Quiz team’s not bright enough to spot Canvey's Sparko (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Quiz team’s not bright enough to spot Canvey's Sparko

8:00am Sunday 20th December 2009

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HIS chart-topping days may be behind him, but a legendary Dr Feelgood rocker still made the line-up on hit BBC quiz show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Bass player John B Sparks, known to his fans as Sparko, appeared in the identity parade on this week’s show, where the panelists had to spot the musician in an assorted line-up.

It’s a long standing joke that no one remembers the bassist in a band, so it was no surprise to anyone, least of all Sparko that the panel failed to recognise him.

He said: “All the guests were probably too young to have heard Dr Feelgood, so it wasn’t a great shock.

“Even one of the guys from the parade didn’t know who I was, and that was after I’d been introduced.”

Sparko, who left the Canvey band in 1981, appeared in the show as part of a Dr Who-themed edition, which also saw a dalek join the identity parade.

Trying to pick him out of the line-up were jazz musician Jamie Cullum, comedian Catherine Tate and team captain Noel Fielding.

The panelists eventually plumped for a tall man with curly hair, because he had the shiniest shoes.

Cullum had successfully spotted Sparko, but he was overruled by Fielding.

Sparko, who still lives on Canvey, said: “They ummed and ahhed for absolutely ages.

“I think they edited quite a lot out for TV.

“It’s all fun and games at the end of the day. I wasn’t offended, and I’ve seen other people get far more abuse than I did.”

It might have been different had the question gone to the opposing team, captained by south Essex boy – and Dr Feelgood fan – Phil Jupitus.

Sparko said: “I’ve met Phil before, so I’d hope he’d recognise me.

“He’d have definitely done a better job than the other lot.”

Dr Feelgood hit their peak when their live album Stupidity reached number one in the UK album charts in 1976.

The show also plugged new Dr Feelgood documentary film Oil City Confidential, which recalls the original band members’ childhoods on Canvey.

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