0/5

Spicks and Specks to end in November

After seven years beloved ABC music quiz show Spicks and Specks will come to an end in November.

After seven years, ABC’s beloved music quiz show Spicks and Specks has announced it will fold in November.

The ABC says host Adam Hills, and team captains Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough decided to call it a day.

“I have loved every second of my involvement with Spicks and Specks, and especially working with Alan and Myf. We always said we wanted to leave when we were on top and while we were still having fun, and now feels like the right time,” says Adam Hills.

“We are indebted to our loyal fans for giving us seven amazing years on Australian television, and I hope they’ll hold the memories of Spicks and Specks close to their hearts.”

Myf Warhurst says, “It’s been a wonderful privilege to be part of Spicks and Specks. I’ve worked with an incredible team of people, both on and off screen, and miraculously, managed to keep a job on TV for seven years, on a show that people love.

“I’ve been lucky enough to experience many great things. I’ve seen Frank Woodley’s privates, been naked under a desk with Pete Murray, and met many of my childhood musical crushes. Life can’t get much better than that, so this seems like the perfect time to wind things up.”

Alan Brough added, “For seven years I’ve had a job where I’ve met Gourd Orchestras, Oompah bands and Status Quo. Very few people can say that.”

“I’d rather people were upset because we stopped a little early, than upset because we stayed far too long.”

Across its 277 episodes the show has featured more than 150 special guests and attracted bumper ratings for the ABC, frequently topping some of the offerings of commercial television. The show has also picked up AFI Awards and this year a Logie  for Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program.

With an average weekly audience of 1.35 million viewers it has been among ABC1’s top 10 programs each year from 2006-2010. The panel-based format has also inspired many copycat panel shows, most of which have failed after a few episodes.

Amanda Duthie, ABC TV Head of Arts & Entertainment says, “Spicks and Specks is more than just a quiz show. It’s got joy at its heart, and for that reason it attracts three generations of viewers.

“I think its appeal comes from the mix of funny, friendly and clever people in front and behind the camera, having a good time, and making a show about the thing that touches all of our lives – music.”

Gold Logie nominee Adam Hills is planning another series of Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight, and the ABC indicates it is discussing seperate projects for Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough.

The show will end with a one-hour finale to screen on Wednesday November 23 at 8.30pm on ABC1.

41 Responses

  1. The thing about Spicks and Specks is that it had guests from every style of music- from jazz, classical, folk, world- and didn’t centre itself solely on rock and popular music. It diversified itself. By the very name and format Rockwiz is a rock quiz show, and is less interesting to me. I doubt I’ll ever see Richard Mills on Rockwiz.

  2. I am sad to see Spicks and Specks ending. It is one of my favourite shows and I am going to miss Adam, Myf and Alan.
    I hope the ABC replace it with something really good (eg. another series of Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight because that was good too).

  3. Noooo!! 🙂 No one listens to me 😉 Seriously, this is sad news, but not unexpected due to the success of Gorden St. I think Adam likes getting out from behind the desk. Still, sad to see it go, but there is always Rockwiz.

  4. Well that sucks. Its the only thing to watch on a wednesday night since 7 dumped City Homicide.

    Spicks and Specks is a great show and it can aslo be really funny. I still hope they have a christmas episode this year.

    Thanks for the laughs

  5. If this show was on the BBC in the UK they would keep it going, by gradually changing the host and the captains. This is a mistake by the ABC, they need to allow others to come through and develop a career on TV in a tried and trusted format.

  6. Good decision – it will be missed but it won’t be allowed to fade out and get boring! Mind you I drift in and out of it these days. Funny though I still always watch Rockwiz – not sure what the secret is!

  7. Would love to see a Later with Jools type show on ABC now that Spicks is being rested.That show has a wonderful & diverse format.
    Simply keeping with the music theme of course.

  8. Spicks and Specks has been great to watch on a Wednesday. And now it’s ending later in the year-hope ABC will find a nice show to fill its timeslot.

  9. Sad news for two reasons – no more Spicks and Specks, and Hills will be free to make more In Gordon Street Tonight (no, I didn’t like it much).

  10. Damnit. Not good news. Maybe they can’t think of any more questions lol. I hope the ABC can find a suitable replacement. This show has been a genuine pioneer of the panel quiz show style which has worked and failed for so many other shows on other channels. Will be missed, but at least we have the rest of the year to enjoy it.

  11. Used to watch it religiously but have only watched it now and again these days. Was a great show when it first started. I love rockwiz have been watching it since it started. Getting sick of repeats though..when is the new series starting?

  12. So So Sad – yes its the same format each week – but the questions are different and the guests entertaining – and the cast just clicks – wish they would reconsider

  13. I was quite sad when I read this, but then thought, hang on, up until a couple of years it was one of the few shows we sat down to watch as it aired on Wednesday nights, but looking at the DVR, we have over twenty unwatched eps.

    Still sad, though does sound like the time is right.

Leave a Reply