A Question of Sport

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For the spin-off video game, see A Question of Sport (video game).

A Question of Sport
Gareth Edwards (1979–1981)
  • Willie Carson (1982–83)
  • Bill Beaumont (1982–1996)
  • Ian Botham (1988–1996)
  • John Parrott (1996–2002)
  • Ally McCoist (1996–2007)
  • Frankie Dettori (2002–04)
  • Matt Dawson (2004–2021)
  • Phil Tufnell (2008–2021)
  • Sam Quek (2021–2023)
  • Ugo Monye
    • (2021–2023)
    Theme music composerRichie Close
    Country of originUnited Kingdom
    Original languageEnglish
    No. of series52
    No. of episodes1,365
    Landmarks: 4 March 2013: 1,000th episode
    Production
    Executive producerGareth JM Edwards
    ProducerDave Gymer
    Production locationsdock10 studios (studios HQ1 and HQ2 on rotation)
    Running time30 minutes
    Production companiesBBC (1968–2015)
    BBC Studios (2015–2023)
    Original release
    NetworkBBC One
    Release2 December 1968 (1968-12-02) (pilot)
    5 January 1970 (1970-01-05) –
    8 September 2023 (2023-09-08)

    A Question of Sport (known as Question of Sport between 2021 and 2023) is a British television sports quiz show produced and broadcast by the BBC. It was the "world's longest running TV sports quiz".[1] Following a pilot episode in December 1968, broadcast only in the north of England, the series ran from 1970 (except in 1973 and 1978) until production ceased in 2023. The final presenter was Paddy McGuinness, with team captains Sam Quek and Ugo Monye.

    The show's viewing figures slumped from around 4 million in 2021 to around 800,000 in 2023.[2]

    History

    First edition

    The first edition of A Question of Sport was broadcast on 5 January 1970. Presenter David Vine was joined by captains Henry Cooper and Cliff Morgan. The teams were composed of George Best, Lillian Board, Tom Finney and Ray Illingworth.[3]

    40th anniversary

    On 8 January 2010, the BBC broadcast a 40th-anniversary special. Joining presenter Sue Barker and captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell were Pat Cash, David Coulthard, Laura Davies and Michael Johnson.

    2012 Summer Olympics specials

    Following the 2012 Summer Olympics, A Question of Sport aired two special editions featuring champions from the aforementioned Olympics.

    Gold Medal Winners special

    On 1 September 2012, Katherine Grainger and Jason Kenny were among the gold medal winners featured.

    2012 Olympics special

    On 29 September 2012, Tim Baillie, Jade Jones, Laura Kenny, Greg Rutherford and Etienne Stott partook.

    1,000th episode

    On 4 March 2013, A Question of Sport marked its 1,000th episode. Each captain was joined by two former captains. Dawson was joined by Willie Carson and John Parrott, while Tufnell was joined by Bill Beaumont and Ally McCoist. Tufnell's team won.

    2016 Summer Olympics specials

    Shortly after the 2016 Summer Olympics, A Question of Sport held two special editions featuring champions from the above-mentioned Olympics.

    The Olympic Champions special

    On 7 September 2016, the Olympic Champions special featured gold medal winners, including Callum Skinner.

    Gold Rush special

    On 14 September 2016, for a Gold Rush special, A Question of Sport were joined by Maddie Hinch, Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Sam Quek.

    50th anniversary

    A Question of Sport at 50

    On 27 December 2019, the BBC aired a documentary that looked back on the programme's history. As well as looking back through the archives, A Question of Sport at 50 saw a number of sportspeople recount their memories, these included: Jessica Ennis-Hill, Colin Jackson, and Denise Lewis. Sue Barker, Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell also shared their experiences.

    50 Not Out

    On 3 January 2020, Sue Barker presented a 50th-anniversary special. Matt Dawson captained a team composed of Laura Davies and Beth Tweddle, while Phil Tufnell led Ally McCoist and Martin Offiah. Dawson's team won, the 1,255th episode, by 19 points to 16.

    Theme tune

    There have been four theme tunes over the years. The current theme was introduced in the mid-1980s and has been remixed and updated several times since that time, most recently in 2021.

    Cancellation

    Following the programme producers' decision in 2021 to "refresh" the Question of Sport by introducing a new host (Paddy McGuiness) and revising the structure of the quiz there was an ensuing drop-off in audience figures and, in December 2023, after two series of the revamped production, the BBC announced a decision to "shelve" the programme citing "inflation and funding challenges". The BBC did not rule out a future return of the programme.[4]

    Rounds

    The rounds regularly played during series 48, include:[5]

    Picture Board

    Twelve numbered squares each reveal a sportsperson to be identified during this one-minute round.

    One Minute Round

    Each team is asked nine questions in 60 seconds.

    Sports Action

    Contestants are asked questions about a montage of sporting action.

