Former Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce is reportedly in talks to bring his beloved music quiz PopMaster to TV screens.
The quiz was a mainstay of the presenter’s weekday show on the station and relaunches on his new show on Greatest Hits Radio as of Monday, April 3.
In an interview with the i, Phil Swern – who set the questions for the segment – revealed the pair are looking to expand the brand after the BBC allowed them to keep the rights to the quiz following Bruce’s departure after 31 years.
“We’re in discussions as we speak with a television network that is interested in PopMaster as a TV quiz,” he said, adding that a “condition” of bringing PopMaster to TV would be that Bruce would present it. “I think that PopMaster and Ken are married for life.”
The DJ added: “I’m very excited to see where PopMaster can go next and there are a lot of opportunities out there. But what will always be most important is playing it with listeners every weekday at 10.30am on the radio. That’s the heart of it and that’s the bit that’s most special to me.”
Revealing bosses at Greatest Hits Radio were “very keen” to expand the PopMaster brand, Swern said the pair already have trademarks for books and games. “The TV format has international potential,” he continued. “PopMaster – the movie? Who knows, they did make ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ from ‘Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?’.”
On what makes PopMaster so successful, Bruce mused: “If I knew the answer to that I’d probably be able to give you the winning lottery numbers as well! I think, at its heart, PopMaster is a quiz for all ages that’s easy to play against yourself or against whoever you happen to be listening to the radio with at the time. It’s a simple format that’s easy to play along with.”
He added: “I’ve missed it these last couple of weeks and can’t wait to play that Popmaster jingle on Greatest Hits Radio this Monday.”
