Popmaster Weekdays On Greatest Hits Radio (Thread)

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  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    Who decided I wonder that Popmaster needs dumbing down ?

    Far too many multiple choices are questions coming into play now, the first chap today had at least three but I didn’t hear Round 2
  • davadsdavads Posts: 10,695
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    edited 12/12/25 - 18:51 #1378
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Who decided I wonder that Popmaster needs dumbing down ?

    Far too many multiple choices are questions coming into play now, the first chap today had at least three but I didn’t hear Round 2

    You think the multiple choices dumb them down ie. make it easier? All depends on what you know - I didn't get the "Kelly" one today or the Miracles/Temptation etc one... :(
  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    davads wrote: »
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Who decided I wonder that Popmaster needs dumbing down ?

    Far too many multiple choices are questions coming into play now, the first chap today had at least three but I didn’t hear Round 2

    You think the multiple choices dumb them down ie. make it easier? All depends on what you know - I didn't get the "Kelly" one today or the Miracles/Temptation etc one... :(

    Yes it does dumb it down as you have a one in three chance if you don’t know the answer and becomes Guess Master
  • Eric TristowEric Tristow Posts: 1,767
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    davads wrote: »
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Who decided I wonder that Popmaster needs dumbing down ?

    Far too many multiple choices are questions coming into play now, the first chap today had at least three but I didn’t hear Round 2

    You think the multiple choices dumb them down ie. make it easier? All depends on what you know - I didn't get the "Kelly" one today or the Miracles/Temptation etc one... :(

    But it gives you a 1 in 3 chance on something that you may not know anything about. It seems particularly silly for the bonus questions. Surely if a question is deemed hard enough to require a choice it should be left for Champions League.
  • SmylersSmylers Posts: 1,548
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    But it gives you a 1 in 3 chance on something that you may not know anything about. It seems particularly silly for the bonus questions. Surely if a question is deemed hard enough to require a choice it should be left for Champions League.

    I tend to agree — though I recently got 39 points for the first time on GHR, and one of those was only because of a multiple-choice question!

    Or instead of making a question explicitly multiple choice, say “Kelly who had a hit with ...?” or <"Which Welsh band ...?”
  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    Smylers wrote: »
    But it gives you a 1 in 3 chance on something that you may not know anything about. It seems particularly silly for the bonus questions. Surely if a question is deemed hard enough to require a choice it should be left for Champions League.

    I tend to agree — though I recently got 39 points for the first time on GHR, and one of those was only because of a multiple-choice question!

    Or instead of making a question explicitly multiple choice, say “Kelly who had a hit with ...?” or <"Which Welsh band ...?”

    I suppose multiple choice is no different to something like The Chase where the contestants have a 1 in 3 chance of getting the answer correct but it’s just weird that it seems to be happening more and more in recent weeks.
  • hattersfanhattersfan Posts: 1,728
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    FM Lover wrote: »
    Smylers wrote: »
    But it gives you a 1 in 3 chance on something that you may not know anything about. It seems particularly silly for the bonus questions. Surely if a question is deemed hard enough to require a choice it should be left for Champions League.

    I tend to agree — though I recently got 39 points for the first time on GHR, and one of those was only because of a multiple-choice question!

    Or instead of making a question explicitly multiple choice, say “Kelly who had a hit with ...?” or <"Which Welsh band ...?”

    I suppose multiple choice is no different to something like The Chase where the contestants have a 1 in 3 chance of getting the answer correct but it’s just weird that it seems to be happening more and more in recent weeks.

    Just my opinion but since question-setter Phil ‘The Collector’ Swern died last year there does seem to be a lack of consistency in Popmaster questions.

    I certainly agree that the bonus questions should not be multiple-choice.
  • davadsdavads Posts: 10,695
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    FM Lover wrote: »
    davads wrote: »
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Who decided I wonder that Popmaster needs dumbing down ?

    Far too many multiple choices are questions coming into play now, the first chap today had at least three but I didn’t hear Round 2

    You think the multiple choices dumb them down ie. make it easier? All depends on what you know - I didn't get the "Kelly" one today or the Miracles/Temptation etc one... :(

    Yes it does dumb it down as you have a one in three chance if you don’t know the answer and becomes Guess Master

    Still doesn't make if any more likely you'll get it right though (especially if all three alternatives seem equally plausible, as has been the case for the couple of examples I've heard lately). As Mr Tarrant used to say, "They're only easy if you know the answers"... ;)
  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    davads wrote: »
    FM Lover wrote: »
    davads wrote: »
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Who decided I wonder that Popmaster needs dumbing down ?

