Spicks and Specks delayed until 2014
The Spicks and Specks former cast
The return of the ABC’s most popular quiz show in recent years, Spicks and Specks, has been bumped back to next year, Mumbrella can reveal
The ABC told Mumbrella that it will instead focus on production for the Merrick Watts-fronted Tractor Monkeys.
Jennifer Collins, head of ABC Entertainment said Spicks and Specks will now come early in 2014. She said: “It’s an exciting way to launch next year. Casting for the new team will begin later this year. We plan to welcome back some of your favourites as well as testing the musical knowledge of some new and surprising guests.”
Spicks and Specks ran from 2005 to 2011 and the series finale pulled 1.6 million viewers. It was announced in November last year that the show would return in 2013.
Both quiz shows will be shown on ABC1.
Tractor Monkeys has just gone into pre-production, according to the ABC, and will see the return of Dave O’Neil and Monty Dimond as the team captains.
The quiz is based off archive footage and has been commissioned for another eight episodes. The ratings were disappointing since the launch in October last year, sometimes dropping below 400,000.
Another of the ABC’s quiz shows, Randling, also had disappointing numbers. At the time that ABC said Randling had been hampered by budgetary issues which saw the entire series shot before any of it went to air.
Collins said: “The first series (of Tractor Monkeys) scratched the surface of the moments that defined what it was to grow up in Australia. Merrick, Dave and Monty will put us back in touch with the music, the TV shows, those first celebrity crushes and the best and worst of our fashions.”
Tractor Monkeys will record in its Sydney studio and tickets for audience members are available now.
Cameron Boon
Spicks and Specks has has it’s run, time for something new and original.
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Yep. Need to wait until Tracktor Monkeys has finished with the desks and buzzers.
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Enough with the panel shows driven by comedians – they are all starting to date horribly.
Time for a new concept… get your thinking caps on.
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Is there a reality show… about groups of ABC’ers coming up with ripped off english panel shows?
Now thats NEW!!
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The problem with this show as with Dirty Laundry Live is the topic does not lend itself to comedy. They may as well bring back The Trophy Room, at least a sports show could be tweaked.
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