A ROCK band more accustomed to playing at bike rallies will be making an unlikely performance on quiz show Countdown this week.

Simon Tomlinson

A ROCK band more accustomed to playing at bike rallies will be making an unlikely performance on quiz show Countdown this week.

Essex and Suffolk group Morpheus, which covers metal classics from Motorhead to AC/DC, has recorded its own version the show's theme tune.

And their 30-second clip will be played when drummer Andy Hewitt appears as a contestant.

The forklift truck driver from Colchester e-mailed the tune to producers after applying to go on the Channel 4 programme and they agreed to play it when he is introduced at the beginning of the programme.

Bosses were so impressed, they are thinking about replacing the original version long-term.

Mr Hewitt, of Arden Close, said: “I remembered a few years ago there a contestant who did his own spoof theme tune. I thought it would be a challenge for the band to do something like that.

“It is fantastic that our version of the show theme will be aired. It shows how versatile Morpheus can be as a band. It was fantastic to watch presenter Jeff Stelling air drumming along to it when it was played.”

The 43-year-old has appeared on the show before when he went out at the first time of asking in 1997. He believes he may one of the few people to have taken part twice.

“I always fancied another go at it,” he said. “They normally only let people on once, so I must have slipped through the net.”

But he remained tight-lipped about his success this time round. He said: “I can't comment. You'll have to wait and see.”

Morpheus has been playing at venues across Suffolk and Essex for five years. The other members are lead singer Darren Nicholson, from Ipswich, bass player Rik Bellamy, from Dovercourt, and lead guitarist Matt Pearce, from Sudbury.

The Countdown show featuring the band will be aired on Channel 4 on Thursday at 3.25pm. For more on the band, visit www.morpheus-rock.com.