Fresh from the studio soccer game Quiz Ball,David Vine first introduced A Question Of Sport at 6:20 pm on Monday 5 January 1970 with captains Henry Cooper (the boxer) and Cliff Morgan (from the world of Rugby Union).
The first programme was recorded in a deconsecrated Manchester church with guest panellists George Best, Ray Illingworth, Lillian Board and Tom Finney. The show was transmitted in black and white and attracted over 8½ million viewers.
David Coleman later took over the host’s chair, and subsequent captains included Welsh Rugby maestro Gareth Edwards, cackling jockey Willie Carson, squeaky-voiced soccer star Emlyn Hughes, cricketer Ian Botham, the deceptively witty former England Rugby skipper, Bill Beaumont, Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson.
Hughes’s main claim to fame was when, in 1987, he identified a photograph of HRH Princess Anne as being Irish jockey John Reid. HRH got her own back by appearing on the show the following week – the first member of the Royal Family to appear on a television quiz programme.
The attention to team members’ clothes turned it for a while into ‘A Question of Jumpers’ – with Coleman in particular showing off more pastel shades than Rowntree’s – but the show remains a firm favourite with anyone that knows their Arsenal from their Aintree . . .
Tennis legend Sue Barker took over as host in 1997 and stayed until 2021 when comedian Paddy McGuinness took over – but apart from the faces, nothing much has changed on Question Of Sport for over 30 years.
Video
Related Posts
World of Sport 1 9 6 5 - 1 9 8 5 (UK) World of Sport was created in January 1965 as a Saturday afternoon…
Laughs For Sale 1 9 6 3 (USA) 10 x 30 minute episodes Debuting on 20 October 1963, this Sunday night ABC comedy…
Your First Impression 1 9 6 2 - 1 9 6 4 (USA) 80 x 25 minute episodes Free association in the manner of…
Laugh Line 1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 1 (UK) 25 x 30 minute episodes This panel game show was adapted…
Face the Music 1 9 6 7 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes 1 9 7 0 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes 1 9…
Pop The Question 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 6 (UK) 30 minute episodes Created and produced by Jeremy Beadle (with…
Mastermind 1 9 7 2 - Current (UK) Mastermind began as a late-night quiz show for eggheads on 11 September 1972…
$64,000 Question, The 1 9 5 5 - 1 9 5 8 (USA) Before the quiz show scandal of the late 1950s, The $64,000 Question was…
