Radio 2 pop quiz scandal as contestant Sheila branded ‘blatant cheater’
Radio 2’s ‘Poundland’ replacement for Ken Bruce’s much-loved Popmaster has found itself in the middle of a row of ‘gotchas’ just days after release.
Angry listeners have accused contestant ‘Sheila’ of secretly using her phone to help answer questions while appearing on ‘Ten To The Top’ hosted by Gary Davies.
The new music quiz was launched as a replacement for Popmaster after the departure of Ken Bruce, who left the radio station last week after more than three decades, moving to rival Greatest Hits Radio.
But those who tuned into Thursday morning’s quiz called Sheila an “obvious and blatant” cheater because of her four-second pause before correctly answering the questions.
One tweeted: ‘Obvious, blatant and unconvincing cheating on #Radio2’s #10totheTop. I wouldn’t want Sheila on my Q&A team! What a shame.’
Social media users have accused contestant ‘Sheila’ of being a ‘blatant cheater’ during Thursday’s installment of ‘Ten To The Top’, the replacement for Ken Bruce’s legendary Popmaster music quiz.
Veteran DJ Ken Bruce resigned from his popular BBC Radio 2 show last week and Vernon Kay will succeed him in April.
Radio 2 presenter Gary Davies (pictured) introduces the new show ‘Ten To The Top’ which has taken over Popmaster’s mid-morning slot.
While another quipped: “Too bad to hear such blatant cheating on 10 to the Top.” I don’t know how you stop it, but it certainly spoils it for the listener. Sheila was not a Popmaster.
‘There’s no question Sheila was cheating or a puppet given the answers up front. As if she knew who the Psychedelic Furs were! It’s a terrible replacement for PopMaster,” another user added.
While one fan, referring to the recent Twitter storm caused by Gary Lineker, said: ‘Another BBC Gary in the middle of a huge row today. You’d think they could do without it.
In the contest, two competitors will go head to head to answer 10 musical questions. Winners can bag a smart speaker.
But the show has been criticized by listeners for being a carbon copy of Ken Bruce’s beloved Popmaster.
One person tweeted: ‘What is this rubbish on Radio 2? Don’t worry about Gary Davies, but there’s absolutely no point in having a contest that’s like Poundland Popmaster.
Another added: ‘It’s a carbon copy of Popmaster’s Champions League! Anyway, back to GHR.
Other players insisted that the scoring system was “confusing” and made it difficult to participate.
Social media users lashed out and accused Sheila of cheating, calling her four-second pauses “suspicious.”
The quiz is set to continue when Vernon Kay takes Bruce’s old spot on the show, having become a firm fan favorite.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Radio 2 listeners have enjoyed a weekday music quiz at 10:30am for decades and this will continue with our new quiz, Ten To The Top, for our new mid-morning programme. “.
Radio 2 has been accused of age discrimination after the mass departure of some of its best-known presenters.
Steve Wright, 68, Paul O’Grady, 67, Vanessa Feltz, 60 and Simon Mayo, 64, have said goodbye to the station in recent months.
A source told the Sun: ‘Ken is the most listened to DJ in Europe and has nothing more to prove on the BBC.
He has had an amazing time working there and is so grateful for the loyalty of all his listeners.
“But in recent years, there has been a noticeable change in direction, with a push to appeal to a younger audience.”
The Scottish DJ was a Radio 2 legend after presenting his show for more than three decades, his departure follows a string of similar departures by BBC DJs in an ongoing row of ‘agesim’.
One person tweeted: ‘What is this rubbish on Radio 2? Don’t worry about Gary Davies, but there’s no point in having a quiz that’s like Poundland Popmaster’
Another added: ‘It’s a carbon copy of Popmaster’s Champions League! Anyway, back to GHR’
Last month, it was reported that Bruce resigned from Radio 2 because he felt “unloved” by bosses, who failed to reassure him about a new contract even though they wanted to keep him, BBC insiders say.
A source claimed that despite wanting to hold on to the DJ, Britain’s most popular radio host, a “mix-up” meant they didn’t tell him. This is said to have helped convince him to join its business rival Greatest Hits Radio.
The unexpected announcement of the 71-year-old presenter’s departure is now said to have caused discord at the BBC, as many see it as entirely avoidable.
A well-placed source said: ‘They definitely wanted to renew his contract, but due to a mix-up, no one told him. He is a proud man and he didn’t want to ask. When he told them that he was leaving, they all said: ‘but we were about to offer you a three-year contract’… A little late.’
But another source close to the station disputed the contract claims, saying: “Ken was assured on more than one occasion that his future at Radio 2 was safe.”
The Scottish star is believed to have been unsettled by the way the corporation removed host Steve Wright’s long-running show last year amid a push to appeal to younger listeners.
Bruce is also said to have pleaded with his bosses to stop making him play “off-key dance music”, but received no proper response to his pleas.
The Radio 2 insider told the Mail: “Ken didn’t feel loved.”
Bruce has been with the BBC for 45 years, 31 of those years presenting his mid-morning show on Radio 2. But loyal listeners are growing fed up with what they see as a shift towards a younger audience.