Countdown with Molly Meldrum returning to ABC on Sundays

COUNTDOWN is returning to the ABC on Sunday nights, 30 years after the broadcaster axed Molly Meldrum’s iconic music show.

COUNTDOWN is returning to 6pm on Sunday nights.

Thirty years after the ABC axed the iconic music show, a 13-part series called Classic Countdown will air from September 17.

Each episode will feature the best studio performances from each of the 13 years Countdown was on air.

The first episode will highlight music from 1975 — all the 1974 Countdown episodes were recorded over by a budget conscious ABC keen to recycle tapes — finishing up with 1987, the year Countdown ended.

“It’s cool they’re using the old timeslot, there was a real routine of the family coming together to watch Countdown each Sunday night,” Molly Meldrum said.

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When Debbie Harry met Shirley Strachan — Countdown is returning to Sunday nights on ABC.

Elton John and Ian Molly Meldrum on the set of ABC TV show Countdown, Picture: ABC

“I really do think it’s time for a new Countdown, with a new host who’s really passionate about music, so this could be the start of that.

“People still love following what’s in the chart and the new music that’s coming up. There have been some great music shows since Countdown ended, but nothing’s really taken its place.”

Executive producer Janet Gaeta said scouring through old Countdown tapes unearthed some gems.

Each episode will feature six or seven studio performances from the corresponding year, as well as other material.

“There’s an interview Molly did with David Bowie which was really candid,” Gaeta said.

“The first episode has the classic performance of AC/DC doing Baby Please Don’t Go live with Bon Scott in the schoolgirl outfit and he lights a cigarette halfway through. We also found a tape that just said ‘You Are So Beautiful’ on it, and it’s Joe Cocker from Great Keppel Island filmed by Countdown in 1977. There’s also an interview which lets you see Mr Cocker had very much enjoyed his time in Australia.”

Flashbacks: Sherbet and Molly Meldrum on the set Countdown in the 70s. Picture: ABC

Meldrum’s classic Humdrum segments will be highlighted, while artists including Kate Ceberano, Richard Clapton, John Paul Young and Steve Kilbey narrate each episode.

“We went pulled the episodes apart, restored them and rebuilt them to give people another taste of what a marvellous and brilliant show Countdown was,” Gaeta said.

“These songs are the soundtrack to Australia. And Countdown made stars out of people. Steve Kilbey of The Church said they played to four people in a pub on a Friday night, they were on Countdown on the Sunday night and that was it, they sold out every gig they did around the country.”

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Late Skyhooks singer Shirley Strachan poses on the set of Countdown: Picture: ABC

Ironically the Ripponlea studios Countdown was filmed at are about to be demolished and replaced by apartments.

Meldrum has been invited to a private farewell party at the old studios next month.

“We had some great parties there back during the Countdown days so it’ll be nice to have one final party there,” Meldrum said. “It’s sad it’s being knocked down, there is a lot of history in there. Those studios really became part of the institution of Countdown, and Countdown certainly became like an institution when I was there!”

Meldrum is busy working on music for new talents Sarah Rzek and Liam Endersby, the latter was spotted by Meldrum on The Voice who was shocked no one turned their chair for him.

“I really like helping young people with genuine talent get recognition for their music.”

MOLLY MELDRUM SPILLS SOME SECRETS 30 YEARS AFTER COUNTDOWN ENDED

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