EXCLUSIVE: NBC's "Wordle" gameshow is actually quite good

I'm sure you've all played Wordle at least once. It's the word guessing game that had millions hooked in its peak in 2022. Now, it's being turned into a gameshow, produced by Jimmy Fallon's production company and presented by the "Today" show's Savannah Guthrie.

I was involved in both the pilot episode and the eventual series. No NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) were signed, therefore I can exclusively reveal the details of how this show will work.

Both the pilot and the series were recorded at Dock10 in Salford. The pilot was recorded on 6th October 2025 and the series was recorded in late July 2026.

The format

If you're expecting a simple "Motus" kind of thing, you're out of luck. The show consists of two teams of "Wordle enthusiasts" from different parts of the US. In the pilot episode, the teams were from Chicago and Los Angeles (or LA as they insisted). They had team names and even their own logos, but sadly I can't remember most of the team names. One of the teams in the series is called "Mascots from Oregon" because...well...they were mascots in "college".

In the pilot there were four members in each team of varying age and ability, whereas in the series there are three members in each team (or "squad" as they are called) who are linked in some way, for example one "squad" was three female pastors. In the pilot they compete in various Wordle themed rounds in the "Wordle arena" and the team who wins the most cash at the end gets to play the endgame. The pilot episode heavily emphasises the battle aspect of the game. Some rounds are "team rounds" where the whole team gets to play or individual rounds for one nominated team member only. Oh and there's a bonus of a meagre $50,000 if you get it in one go...which does happen in the pilot episode.

In the series there are just three rounds before the endgame. The rounds have names; I can't remember the name of the first round but the last two are called "Your Wordle Against Mine" and "War of the Wordles". There are also no individual rounds in the series version, all team members play in every round.

The endgame is simultaneously the most and least exciting bit of the whole thing. In the pilot it's basically just a standard game of Wordle but team members get to take it in turns to guess the word. They keep you waiting just long enough to create suspense. Guess the word correctly, and you win the $250,000 jackpot, on top of the monies accrued earlier in the game. In the series version, one player is sent off to "isolation" while the other two players decide on a start word and how many guesses the player in isolation should need to solve the word. Solving in two guesses doubles the winnings while solving in one guess triples the total winnings. If the team fails to correctly guess the word in the attempts given, they will still receive a consolation prize of $5,000.

Guthrie was a very good choice for presenter. She's got the right balance of wit and professionalism you need for this kind of show. You can tell it's her day job - she's one of the most professional presenters I've seen in a long time. She did, however, seem a bit miffed when the autocue at one point read "that letter has found its final resting place". Understandable given the unimaginable events of the last six months or so. Each episode lasts 30 minutes with at least four ad breaks. There will be at least eight episodes in the series.

The set

The set design is simple yet quite nice. It's essentially a New York style skyline but made out of Wordle grids. There are three LED screens in the centre, left and right. Guthrie and the contestants each stands in front of a screen on a revolving platform that rotates at the start and end of each round. The contestants don't have to move that often, in typical American fashion. It's slightly reminiscent of the set for CBS's "Lingo" which was filmed in the very same studio, to the point where I reckon most of it is recycled.

The verdict

To be honest...I quite like this show. It's pretty good actually. It's simple, yes, but sometimes it's simplest things that are the most effective. Guthrie was a fine host and the contestants were lively and high energy in the American style you'd expect. I hope they enjoyed their time down the "MCC", the nickname the contestants of the pilot episode gave for Manchester city centre. It'll be very interesting to see what the American public and press makes of it.

"Wordle" will air on NBC and Peacock in 2027. It'll also be shown in the UK on a yet to be announced channel (more than likely ITV).