ITV bringing back Name That Tune

The UK’s largest commercial broadcaster ITV is piloting a new version of Name That Tune, marking the return of the classic gameshow, TBI has learned.

The previous ITV incarnation of the show was last on British screens 26 years ago.

The new Name That Tune is described as a refreshed and reinvigorated version of the format and described as a mix of music and comedy.

It will be made by Znak & Jones, marking the first commission for the fledgling prodco, which was set up earlier this year by former Zodiak USA and ITV executive Natalka Znak and Simon Jones, the ex-FremantleMedia, Talpa and Syco executive.

ITV will not comment on pilots, but TBI understands Name That Tune will be an hour-long show.

The non-TX pilot, which will be filmed next month, was greenlit by Elaine Bedell, ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy, and Claire Zolkwer, the broadcaster’s commissioning editor, comedy entertainment. Glenn Coomber is the series producer attached.

FremantleMedia owns the rights to the show in some international territories, but Znak & Jones have optioned it in both the UK and the US.

The original format in the UK had members of a studio audience compete over various music-themed rounds that challenged them to identify well-known tunes as quickly as possible.

Znak & Jones was created earlier this year. Natalka Znak produced ITV reality hit I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here and her other credits include Hell’s Kitchen and Killer Karaoke. Simon Jones’ credits include American Idol and The Voice. The pair have brought in Cherie Kloss (Swinger Wives, Backyard Oil) as director of development.

The Name That Tune format started out as a US radio show, before transferring to the CBS and NBC networks. In the UK it ran on ITV, ending in 1988. Channel five resurrected the show for two seasons in the late 1990s.