Sponsored by
How hard can being a bingo caller be?
BLAKE Robson was crowned England's No 1 at the National Bingo Caller of the Year competition in London at the weekend. But how hard can calling out numbers be?
I decided to find out by spending the day at Mecca Bingo in South Shields with the man of the moment.
His first words to me were: "It's not as easy as you think."
If I'm honest, I didn't believe him. I mean, really, it can't be that difficult to call out numbers one after the other. Surely not...
But Blake's words rang true as I stood in front of hundreds of deadly serious punters on the stage at Mecca Bingo in South Shields, waiting to call out.
I'd never even played Bingo before, never mind call a game.
Blake, from Taylor Street, South Shields, is the first person from North East England to win National Bingo Caller of the Year competition – an accolade he's fiercely proud of.
"I'm immensely proud of what I have achieved," explained the 41-year-old.
"I've worked towards this for a long time now, and to be named the best bingo caller in the country is a great feeling."
Knowing I needed advice for the day, Blake told me: "Remember the three Cs. Keep calm, clear and confident.
"And whatever you do, don't use any rhymes. If you get it wrong, you might get lynched!" he joked.
When I arrived to see Blake work, I expected to see him at the front of a smoke-filled room, picking out balls, shouting out those "rhymes", to go along with the numbers – man alive, number five.
But that wasn't the case at all. The smoking ban had cleared the air, there wasn't a bingo ball in sight, and not one rhyme was shouted out.
The numbers are brought up on a computer screen at the touch of a button, and displayed around the hall for everyone to see.
I was surprised how seriously people took it. I spoke to a number of punters and they all said the same thing – they see bingo as an escape.
Gloria Moore, 63, from Victoria Road, South Shields, has been coming nearly every day for 40 years.
She said: "It's great to come and just forget about whatever troubles you're having and relax for a few hours.
"I love coming here, the staff are great and there is a great atmosphere. It's not just about winning but it's obviously nice when your luck is in."
"Blake's such a great character and definitely the best caller I've ever heard."
It's not just pensioners packing into the hall either.
Twenty-year-old Christine Wilki, who has been playing bingo for two years, said: "I come here nearly every day, it gives me peace."Bingo is really relaxing and it's a good hobby to have, especially when you're winning."
Before my stint as a caller, one lucky punter won 3,000. And Blake was the first to congratulate a delighted Maureen Dobson.
The 65-year-old, from Whiteleas, who has been a regular for 18 years, said: "I'm over the moon, I can't believe it. It's the most I've ever won. I'm still shaking now."
Now the moment of truth arrived. I took to the stage and stood behind a confident Blake, who was calling out into a microphone.
Blake finished his line of numbers and looked back at me, "your turn," he said.
He announced who I was, and just to pile on the pressure even more, told the building I've never even played bingo before.
I heard the first murmurs of disapproval immediately from behind me.
South Shields Mecca has a big playing area facing the stage, and another 100 seats directly behind the caller, who calls out in three, one-minute sessions.
As soon as I completed my first line, I heard someone behind me snigger and say "dear me".
I looked round and saw an elderly woman smiling to herself, shaking her head.
I thought I did a good job, but she obviously didn't agree.
Blake kindly told the crowd I was shaking with nerves. "Want to carry on?" he asked me. "Definitely," I replied. I'm not beaten yet.
I came through the second phase of calling relatively unscathed, so I thought. Blake got a laugh from the punters when he called me posh for the way I pronounce the number 0.
All I had to do was finish one more line of numbers. I was half way through and then the moment came, number 88 showed on the screen.
I hesitated, and Blake's advice about not using any rhymes was ringing through my head. But the fear of getting laughed at outweighed the urge to say "two fat ladies".
"Eight and eight, eighty-eight," I said – I was devastated I missed the chance to say it. In my eyes, I'd failed. It's not often you get to say the famous line in front of hundreds of deadly keen bingo players.
I finished and Blake asked the crowd to show their appreciation for the first-time bingo caller.
"It'll be your last as well," the heckler behind me confirmed. "Thanks for the boost," I replied.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
