ITV reviving classic show after 28 years with Alison Hammond

Game show Name That Tune began in the mid-1950s, originating in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952.

It sees contestants pitted against each other as their music knowledge is put to the test.

ITV is reviving the series, which last aired in the late 1990s, with TV star Alison Hammond set to host.

ITV reviving iconic show Name That Tune after 28 years with Alison Hammond

The British version first aired on UK TV back in 1976 and became a 15-minute slot on the popular entertainment series Wednesday at Eight, which went on to become London Night Out.

However, because the game was so popular, producers Thames Television decided to turn Name That Tune into a half-hour weekly series in 1983.

From 1976 until 1983, it was hosted by Tom O’Connor, with Lionel Blair taking over in 1984 until the series was dropped from the ITV schedules in 1988.

In 1997, the series was revived on Channel 5 with Jools Holland as the host for two series in 1997 and 1998.

The new series will be its first return to television since then.

The new series, hosted by Alison Hammond, will see contestants go up against each other as their music knowledge is put to the test in a series of fast-paced rounds.

It will feature tracks from the world’s best-loved artists and bands from across every genre – all building towards the finale. 

Name That Tune is currently in its fifth season in the U.S, presented by 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski.

The show’s band will also be performing in the new UK version, made up of a group of elite musicians who have performed with some of the world’s biggest stars, including Adele and The Spice Girls.

Alison said:  “As a massive music lover, my biggest challenge as a host will be trying not to grab the mic and start singing along when one of my all-time favourite tunes comes on!

“And trust me… that will take serious self-control!

“I grew up absolutely loving the original show, so being part of this now feels like a real full-circle moment.

 “I cannot wait to get into the studio, put the contestants through their paces, and see who really knows their music.

“And let me tell you, being joined by the super-talented Name That Tune band, who’ll be belting out some of the biggest songs on the planet in their own unique, electric style… oh, it’s going to be next-level.

“Bigger, louder, and more feel-good than ever, this is going to be EPIC!”

 Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment, Reality & Daytime at ITV, added: “Name That Tune is such an iconic brand, we are excited to be bringing this refreshed global format to the UK audience.

“It’s a fun family series that not only sees contestants challenged in the studio, but viewers can play along with all the family, providing a unique playlist that spans generations.”

ITV’s 7 Up series to conclude in 2026 after 62 years

The news comes as another classic ITV series is set to end this year after more than six decades.

Referred to as the Up series, it began back in 1964 with 7 Up, which follows the lives of ten boys and four girls in England when they were seven years old, and has followed up with them every seven years.

The series has been produced by Granada Television for ITV, which has aired all of the films except 42 Up, which was broadcast on BBC One.

The final film, called 70 Up, will join the participants for the last time as they reflect on their triumphs, trials and tribulations and what happened to their hopes and dreams.

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Jo Clinton-Davis, controller of factual ITV and commissioner of 70 Up said: “The 7 Up story is much more than a TV documentary, it’s a document of our times.

“A truly distinctive landmark piece of film-making that has become part of our cultural fabric.

“In the evolving stories of our cast we see the universal themes of life play out. It is the series that made me want to get into television.”

Will you be watching Name That Tune when it returns? Let us know in the comments.