Bingo documentary gets BBC upgrade 

The BBC has added its Northern Ireland’s ‘True North – Big Night at the Bingo’ episode to its ‘Our Lives’ social documentary series available on the iPlayer platform for all UK audiences.

First broadcast in January on BBC’s Northern Ireland network, Big Night at the Bingo follows the patrons and employees of West Belfast’s ‘Westway Bingo Hall’ on its busiest night of the year, as prize money is boosted into four figures.

The documentary showcases the unique rituals and jargon of Westway players, alongside the lifelong friendships that have been developed at Belfast’s oldest bingo hall.

“While the world outside is a place of tough working lives and demanding family commitments, inside the Westway all is calm as numbers are drawn at random for a captive audience. We meet the regular players who come back day after day in hope of that elusive win,” said the BBC. 

‘Big Night at the Bingo’ originally formed part of the BBC’s ‘True North’ series, a regional broadcast directive allowing up and coming filmmakers to document Northern Irish communities ‘through a modern lens’.

Securing further coverage for Big Night at the Bingo, the BBC has commissioned the episode to feature on its ‘Our Lives’ iPlayer series showcasing the best UK social documentaries, which uncover the diverse traits, hardships and complexities which underscore UK society.