What was Spicks and Specks?
Spicks and Specks was an Australian music quiz show on ABC TV, hosted by Adam Hills with team captains Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst. It ran from 2005 to 2011 and has returned in later revivals.
Two teams, each with a captain and two guests, answered questions about music through games such as Substitution, where they sang famous songs using the words of unrelated texts, and Turn Back Time, where songs were played backwards.
The show combined musical knowledge with comedy, and guests included musicians, comedians and actors.
Name and revivals
The name comes from a 1966 song by the Bee Gees, recorded when they lived in Australia.
Spicks and Specks was hugely popular, winning Logie Awards. It returned in 2014 with new hosts, then again in 2018 and from 2021 with the original team.
Its games, such as Musical Charades and the Final Countdown, remain fan favourites, and Alan Brough's encyclopedic music knowledge and Myf Warhurst's warmth were key to its charm. The show helped introduce older Australian music to younger viewers.
Adam Hills, a comedian born with one foot, became one of Australia's best-loved television hosts through the show, and he has since worked widely in the United Kingdom.
Did You Know?
Adam Hills later hosted The Last Leg in the United Kingdom.