Monopoly plans Office cash-in

The makers of Monopoly are planning a version set in Slough to cash in on the success of The Office.

Landmarks such as the industrial estate where fictional paper merchants Wernham Hogg are based could feature in the £25 board game.

But first residents of Berkshire will have to chose the town to be the subject of their regional version, ahead of Windsor and Reading.

Voting starts in two weeks' time, but Winning Moves, which holds the licence to make Monopoly from brand owner Hasbro, is hoping Slough will triumph.

"If Slough wins, the game would become this year's cult Christmas purchase," promotions director Graham Barnes told MediaGuardian. "It is up to the Berkshire public, but if they chose Slough we would definitely feature The Office.

"We'd have the bus station from the programme's opening credits on the board and we'd ask Ricky Gervais to play the first game. But we'd have to be careful about Gareth and Tim playing each other because there could be arguments."

Published: 29 Jan 2003