[JAS84]

Yeah, the current episodes are re-runs from 2020, and of course the new series for Blankety Blank would follow the following calendar year.

That aside, I dare say not the first time some host promotes (accidentally or otherwise) something else they happen to be doing, in jest or otherwise, though it probably didn't happen very often back in the day - you'd have the usual "Fred and Wilma are appearing in panto this year at the Bedrock theatre" type of mentions though, which was the usual exception around the Christmas specials.

Maybe that episode is what tipped the BBC off that Brad wanted that job then.