Ken Bruce has expressed his delight at the return of his popular music quiz show PopMaster TV, which is back after an 18-month break. The programme, a spin-off of his long-running radio quiz, is being filmed in Glasgow for new episodes.
Return after hiatus
Asked how it felt to be returning, Ken said: "Well, it's just fabulous, because it's been about 18 months since we recorded the last one, so it's been a bit of a hiatus." He added that it was "really fantastic" to be back in the chair, as more contestants from across the UK test their pop music knowledge.
The show sees hopefuls compete through challenging rounds, all leading to the Original PopMaster finale and the chance to win the coveted gold disc. Contestants face questions including identifying artists and song titles from snippets, working out a song from its lyrics, and identifying a music video from images.
Commission and reaction
Earlier this year, Channel 4 and Bright Entertainment, an ITV Studios company, confirmed the commission of two new series and two celebrity specials, following four successful series on More4. Lily Wilson, managing director of Bright Entertainment, said at the announcement: "Ken Bruce and PopMaster are British institutions, so we're incredibly excited to be bringing more episodes to More4. The series celebrates the best of music with addictive playalong - we can't wait to be back on screen!"
Jo Street, Channel 4's director of commissioning, nations and regions and head of lifestyle, added: "With Ken Bruce at the helm, PopMaster continues to feel both timeless and fresh and it has proven itself as a real audience favourite on More4, delivering warmth, nostalgia and genuinely compelling play-along television. We're thrilled to be bringing it back with new episodes and celebrity specials, building on its strong performance and the huge affection viewers have for the format."
History and availability
PopMaster's radio quiz started in 1998 on BBC Radio 2 as part of Ken's mid-morning show. It later moved with the star when he went to Greatest Hits Radio in 2023, and became a successful TV show that same year. PopMaster TV is available on Channel 4.
