Bright Entertainment has taken over 12 Yard format

Channel 4 has ordered two further series of Popmaster TV and two celebrity specials from fledgling ITV Studios label Bright Entertainment, which has taken over production from shuttered stablemate 12 Yard.  

Lily Wilson and Tom Williams’ label absorbed the remaining IP catalogue of 12 Yard, including Puzzling (5) and Bullseye (ITV1), when it launched in January.  

Hosted by Ken Bruce and based on his long-running radio show, Popmaster TV has run for four series on More4. The recommission includes 20 x 60-minute new episodes on the channel, featuring contestants from across the UK competing in a pop music quiz.  

Last year, the third and fourth series reached a total of 3.3m people across all episodes after 28 days, according to Channel 4.  

The Glasgow-based production, which will be distributed by ITV Studios, was ordered by director of commissioning, nations & regions and head of lifestyle Jo Street and will be overseen by commissioning executive Barry Agnew. The executive producers are Martin Scott, Michael Mannes and Zoe Tait for Bright Entertainment. 

Bright Entertainment managing director Lily Wilson said: “Ken Bruce and PopMaster are British institutions, so we’re incredibly excited to be bringing more episodes to More 4. The series celebrates the best of music with addictive playalong – we can’t wait to be back on screen.” 

Street added: “With Ken Bruce at the helm, PopMaster continues to feel both timeless and fresh and it has proven itself as a real audience favourite on More4, delivering warmth, nostalgia and genuinely compelling play-along television.  

“We’re thrilled to be bringing it back with new episodes and celebrity specials, building on its strong performance and the huge affection viewers have for the format.”