PopMaster

PopMaster is a popular music quiz on the Ken Bruce show on BBC Radio 2. It usually takes place at around 10:30 a.m on weekday mornings.

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Two contestants play against each other for the chance to win a DAB Digital radio. Each contestant is given 10 questions based on popular music from the 1950s right through to the present day. All the questions are worth 3 points excepting the three "bonus questions" (questions 3, 6 and 9) on a topic chosen (from two choices) by the contestant. These bonus questions involve listening to a snippet of music, and if answered correctly are worth 6 points. There is therefore a maximum total of 39 points on offer.

The winning contestant then goes on to play "3 in 10". In this part, they have ten seconds to name three UK Singles Chart hits for a particular artist or group named by Ken. If they successfully manage this they win the DAB Digital Radio,if they fail they win a "Flipper" Radio. However, if a contestant scores 39 points in the main round, they win the Digital Radio anyway, and the other contestant would play "3 in 10" anyway. Should both contestants score the same number of points (and the score is less than the maximum), a tie-break is used to decide which will play "3 in 10". The losing contestant receives a consolation prize of a Radio 2 CD wallet.

At the end of the year, the best contestants (usually those who scored the maximum 39 points) return for a "Champions League PopMaster".

When Ken Bruce is on holiday PopMaster continues with the stand-in presenter; these include Alex Lester, Stuart Maconie,Richard Allinson and Aled Jones.

2007 Suspension and Celebrity version

"PopMaster" was suspended for one day on 19th July 2007 in line with the BBC's blanket ban on television and radio competitions following several phone-in scandals (although Popmaster or other competitions on Radio 2 were never implicated). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6904516.stm BBC suspends phone competitions] BBC.co.uk] The day after, PopMaster was brought back but without prizes or public entry; the contestants selected from celebrities and BBC staff.

Between 20 July 2007 and 18 January 2008, when the quiz was played with celebrity contestants, the prizes were not given away, and the final "3 in 10" round was not played by the winner.

It was rumoured that members of the public would be able to play again before Christmas 2007, though this did not happen. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/22/bbc The Guardian] - BBC phone-in contests return - with new rules] [ [http://www.petersfieldpost.co.uk/latest-entertainment-news/Phoneins-to-resume-after-scandals.3511112.jp Petersfield Post] - Phone-ins to resume after scandals] [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/bruce/ Radio 2 website] - Celebrity PopMaster] On 30 December 2007 it was announced that the quiz would be one of the first BBC phone-in competitions to return in January 2008. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7164985.stm] - BBC news story] On 14 January 2008 it was confirmed on air that the quiz would return on Monday, 21 January, which it duly did. New background music and dramatic, orchestral and guitar based jingles for the quiz were introduced on the same day. The contestant application procedure has reverted to the original write-in method instead of inviting callers on the day, though prospective contestants can now also apply through a form on the Radio 2 website. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/bruce/popmaster.shtml BBC - Radio 2 - Ken Bruce - PopMaster] BBC.co.uk]

References

External links

* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/index.php/Popmaster "PopMaster" entry] on UKGameshows.com