10 years on: why Bongo’s Bingo still makes Jonny sick … and smile!

It’s been 10 years since Jonny Bongo put Henry Hoovers and pink plush unicorns on top of everybody’s wish lists thanks to the crazy prizes on offer in his mad iconic bingo show.

Since it started in Liverpool in 2015, Bongo’s Bingo has travelled around the UK and across the globe, reaching as far afield as Australia, Ibiza, Dubai and, this month, even New York.

And although he’s probably hosted around 10,000 shows in the last decade and delighted in its success, there’s one thing Jonny still can’t get to grips with … his nerves!

“I suffer really badly from nerves before every show,” he says. “It’s a battle of the mind and I don’t know why but I still get those nerves in my belly.

“About 95% of times I’m sick before I go on, but then as soon as I get on stage, I’m fine. I don’t know why, I tell myself about a hundred times I’ll be fine.”

It will probably be the same, he admits, for the two huge shows being staged at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on March 7 and 8 to celebrate the birthday of what’s become a worldwide phenomenon, but Jonny adds: “There’ll be excitement too.

“We’ve got about 3,000 people both nights, we’ve got special guests like Simon Webbe and Lee Ryan from Blue, N-Trance, and we’ve brought back The Cheeky Girls – the first act we ever booked for Bongo’s Bingo.

“And I’ll absolutely love it!”

Bongo’s Bingo was founded 10 years ago by friends, Jonny and Joshua Burke.

Already local legends Jonny – aka Jonny Lacey – was a radio presenter and mastermind behind a weekly quiz at The Shipping Forecast and Joshua was promoting underground club nights across the city. 

Both were blessed with uniquely creative minds to create an unforgettable night out – but they were itching to shake things up with something new.

When it started Bongo’s Bingo was essentially Jonny’s cult quiz with mad breakout rounds and questions replaced by the very traditional pastime – but it’s gone on to become one the most well-known nights out and shaken up the game with nostalgia-soaked partying, rave rounds, dance-offs, audience participation, karaoke, and the whackiest prizes.

“It was never a plan for it to grow into what it is today,” says Jonny, 38. “It was just about putting on a fun night out in Liverpool and I still pinch myself with how successful it’s become.

“The quiz show I did was popular, we had about 200 people every week, but the bingo really snowballed.

“Within a couple of months we had people queueing round the block, and two months after that we had other cities approaching us to bring the event to them.

“The first events had the same crowds who came to the quizzes, but then people starting bringing their mums and their grandparents, and I think that’s the reason why it’s so popular – it’s for everyone.

“It’s old school fun and no-one feels out of place.  There are different ages, different groups and everyone wants to go out and have a laugh. You might win. You might not. But everyone leaves with a smile on their face.

“Did we always mean it to be so wild? I think we were always trying to push the boat out with the themes and the visuals and even now it still has the feeling of chaos, that anything can happen. 

“We have 18 show teams and hosts, and we put on around 30 shows across the country every week, but it’s been developed and planned.  There’s so much care that goes into every show – now it’s organised chaos.”

Some things have changed but others will always stay the same: “Over the years we’ve changed the prizes, but there are some that are synonymous with Bongo’s and people would be disappointed if we didn’t have them,” admits Jonny. “The unicorn, the box of Coco-Pops, and the Henry Hoover…

“In the early days of the events, I’d be going out on the day to get books, pens, and shopping for prizes, going around B&M and Home Bargains just grabbing stuff.

“I remember one day seeing a Henry Hoover for £100 and thought, we could give that away, and the crowd went absolutely mad. It’s become such an iconic prize.”

As well as guests at shows including Craig David, Natasha Bedingfield, Heather Small, Nadine Coyle, B*Witched, Boyzlife and more, Bongo’s Bingo has attracted celebrity fans from singer Lewis Capaldi to British diving champion Tom Daley.

A-list actor Samuel L Jackson became an admirer after being taken to a Glasgow show while filming in Scotland: “He loved it,” smiles Jonny. “He was throwing glowsticks into the crowd.”

Jonny still does one show a week while also working in the Bongo’s office: “If I had it in me to still do five shows a week I would, but I also want to get the family balance right as well,” explains Jonny, who lives in South Liverpool.

Married to Louise, with two children Alex, seven and Jacob, four, he says: “As it is, I get to go out with my friends every week and it’s also work, and during the week and days off I love spending time at home with my family.

“Day trips out, long walks listening to a podcast, cooking, and having chilled out nights with my wife and kids, that’s my go-to.”

Jonny’s prepared for the 10^th anniversary of Bongo’s Bingo with a series of pre-party events, including a pop-up show at Coopers Townhouse, a pub quiz special at Bongo’s home ground Content, and the most intimate one yet, at The Cavern Club: “A completely different atmosphere with just 100 people but it worked, and it was brilliant.”

The birthday bashes themselves promise to be massive production events with lasers and pyrotechnics and biggest ever prizes: “We’ve even got the Coldplay wristbands!”

Jonny says: “The main thing for me is we’re doing something that makes the staff happy, me happy, and so many people happy.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else – my heart wouldn’t be in it.

“Our focus is on giving people the best night out, the best experience, and that’s why it’s lasted 10 years and will hopefully last another 10.”

Get more info on Bongo’s Bingo here.

Discover more events across Liverpool City Region here.