During Lee Mack’s fresh new quiz show, a contestant’s skull burst, shocking some BBC viewers.
Last Thursday, instead of Inside No. 9, fans were treated to the premiere of the Not Going Out comedian’s new programme 3by3, which had three teams of three players competing for a cash reward.
Things took a horrifying turn as Lee gave his final comments to the camera, only to have one of the candidates blown up in the backdrop.
It all started with a BBC2 announcer declaring that the scheduled episode of Inside No 9 based on On The Buses, titled Hold On Tight, would not run, with the new show airing in its stead.
‘Hello, I’m Lee Mack and welcome to 3by3, the brand new quiz show that provides three teams of three individuals three opportunities to win a large money reward,’ stated presenter Lee at the opening of the programme.
‘Well, I say big money, this is the BBC. In fact if the set doesn’t fall down we’ll be happy.’
And then there’s another one comes along next week – ding ding…
#InsideNo9 pic.twitter.com/iwJ73U4aVq
— Steve Pemberton (@SP1nightonly) May 11, 2023
The show included three teams, including dad and daughter duo The Oakwoods, work colleagues the Three Tenors, and pals Quiztopher Biggins, but fans were immediately disturbed.
People were perplexed by what they saw, from Catherine answering a question before it was asked to appearing to take the answer from another contestant’s head.
‘What the actual f**k is going on? #3×3,’ wrote one viewer, while another added: ‘Inside No 9 didn’t record. Instead it recorded 3 by 3 some sort of quiz programme! I’ve just gone onto iPlayer Series 8 episode 5 is showing the 3×3 programme!! How did you watch it?’
‘#3×3 is this a parody? Catherine is giving me the heebie jeebies,’ tweeted a third person, and a fourth asked: ‘I know what it is, and I know what it’s doing, but #3×3 is really unnerving. Anyone else?’
And yet another wrote: ‘#3by3 what’s this meant to be – apart from weird? Turning over.’
However, at the end, Catherine’s mother Margaret had become locked in a soundproofed booth during the last round, before her skull burst live on camera.
Lee yelled to a producer and bolted off the set as the credits transitioned into the Inside No 9 credits and everything was revealed, with the episode being the first time producers Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith did not appear on screen.
‘Hold my hands up you fooled us #leemack #3×3 #insidenumber9,’ wrote one viewer, and another delighted fan added: ‘Brilliant! We nearly turned it off thinking it was the wrong programme! #3×3 #Insidenumber9’
A third praised: ‘#3by3 absolute brilliant tone setting throughout. What an unnerving “I can’t put my finger on it” discomfort that got more and more aggressively weird. I love it when they toy with their audience like this.’
A different person was relieved, admitting: ‘Channel hopping & I ended up on #3by3. So pleased that was just a joke! Was concerned about Catherine throughout & where they were plucking the answers from.’
Inside No 9 is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. 3×3 is yet to be commissioned.
