A guide to bingo calls

We've all heard the famous calls of "two fat ladies, 88", "legs, 11" and so on; but what about lesser known numbers? It's unfortunate that so many bingo callers today forgo the traditional names for all but the most popular numbers, opting instead for the safe, but rather uninspiring, tactic of listing the two digits. Consequently, those who play at bingo sites enjoy a further advantage over those who choose to play in traditional bingo halls; as well as being able to play in the comfort of their own homes if the calls get a little confusing, guides such as this one are on hand to explain what's what.

Since the advent of the electronic Random Number Generator (RNG) in the UK, which generates a sequence of numbers with no decipherable pattern, the use of nicknames or calls in mainstream bingo has significantly decreased. Playing with an RNG is far less time consuming, and therefore what it lacks in nostalgia it makes up for in the sheer number of games it's possible to play. The fact that traditional calling is now something of a novelty serves only to increase its sense of fun.

There is, however, no such thing as a definitive list of bingo calls. Many bingo halls change their nicknames for the numbers in order to keep up to date with the latest trends. Some calls simply go out of fashion and are replaced with a more modern version. Some, on the other hand, have been consistent throughout the years: one, for example, is known almost universally as "Kelly's eye", two is "one little duck", three is "cup of tea" and for number four the caller will invariably cry out "knock at the door".

Five is traditionally known as "man alive", seven is merely "lucky seven", eight is "garden gate" and 13 is usually announced as "unlucky for some". All of these are staples of the bingo diet. Other calls are based more in regional dialects such as cockney rhyming slang; 12, for example, is frequently called as "monkey's cousin" because it rhymes with dozen.

Different still are those that have their origins in age; the best example of this is the number 19, commonly known as "goodbye teens". Some consecutive numbers even tell a little, often cheeky, story; 16, for example, is "never been kissed" while by the time we reach 17 that has changed to "often been kissed".

Many numbers are known by more than one call; for instance, for 33 a caller may ask for "dirty knees", "all the threes", "all the feathers", or "two little fleas". Others calls are linked with other games, 72 is known as "par for the course", a reference to golf. Imagery concerning overweight females dominates the 80s: 81, 82 and 83 are often announced as "fat lady and a little wee", "fat lady with a duck" and "fat lady with a flea" respectively, while 87 is "fat lady with a crutch".

When you consider the fun and frivolity that can be had with these names, and how much more they can bring to a bingo game in terms of universal enjoyment, it seems a real shame that it has become something of a dying art. This is particularly pertinent when you consider the call and response element of proceedings. Answering a call of 11 with a cry of "legs" or a wolf whistle can add to an atmosphere.

Though online bingo with Ladbrokes may not offer the name calling of traditional bingo ventures, it is an ideal way to have some fun and while away a couple of hours, with the added perk of a jackpot win potentially looming around the corner.

While the traditional calling may seem to be on the way out, the game of bingo itself remains as popular and exciting as ever.