Watch Bingo on the Box as Patrons Go Eyes Down for Full House

One of Northern Ireland’s most popular bingo halls is coming to a TV screen near you very soon, after the BBC announced the arrival of a new social documentary episode this week. The ‘Our Lives’ series is a collection of programmes celebrating the diversity of our society and up until now, there have been no episodes dedicated to one of our much-loved hobbies – bingo!

Bingo halls have been part and parcel of British culture centuries, and despite the introduction of online bingo, the halls have remained very much open for business. Yes, we have had a few closures here and there what with the smoking ban, but it didn’t have the big impact many had feared.

Considered to be places of mysterious rituals, where sitting in someone else’s seat can cause a huge scene, the halls are famous for a good night out, friendship, socialising and prizes. BBC’s Big Night at the Bingo takes viewers to the Westway bingo hall on the Falls Road in West Belfast (Ireland), as they anticipate it being one of the biggest nights of the year.

Any worries are left at the door, because inside Westway is a calm environment as the loyalist of pals go eyes down for a full house. Showing on BBC iPlayer, the episode sees us meeting the regulars who turn up day after day in the hope of landing a big win – especially this episode as the prize money has been boosted to four figures!

Bingo Run-Down

Eilish who was taught how to play bingo by her granny can be seen in the episode, along with Margaret – a hard-working woman who juggles her job at Asda with a college course, school runs, bingo and she even has to help her husband who has health problems.

One bingo goer called Kate reveals she never wins, which is why she didn’t attend purely for the bingo games, but to host a party for her friend who loves to dab! You’ll get to meet the life-long players who know this is a game of chance and you can do nothing more than mark your ticket in the hope of bagging a win. You’ll also meet the staff who keep the games running.

There can be many winners seen throughout the episode, but as they all squeeze into the hall in the hope of winning a large sum, they know only two players will be going home with £1K in cash (each!)

“While the world outside is a place of tough working lives and demanding family commitments, inside the Westway all is calm as numbers are drawn at random for a captive audience. We meet the regular players who come back day after day in hope of that elusive win,” said the BBC.

Will you be watching? Let us now your thoughts below.

Source: “Bingo Documentary Gets BBC Upgrade”. SBC News. June 10, 2020.