Mecca Hulls Josie Douthwaite receives her trophy from the Mecca Caller of the Year judges A Mecca Bingo caller from Hull has won the brand’s national Caller of the Year competition after impressing judges with her bingo skills, stage presence and singing talent.
Josie Douthwaite, who works at Mecca Bingo on Clough Road in Hull, has been named Mecca Bingo’s ‘Caller of the Year’ after a standout performance at the national final in Oldbury.
The 34-year-old beat callers from Mecca clubs across the UK to take home the title, winning over the judging panel with her confident calling, engaging personality and rendition of ABBA’s Money, Money, Money.
Her victory now sets up another challenge, as she prepares to represent Mecca at the National Bingo Game Caller of the Year competition in Leeds this November.
Josie Wows Judges With Bingo and Singing Skills
The competition brought together experienced bingo callers from across Mecca’s UK bingo clubs, with contestants judged on their personality, stage presence, calling ability, audience engagement and additional talents.
Josie delivered a perfect game of bingo before getting the audience on their feet with her performance of ABBA’s Money, Money, Money.
Her enthusiasm, vocal ability and rapport with customers helped her stand out during the event, which marked the culmination of Mecca’s search for its next Caller of the Year.
The judging panel was led by Mecca director of bingo Mike Sime and events manager Kim Jones. They were joined by former competition winner and compere Benj Maycock, Britain’s Got Talent singer Jonathan Rippon and Choriza May, known for appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
When the judges announced her victory and presented her with the trophy, a stunned Josie ran over to her supporters and celebrated with a victory lap around the group.
Hull Supporters Travelled to Cheer Her On
Josie said she had been surprised to win, particularly given the talent on show throughout the competition.
“I was so shocked to win because everyone’s talents were so great, it was a fantastic competition. A coach of 37 customers and colleagues travelled from Hull to Oldbury to support me. They have all been so pleased for me, they believed that I could do it more than I did!”
The large turnout from Hull made the final memorable, with customers and colleagues traveling to support their local caller.
Josie’s success also reflects her background in entertainment, having trained in performing arts before working as a DJ and entertainer in pubs around Hull. She moved into bingo in 2024 and has spent the past two years developing her skills at Mecca’s Clough Road club, a popular bingo club in Hull.
‘I Love Getting to Know the Customers’
For Josie, one of the biggest attractions of the job is the opportunity to build relationships with the people who come along to play.
“I love getting to know the customers and having a laugh with them,” she continued. “I enjoy calling and the crowd can sense that, so they enjoy it too!”
Her approach helped her connect with the audience at the final, where entertainment and customer engagement were key parts of the judging criteria.
Now, she will take that experience to the next stage of the competition, representing Mecca against callers from other bingo brands, independent operators and holiday parks.
Leeds Final is Next on the Agenda
Josie will compete in the National Bingo Game Caller of the Year final in Leeds this November, where she will be aiming to secure the wider industry title.
She hopes to follow in the footsteps of her Mecca colleague Benj Maycock, a caller from Mecca Wednesbury who won the national title in 2022.
Known for his rapping performances, Benj went on to represent bingo on national television and radio, as well as at parliamentary functions.
Josie is already making plans for her own appearance at the competition.
“I’m really looking forward to going to Leeds and I’m hoping that my customers will join me again. I’ve already decided what I’ll be singing for the Bingo Association competition and the outfit that I’ll be wearing!”
Mecca Bingo Boss Praises Winning Caller
Andy Crump, managing director of Mecca Bingo, congratulated Josie and highlighted the importance of callers in creating the atmosphere across the company’s clubs.
“Our bingo callers are the beating heart of our business and play a key role in delivering brilliant experiences for our customers. They create the atmosphere at every game and keep our players engaged. Josie’s big personality, clear voice and ability to entertain make her the perfect caller and we’ll be backing her all the way when she represents Mecca at The Bingo Association Caller of the Year competition in November.”
With the Mecca title secured and a national industry final on the horizon, Josie will now prepare for her next performance, with the support of her Hull customers and colleagues potentially making another trip to cheer her on.
Ben has been an massive bingo enthusiast and fan since playing at the seaside as a kid. Dedicated to bringing you the latest and best bingo news from the UK
