R2OK!

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

Can't believe that I heard Ken say there were only 6 contestants who have made the grade this year. Surely this must be the smallest group ever?

It starts next week, but I can remember times when the contest went over into a second week.

Must say the questions do seem to be harder these days.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Mastermind only have around 6 for a final. Laughing

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

They have 4 I think but it's hardly the same Mark, you don't have to score a particular number to make that final. It means only 6 people have scored 39 or I think he said 36 in a whole year of the contest which isn't many at all.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I don't think the competition is getting harder - rather the quality of contestants is getting much poorer

On many occasions I find that I now have to turn my radio off when Popmaster comes on as I find today's crop of contestants lack even the most basic knowledge of anything much before 1980 and quite frankly I wouldn't have the nerve to put myself forward unless I had very decent knowledge of the last 50 years in popular music - which hopefully I do considering my track record with other music quizzes Smile

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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

You're right about many of the contestants Ruddles, must admit I've not listened as much as in previous years. There are far more questions on more modern stuff which I'll admit I don't have as much knowledge on as I don't care for a lot of it (late 90s and noughties mainly) so I wouldn't dream of entering. That said I got a few right today!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

I thought that they tested out prospective contestants before commiting them on air by asking them a few questions.
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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 11:37 pm Post subject:

I think the questions are getting harder... but maybe also the listeners are, well, 'dumber's' not the word. Less attentive, maybe?

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Problem is over the years it's been easy and listeners who phone in to be contestants havnt picked up on it that's it's got harder questions, well not if you know anything about music. Ken and his producer have decided to make it harder and turn it into a real game. Hopefully listeners will pick up on that.

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

The questions have got harder in the last two years or so, though they were fairly easy today, hence the two scores of 36 and 39.

I'd do well with 60s till late 80s, but anything after 1990--forget it. That's when people like Pete Waterman ruined pop music.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

gazmando · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 560 Location: Huntingdon

Maybe if they actually played some of the records and artists that crop up in the questions people might have a broader pop knowledge.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Well bearing in mind the abnormally high scores we've had in the last couple of days including a full house it makes one wonder whether the comments on this thread might have been echoed on the BBCs favourite social media site and the vetting committee has decided that it needs to be more stringent on exactly who is good enough to go on air Smile

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