Popmaster, the beloved radio quiz, has been a staple for 28 years, with Ken Bruce at the helm. The 75-year-old broadcaster told the Record he never dreamed of its success or that he would still be presenting it almost three decades on.
Originally airing on BBC Radio 2 from 1998 to 2023, the show moved to Greatest Hits Radio in 2023, with Bruce securing the rights. It has since expanded into a TV show on More4, airing Mondays at 9pm, featuring members of the public testing their pop music knowledge.
Celebrity Special and My Attempt
During a visit to BBC Studios in Glasgow, a journalist watched a celebrity special being filmed, featuring Steps stars Ian 'H' Watkins and Claire Richards, BBC Radio 1's Mista Jam, BBC Radio 2's OJ Borg, and Deacon Blue drummer Dougie Vipond. Mista Jam impressed with his knowledge, while Dougie scored just three points, showing the quiz's difficulty.
The journalist then took part in the quiz, playing a 'Links' round and a 'Mix-Tape' buzzer round. Correct answers earned three points each, and the journalist scored six points, beating Dougie's three. The experience was fun despite the tough questions.
Test Your Knowledge
Try the questions from the journalist's quiz to see how you'd score. Round One (Links): 1. Which two-word title song was a 1977 Top 40 hit for Fleetwood Mac? 2. Which British group had a Top 3 hit with 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' in 1989? 3. Who had a Top 3 hit with 'Little Red Corvette' in 1985? 4. Which song topped the chart in 1993 for DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince?
Round Two (Mix-Tape): 1. Norman Cook had a Top 3 hit with which band in 1995? 2. What was the name of the group formed from the five winning contestants of Popstars? 3. What is the surname of the founding brothers of Hue and Cry? 4. Which eighties group did Holly Johnson first find fame with? 5. What was B*witched's second Number One hit in 1998? 6. What was Cilla Black's original surname? 7. Which year gave Anne-Marie a Top 3 hit in 2018? 8. Village People were named after an area of which US city? 9. What is The Script's 2012 track featuring Will.I.Am? 10. What was Shania Twain's 1998 debut UK hit?
Answers
Links: 1. Don't Stop, 2. Simply Red, 3. Prince, 4. Boom! Shake the Room. Mix-Tape: 1. Freakpower, 2. Hear'Say, 3. Kane, 4. Frankie Goes To Hollywood, 5. Rollercoaster, 6. White, 7. 2002, 8. New York, 9. Hall of Fame, 10. You're Still The One.
