Mr and Mrs to be revived for 21st Century with Schofield and Britton quizzing celebrity couples

Now, 34 years after its launch, the gameshow Mr & Mrs is making a comeback to our screens.

The original show tested how much - or little - ordinary married couples knew about each other.

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This time round it will feature celebrity couples going head to head to prove how close they are.

The programme, which is expected to be hosted by This Morning presenters Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield, will pit the likes of Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster, Vernon Kay and Tess Daly and Katie Price and Peter Andre against each other.

The series drew 11million viewers at its peak in the 1970s, with contestants being posed such probing questions as "Does your husband wear a hanky in his pyjama pocket?" and "How does your wife apply her lipstick?"

There have already been two failed attempts to revive the show.

Now Celador - which is behind the hugely successful Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - has revamped the format.

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The decision to use celebrities is thought to have been prompted by the success of programmes such as All Star Family Fortunes and Strictly Come Dancing, where high-profile figures are taken out of their comfort zone.

"It is the ultimate expose of married life," a TV insider said.

"The questions might be simple but it is like holding a mirror to your relationship."

Celador spokesman Adrian Woolfe said: "With the current renaissance in the popularity of the gameshow this is the perfect time to revisit and revive classic formats. I am confident Mr & Mrs can be refreshed and reworked."

The original series began on ITV in 1973. Its theme tune was accompanied by the lyrics: "Mr and Mrs/ Be nice to each other/ Mr and Mrs/ We've got to love one another."

Unfortunately, the lyricists Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent divorced soon after writing the song.

The format was simple, with one partner sitting in a soundproof booth wearing headphones while the other answered three questions about their spouse.

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They would then rejoin their partners and compare answers before swapping places.

If they matched, they won £10 for each correct question. Six correct answers meant a £2,000 jackpot.

Losers received an engraved carriage clock.

When audience numbers plummeted the show was ditched in 1988.

A 1994 version called The New Mr & Mrs on UK Living did not spark the same interest while an ITV revival in 1999, hosted by Julian Clary, was panned.

The original host Derek Batey, 78, who owns the rights, has agreed to allow ITV to screen the show once again from April for an estimated £400,000.

He said: "It is a format that has lasted throughout the times. I am sure modern audiences will love it."