Six Callers Head to Leeds for Caller of the Year Final

Six bingo callers from clubs across Great Britain will compete this Sunday, 15 November 2026, for the title of National Bingo Game Caller of the Year. The Grand Final takes place at Buzz Bingo Leeds, where the finalists will perform in front of a live audience and a judging panel.

The competition is run by the National Bingo Game. This year’s line-up was confirmed after a nationwide search, with qualifying rounds held in clubs around the country.

The Six Finalists

Three of the six places have gone to callers from Castle Bingo clubs. Anton Fletcher represents Castle Bingo Bootle, Debra Phillips represents Castle Bingo Merthyr Tydfil and Garry McWilliams represents Castle Bingo Barnes Hill.

They are joined by Adam Vickery of Buzz Bingo Plymouth, Josie Douthwaite of Mecca Hull and Eve Cunningham of Carlton Livingston. Between them, the finalists represent clubs in England, Wales and Scotland.

During the qualifying rounds, callers were assessed on four things: their knowledge of bingo, their calling ability, their personality and their showmanship. The same qualities will be tested again in Leeds, this time with supporters and colleagues watching from the floor.

What the Winner Receives

The caller who comes out on top will be named 2026 National Bingo Game Caller of the Year. The title comes with a trophy and a £1,000 cash prize.

The winner also takes on a role beyond their own club. For the next two years, they will act as an ambassador for the land-based bingo industry and for the National Bingo Game.

The other five finalists will not leave empty-handed. Each runner-up receives a trophy and £500.

Judging Panel and Industry Backing

Nicole Garrett, chief executive of The Bingo Association, will sit on the final judging panel. The organisers said two further judges would be announced separately.

Garrett said callers are central to a night at the bingo. “They can create excitement, bring people together and turn a game of bingo into a brilliant, shared experience,” she said.

The final arrives at a busy time for bingo clubs. Safer Gambling Week, the cross-industry campaign supported by The Bingo Association, begins the following day and runs from 16 to 22 November.

For players, the event is a reminder of what sets club bingo apart from the online game: a real person at the front of the room, keeping the pace and the atmosphere going. Anyone new to the game can find the basics in our bingo guides.

The full list of finalists and prize details were confirmed by the National Bingo Game, according to the official announcement. The result is expected to be announced at the Grand Final on Sunday.