Keynotes

Contents

Host

Alistair Divall

Co-hosts

Announcer: David Hopewell

Broadcast

HTV West in association with Reg Grundy Productions, 1989-92

Synopsis

Music game which was produced from the Australian format juggernaut we call the Grundy-o-matic. Two teams of over-excitable, now middle-aged, '60s mods battled it out to be the first to identify popular song tunes, seemingly "played" by a 1978 Korg XJ-1000 on its last legs. Correct answers gained one note of the first nine notes of a song, followed by an opportunity to guess what the song is. Although at first you only had one actual note to listen to, there was a follow-the-bouncing-ball effort which helped you with the rhythm too.

Keynotes was famous for its crass scoring system of £30, £60 and £120 prize for guessing the first, second and third round song. Unless neither team could guess the third round tune, the first two rounds didn't mean jack. The original series had the three rounds scored as £50, £100 and £200

The end game was as good as they come, however. The winning team could double or treble their winnings, depending how many rounds they win by identifying nine tunes in 30 seconds, each correct answer earning a note for the main tune. Very tense, and superbly infuriating when they'd fail to identify daft songs like Nellie the Elephant from nearly all the notes.

Seems rather coy these days, but it was nice to have a 9.25am show that had a budget more than £247.61 (yes, Crosswits, we mean you).

Key moments

The "scrum down" action each team would do every time they tried to guess the main tune.

Every answer the contestants gave following the formula "Is it (X), Alistair?"

That clock in the desk used for the end game that would keep popping up and down.

Trivia

The music was arranged by Keith Chegwin, working under a pseudonym.

At the end of one show, during a time when Britain was in something of an economic crisis having just dropped out of the ERM, the host delivered this immortal line: "I'm Alistair Divall: remember that name because it never 'divall-ues' the pound!"

Inventor

Based on a Reg Grundy format from Australia which debuted in 1964.

Feedback

To correct something on this page or post an addition, please complete this form and press "Send":
If you are asking us a question, please read our contact us page and FAQ first.

Name: E-mail:   
A Labyrinth Games site.
Design by Thomas.
Printable version
Editors: Log in