J-Lo gets bingo call-up

Pop icons such as Jennifer Lopez and Gareth Gates could soon prove popular among
bingo hall regulars.

For a new system of rhyming slang is being introduced at bingo halls in an
attempt to bring the game up-to-date.

While some old favourites such as "legs eleven" (11) and "two fat ladies" (88)
will stay, there will be new catchphrases including "Gareth Gates" (8) and
J-Lo's bum (71).

The new terms are being introduced by holiday camp operator Butlins at its
resorts in Skegness, Lincolnshire, Bognor Regis in West Sussex and Minehead in
Somerset.

Butlins said it wanted to respond to fresh interest in bingo by replacing some
of the terms first used more than 50 years ago.

Many of the terms were devised in the 1950s and give an insight into popular
language at the time.
BINGO CATCHPHRASES In Ali G - 30 Chicken vindaloo - 52 Jimmy Choo - 32 Out Dirty
Gertie - 30 Danny La Rue - 52 Buckle my shoe 32
Charlie Blake, a professor of popular culture at University College,
Northampton, was asked to devise the new list.

He said: "Traditional bingo calls are a barometer of 1950s Britain.

"My task was to find reference points from 2003 society and culture which would
have a much greater meaning to the British public today."

He used popular figures as well as food, and common phrases.

"Buckle my shoe" (32) will be replaced by "Jimmy Choo" - in honour of the famous
shoe designer - while the reign of "Queen B" has ended in favour of "camomile
tea" for the number 73.

"Dirty Gertie" (30) will become "Ali G" after the comic character, "strive and
strive" (75) becomes "on the skive", and "Danny La Rue" (52) becomes "chicken
vindaloo".

Other additions include "stroppy teen" (15) and "feng shui" (53).

The bingo hall patter is thought to have been first used because machines which
selected the numbers were slow and noisy.

Many of the terms were no longer used past the 1970s after the balls were
replaced by faster computer draws.






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