    Far too many multiple choices are questions coming into play now, the first chap today had at least three but I didn’t hear Round 2

    You think the multiple choices dumb them down ie. make it easier? All depends on what you know - I didn't get the "Kelly" one today or the Miracles/Temptation etc one... :(

    Yes it does dumb it down as you have a one in three chance if you don’t know the answer and becomes Guess Master

    Still doesn't make if any more likely you'll get it right though (especially if all three alternatives seem equally plausible, as has been the case for the couple of examples I've heard lately). As Mr Tarrant used to say, "They're only easy if you know the answers"... ;)

    No but if you haven’t got a clue it’s a 33.3% chance you’ll still get it right.
  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    Champions League will not start until Friday December 16th meaning just 6 of the qualifying 8 will take part

    Nothing like the Radio 2 days when there would be 12 to 15 players each year as they used to include the 36 + 3 in 10 winners too. A real shame they can't even get the numbers up to 10 as now, what used to seem like a real event has turned into an inconvenience for GHR who daren't alienate too many listeners with slightly harder questions than the norm.

  • davelovesleedsdavelovesleeds Posts: 28,897
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    FM Lover wrote: »
    Champions League will not start until Friday December 16th meaning just 6 of the qualifying 8 will take part

    Nothing like the Radio 2 days when there would be 12 to 15 players each year as they used to include the 36 + 3 in 10 winners too. A real shame they can't even get the numbers up to 10 as now, what used to seem like a real event has turned into an inconvenience for GHR who daren't alienate too many listeners with slightly harder questions than the norm.

    It did used to be a real event, one of those things I'd look forward all year through, being happy to hear those that had done really well earlier that year.

    GHR really should trust that most of their listeners don't mind somewhat harder questions.
  • davadsdavads Posts: 10,695
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    FM Lover wrote: »
    Champions League will not start until Friday December 16th meaning just 6 of the qualifying 8 will take part

    Nothing like the Radio 2 days when there would be 12 to 15 players each year as they used to include the 36 + 3 in 10 winners too. A real shame they can't even get the numbers up to 10 as now, what used to seem like a real event has turned into an inconvenience for GHR who daren't alienate too many listeners with slightly harder questions than the norm.

    To be fair I've always thought Champions League PM seemed a bit out of place on GHR... But yeah, it's a shame they couldn't include a few 36/3 in 10s to bulk up the numbers.
  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    davads wrote: »
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Champions League will not start until Friday December 16th meaning just 6 of the qualifying 8 will take part

    Nothing like the Radio 2 days when there would be 12 to 15 players each year as they used to include the 36 + 3 in 10 winners too. A real shame they can't even get the numbers up to 10 as now, what used to seem like a real event has turned into an inconvenience for GHR who daren't alienate too many listeners with slightly harder questions than the norm.

    To be fair I've always thought Champions League PM seemed a bit out of place on GHR... But yeah, it's a shame they couldn't include a few 36/3 in 10s to bulk up the numbers.

    I’m convinced, with no actual proof that Bauer just don’t want Popmaster to be too difficult just in case listeners tune elsewhere but I think they e completely mis-read Ken’s audience if they do think that.

    Anyway, four days with something slightly more challenging is good but 2023 and 2024 has proved that the questions in CL are nowhere near the Radio 2 standard
  • commsengcommseng Posts: 8,225
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    edited 18/12/25 - 10:47 #1390
    Did Ken just say that the year in Round 2 was 1984 rather than 1994?
    10 years out!
  • Eric TristowEric Tristow Posts: 1,767
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    FM Lover wrote: »
    Champions League will not start until Friday December 16th meaning just 6 of the qualifying 8 will take part

    Nothing like the Radio 2 days when there would be 12 to 15 players each year as they used to include the 36 + 3 in 10 winners too. A real shame they can't even get the numbers up to 10 as now, what used to seem like a real event has turned into an inconvenience for GHR who daren't alienate too many listeners with slightly harder questions than the norm.

    7 will take part. There are 3 playing on Friday.
  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    commseng wrote: »
    Did Ken just say that the year in Round 2 was 1984 rather than 1994?
    10 years out!

    I don't think so, he said 3 years out when
    player said 1991
  • commsengcommseng Posts: 8,225
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    FM Lover wrote: »
    commseng wrote: »
    Did Ken just say that the year in Round 2 was 1984 rather than 1994?
    10 years out!
    I don't think so, he said 3 years out when player said 1991
    I might check when the podcast comes out - two of us thought he said it, obviously a slip of the tongue if he did, as you say he did mention that 1991 was 3 years out.
  • cody jarrettcody jarrett Posts: 2,229
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    edited 18/12/25 - 12:35 #1394
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Champions League will not start until Friday December 16th meaning just 6 of the qualifying 8 will take part

    Nothing like the Radio 2 days when there would be 12 to 15 players each year as they used to include the 36 + 3 in 10 winners too. A real shame they can't even get the numbers up to 10 as now, what used to seem like a real event has turned into an inconvenience for GHR who daren't alienate too many listeners with slightly harder questions than the norm.

