Radio 2 embroiled in shock controversy over new quiz – days after Ken Bruce left

RADIO 2’s replacement quiz for the much-loved Popmaster was embroiled in a “cheat” row yesterday — just days after its launch.

Listeners claimed contestant Sheila was secretly using her phone to answer questions posed by Ken Bruce’s stand-in Gary Davies on “Ten To The Top”.

They deemed her four-second pause before correctly answering music questions “highly suspicious” on the mid-morning show

One tweeted: “What a pity to hear such blatant cheating on 10 to the Top. I don’t know how you stop it but it certainly spoils it for the listener. Sheila was no Popmaster.”

One fan, referring to Gary Lineker’s recent Twitter storm, quipped: “Another BBC Gary at the centre of a big row today. You’d think they could do without it.”

Winners of the contest, in which two contestants are asked 10 music questions, get a smart speaker.

One listener joked of Sheila: “She can use it to cheat on future quizzes.”

Veteran DJ Ken left Radio 2 last week and has taken Popmaster to his new station, Greatest Hits.

Some fans complained that the new quiz’s format was too open to abuse.

Last night the BBC insisted Sheila won fair and square.

A spokeswoman said: “Prior to going on air, all Ten To The Top contestants are asked to participate alone with no assistance, books or devices, and we’re confident that all players just use their music-filled brains.”

Davies is hosting the show before Vernon Kay, whose appointment sparked an ageism row, starts in April