hope it comes back even bigger and better next year.
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