    7 will take part. There are 3 playing on Friday.

    That could get messy, will be an interesting listen.
  • commsengcommseng Posts: 8,225
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    commseng wrote: »
    FM Lover wrote: »
    commseng wrote: »
    Did Ken just say that the year in Round 2 was 1984 rather than 1994? 10 years out!
    I don't think so, he said 3 years out when player said 1991
    I might check when the podcast comes out - two of us thought he said it, obviously a slip of the tongue if he did, as you say he did mention that 1991 was 3 years out
    Yes confirmed on the podcast (around 14 minutes in) that he said 1984 twice.
  • Torch81Torch81 Posts: 18,412
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    Nice to listen to a bit of Popmaster with harder questions today. Still nothing approaching the level of difficulty they used to be in the Radio 2 days though were they.

    Not sure how anyone else done today? But, personally I found round 1 questions harder than rounds 2 or 3. I scored - 25, 48 & 40.
  • FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 53,190
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    Torch81 wrote: »
    Nice to listen to a bit of Popmaster with harder questions today. Still nothing approaching the level of difficulty they used to be in the Radio 2 days though were they.

    Not sure how anyone else done today? But, personally I found round 1 questions harder than rounds 2 or 3. I scored - 25, 48 & 40.

    I'm afraid they were a breeze compared to what I went through on Radio 2 in both 2010 & 2015 and the obsession with multiple choice continued even in Champions League.

    Three full houses for me today.

  • SmylersSmylers Posts: 1,548
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    Torch81 wrote: »
    Nice to listen to a bit of Popmaster with harder questions today. Still nothing approaching the level of difficulty they used to be in the Radio 2 days though were they.

    Not sure how anyone else done today? But, personally I found round 1 questions harder than rounds 2 or 3. I scored - 25, 48 & 40.

    Round 1 seemed far too easy to me: I got the first 5 questions in a row, which I rarely manage on a normal day and definitely shouldn't happen in Champions' League, including 5 points for a guess on a multiple-choice question, finishing with 22.

    Round 2 was harder in the middle (after 6 questions I only had 3 points, having failed to recall Queen's drummer before the on-air contestant said their name), but then they put some easy questions as the end and I got 7, 9, and 10 to reach 29 — which might be my highest ever on Champions' League.

    Round 3 felt more like Champions' League is supposed to be: I just got just two questions right, for 7 points.

    I agree with FM Lover: this doesn't feel like the same contest as was on Radio 2.
  • ShrewnShrewn Posts: 7,562
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    I thought it was just me
    I used to "stop for popmaster" but now if i catch it then that's nice.
    To me the station could send a glass eye to sleep. I find it very dull so its not my go to station
  • Torch81Torch81 Posts: 18,412
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    edited 19/12/25 - 16:57 #1400
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Torch81 wrote: »
    Nice to listen to a bit of Popmaster with harder questions today. Still nothing approaching the level of difficulty they used to be in the Radio 2 days though were they.

    Not sure how anyone else done today? But, personally I found round 1 questions harder than rounds 2 or 3. I scored - 25, 48 & 40.

    I'm afraid they were a breeze compared to what I went through on Radio 2 in both 2010 & 2015 and the obsession with multiple choice continued even in Champions League.

    Three full houses for me today.

    :D I thought that might be the case where you're concerned Mr FM. ;)

    I'm curious. Are you able to apply again and take part whenever you like or when you've previously won it are you told/advised that there's a statutory period of time that has to elapse before you're allowed to be on again?
    Smylers wrote: »
    Torch81 wrote: »
    Nice to listen to a bit of Popmaster with harder questions today. Still nothing approaching the level of difficulty they used to be in the Radio 2 days though were they.

    Not sure how anyone else done today? But, personally I found round 1 questions harder than rounds 2 or 3. I scored - 25, 48 & 40.

    Round 1 seemed far too easy to me: I got the first 5 questions in a row, which I rarely manage on a normal day and definitely shouldn't happen in Champions' League, including 5 points for a guess on a multiple-choice question, finishing with 22.

    Round 2 was harder in the middle (after 6 questions I only had 3 points, having failed to recall Queen's drummer before the on-air contestant said their name), but then they put some easy questions as the end and I got 7, 9, and 10 to reach 29 — which might be my highest ever on Champions' League.

    Round 3 felt more like Champions' League is supposed to be: I just got just two questions right, for 7 points.

    I agree with FM Lover: this doesn't feel like the same contest as was on Radio 2.

    Interesting, particularly with regards round 1. Thank you for that.

    As ever, and as is my favourite saying on this thread, it's always about what you know and what you don't. :)
  • commsengcommseng Posts: 8,225
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    My score was 28 then 33 then 38 points.
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