Alan Brough: Spicks surprised by Men at Work court case

Spicks & Specks team leader Alan Brough.

Legal action by Kookaburra copyright holders over Down Under shocked ABC quiz cast.

"What children's song is contained in the song 'Down Under'?" Adam Hills once asked on Spicks & Specks.

The answer was Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree -- an answer that triggered a legal battle between Larrikin Music, the copyright owners of the song, and music publishing companies representing the band Men at Work.

Who would have thought such a harmless question on a TV quiz show could have such widespread repercussions?

Spicks team leader Alan Brough admits he was as surprised as anyone.

"I think the only people more surprised than Men at Work was us," he admits.

The flute riff in the song was found to violate the copyright of the children's song, composed in 1934.

Brough doesn't expect there is much likelihood of triggering legal action from other quiz questions, and by the sounds of things, he would prefer if they didn't.

"I think one per life of the program is probably enough," he says tactfully. "I doubt whether that will happen again."

With an average audience of more than 1.3 million viewers each week in 2009, Spicks & Specks remains Australia's favourite ABC program. While other networks plunder their programming with mimicking formats, Spicks just keeps on delivering thanks to Brough, Myf Warhurst and the utterly charming Adam Hills.

"This is season six and we're continuing to get fantastic guests. We finished the year with the Christmas special with Jarvis Copper and Peter Garrett. But I pretty much blank after every show and I can't remember any of them!

"We haven't shot that many episodes yet."

Returning games this year include Know Your Product; Please, Please Tell Me Now; Substitute; and The Final Countdown.

"There's new games and a similar high standard of guests from all walks of life. Classical, opera, rock music, everything."

Upcoming guests, for the record, will include DJ Carl Cox, singer Neko Case, Rusty Bertha, Dave O'Neil, Chrissy Amphlett, Henry Wagons, Celia Pacquola, Scott Carne, Florence Welch, Meshel Laurie and Dave Callan.

Spicks & Specks airs 8:30pm Wednesday on ABC1.