Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel returns to BBC One on Saturday 14 November 2026 at 8pm, with a newly confirmed celebrity line-up for its seventh series. The first programme brings together eight familiar faces, including Katherine Ryan, Michael Ball and Kate Garraway, to help members of the public answer questions and potentially win a cash prize.
The start date, broadcast time and opening-night guests are listed by Radio Times and in the BBC One television schedule. It is a useful date for viewers who have been waiting for fresh episodes rather than repeats of the popular Saturday-night quiz.
Who is appearing in the first episode?
The eight celebrity experts announced for the opening episode are Michael Ball, Jordan Banjo, Kate Garraway, Isa Guha, Harriet Kemsley, Perri Kiely, Matt Morsia and Katherine Ryan. The mix brings together music, broadcasting, comedy and other entertainment backgrounds, although viewers should not assume that a celebrity’s public profession will necessarily be their specialist question category.
Radio Times published the new line-up on Friday 6 November, while Digital Spy independently reported the series’ return and the same opening group. A television listing for BBC One on 14 November also identifies those eight guests. That agreement makes the first-episode details considerably firmer than speculative casting lists circulating before a new series begins.
When is The Wheel back on BBC One?
Series seven begins on Saturday 14 November at 8pm on BBC One, with the programme also available through BBC iPlayer. The listed first episode runs until 9pm. Viewers looking for the new run should take care not to confuse it with repeats from earlier series that may appear on other channels during the preceding week.
The opening episode is scheduled one week after 7 November, so this is a preview rather than a report of events that have already happened. Neither the eventual winner nor the answers to the show’s questions can be established from the published listings. The names above are confirmed participants in the programme, not a prediction of who will perform best.
How does Michael McIntyre’s quiz work?
The show’s central attraction is its giant revolving wheel of celebrity experts. Members of the public sit beneath it before one contestant is raised into the centre to tackle questions. A spin determines which celebrity will be available to help with a particular subject, adding an unpredictable element: the person selected is not always the person best placed to answer.
Contestants build a potential prize by getting questions right, while incorrect answers can end a turn and send them back beneath the wheel. The format also includes a final Cash Out question, which decides whether a player can take home the money accumulated during their round. Those mechanics help explain why the celebrity guests are part of the fun without being the people competing for the main prize.
For viewers who have never watched, the show is less about knowing every answer immediately than about judging the help available and navigating the tension of each spin. The combination of everyday contestants, recognisable guests and McIntyre’s hosting has made it a distinctive fixture in BBC entertainment scheduling.
Which other celebrities are joining series seven?
Further announced names across the run include Oti Mabuse, Alex Horne, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Harry Hill, Roman Kemp, Jill Scott, Josh Widdicombe, Angela Scanlon and Shaun Ryder. Radio Times and Digital Spy have published broader selections from the guest roster. Those names should not be mistaken for the opening episode’s line-up: they are expected to appear at different points during the series.
Oti Mabuse’s inclusion is an additional point of interest for Strictly Come Dancing followers. Digital Spy notes that the former Strictly professional is among the celebrities joining this run, providing a crossover between two well-known BBC entertainment programmes. However, the published information does not establish a particular episode date for every guest, so viewers should consult the BBC schedule as later editions approach.
What should viewers look out for next?
The immediate confirmed milestone is the first episode on 14 November. Its eight named experts, the 8pm BBC One slot and iPlayer availability are the details viewers can plan around now. Further episode-by-episode line-ups may become clearer as the broadcaster updates its listings.
For now, the new series promises the familiar combination of a spinning celebrity wheel, public contestants and unpredictable general-knowledge questions. Anyone wanting to watch the first episode live can mark next Saturday evening in the diary, rather than relying on an unverified social-media timetable.