A recent survey revealed that 99% percent of bingo players were in favour of traditional bingo calls and wanted “Two Fat Ladies,” the bingo call for the number 88, and “Legs Eleven,” the shout-out for the number 11, to stay. About 4000 players took up the online survey, expressing their support for traditional bingo calls, stating that the calls should be allowed to remain even if they were perceived as politically incorrect by some.
John Sayers, on whom the ban was imposed by the Sudbury Council, appears to be standing behind the Council and the ban, although he does not personally approve of the idea of politically correct bingo. Sayers claimed that the decision was based on good legal advice and that Two Fat Ladies had no place in modern bingo, as it could cause offense.
As of now, no other bingo halls appear to be replicating the Sudbury Council’s ban in favour of modern PC bingo, and it is just possible that this debate over the political correctness of bingo calls will leave traditional bingo caller lingo untouched. Most of the bingo halls in the UK are still following traditional bingo calls and are using “Two Fat Ladies” and “Legs Eleven” much to the delight of the bingo players there.
One cannot help but wonder what alternatives modern bingo will bring to numbers like 88 and 11. Will it be the more boring “two fat peanuts” for 88 or “two matchsticks” or “Olive Oyl” for 11? Or will “Olive Oyl” end up offending the slim bingo players in the audience named Olive? Let’s consider a few other (non-laughable and untraditional) possibilities.
The number 88 is the shorthand code for signing “hugs and kisses” in ham radio as it looks like two lips kissing. Surprisingly, 88 is also the Neo-Nazi code for “Hail Hitler”, a catch phrase that will never make the grade, thankfully. In poker, a pair of pocket 8s is referred to as Snowmen, so perhaps a “Mr. and Mrs. Jack Frost” or “Two Snowmen” for a modern bingo call of 88?
Too or Two Politically Correct Bumble Bees for instance may be a little long for a caller to shout out, but its nothing if not PC.
Legs Eleven may not be replaced by “playing cricket” or “a blackjack ace” and although “one more and you’re a wicket” does sound just a bit better; there is just something to be said about legs!
Two fat ladies and legs eleven are so popular among bingo players that a bingo caller announcing anything else is likely to be booed off the platform, unless he can come up with the impossible – an alternative good enough to replace them.
Do you know some funny or weird calls and catch phrases for the numbers 88 and 11? Post your response below or join the discussion here.
Calvin Azuri continues to provide quality content to the online gaming world. He specializes in Poker and Bingo content and is adept at covering all angles from Tips & Tricks, New Bonuses, Online Bootcamps and Advanced gaming strategies. Writing for Bingoport has been an interesting experience because of the variety and constant research that goes into providing regular quality content.Please e-mail calvin.azuri@gmail.com to have him write for you.
Tagged with: Alternative • Bingo • Eleven • Ladies • Legs • Modern • WhatS
Filed under: Bingo
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