    Observation Round

    Sports action is shown and contestants are asked questions about details of what they have just seen, e.g. "What colour hat was a certain person wearing?" or "How many balls were there?"

    Mystery Guest

    Each team tries to identify a sportsperson in unfamiliar circumstances and using unconventional camera angles.

    Home or Away

    Each contestant can answer a one-point "home question" on the sport they participate or participated in or can answer an "away question" on a different sport for up to three points—away questions require three answers, a point per correct answer.

    Buzzer Round

    The teams play head-to-head, answering as many questions as possible in 60 seconds. At this point, the round immediately ends, even if each presenter is halfway through asking a question.

    Sprint Finish

    The captains have 60 seconds to act out up to ten sporting terms for the remaining members of the team to guess.

    Presenters and captains

    Presenters

    The 1968 pilot episode, broadcast only in the north of England, was hosted by

    1976 French Open tennis tournament and reached a World Ranking of 3.[13][14] The final presenter was Paddy McGuinness, who took over in 2021.[15]

    Captains

    A Question of Sport's first captains were

    footballer Ally McCoist making 363 appearances.[7][16] The show's longest-serving captain is Matt Dawson
    , who appeared on the show for 17 years from 2004 to 2021.

    The final team captains, who began on the show in 2021, were Ugo Monye and Sam Quek. Monye is a former rugby union international, who won 14 caps for England; he played club rugby for Harlequins and also played for the British & Irish Lions. Quek is a former hockey international, who won gold as part of the Great Britain women's national field hockey team at the 2016 Summer Olympics; she was the first female team captain on A Question of Sport.[15]

    Captains include:
    5 rugby union players:

    Gareth Edwards (1979–1982), Bill Beaumont (1982–1996), Matt Dawson (2004–2021) and Ugo Monye
    (2021–2023)

    3 cricketers:
    Fred Trueman (1976–1977), Ian Botham (1988–1996) and Phil Tufnell (2008–2021)

    2 jockeys:
    Willie Carson (1982–1984) and Frankie Dettori (2002–2004)

    2 footballers:
    Emlyn Hughes (1979–1982, 1984–1988) and Ally McCoist (1996–2007)

    1 boxer:
    Henry Cooper (1970–1972, 1974–1977 and 1979)

    1 long-distance runner:
    Brendan Foster (1977 and 1979)

    1 snooker player:
    John Parrott (1996–2002)

    1 hockey player:
    Sam Quek (2021–2023)

    Guest captains

    Over the years there have been several guest captains standing in for one of the regulars when they have other commitments. Following Ally McCoist's departure, several guests, including Phil Tufnell, sat in the captain's chair before Tufnell was eventually selected as McCoist's permanent replacement:

    Notable moments

    Transmissions

    Series Start date End date Episodes
    Pilot 2 December 1968 1
    1 5 January 1970[22] 18 May 1970[23] 20[23]
    2 11 January 1971[24] 5 April 1971[25] 13[25]
    3 20 March 1972[26] 19 June 1972[27] 14[27]
    4 8 January 1974[28] 2 April 1974[29] 13[29]
    5 10 July 1975[30] 28 August 1975[31] 8[31]
    6 3 May 1976[32] 21 June 1976[33] 8[33]
    7 18 April 1977[34] 6 June 1977[35] 8[35]
    8 8 January 1979[36] 2 April 1979[37] 13[37]
    9 7 January 1980[38] 18 March 1980[39] 11[39]
    10 27 February 1981[40] 15 May 1981[41] 12[41]
    11 5 January 1982[42] 30 March 1982[43] 13[43]
    12 12 January 1983[44] 30 March 1983[45] 11[45]
    13 29 December 1983[46] 8 May 1984[47] 14[47]
    14 31 December 1984[48] 11 April 1985[49] 15[49]
    15 5 December 1985[50] 1 May 1986[51] 20[51]
    16 11 December 1986[52] 14 May 1987[53] 21[53]
    17 3 December 1987[54] 26 April 1988[55] 21[55]
    18 25 October 1988[56] 11 April 1989[57] 24[57]
    19 24 October 1989[58] 1 May 1990[59] 26[59]
    20 23 October 1990[60] 23 April 1991[61] 26[61]
    21 15 October 1991[62] 21 April 1992[63] 26[63]
    22 27 October 1992[64] 20 April 1993[65] 26[65]
    23 19 October 1993[66] 30 May 1994[67] 28[67]
    24 11 October 1994[68] 2 May 1995[69] 26[69]
    25 20 October 1995[70] 3 May 1996[71] 27[71]
    26 1 October 1996 30 May 1997 29
    27 7 October 1997 1 May 1998 26
    28 4 November 1998 21 June 1999 27
    29 6 September 1999 2 July 2000 30
    30 16 October 2000 21 May 2001 32
    31 5 September 2001 24 July 2002 29
    32 18 October 2002 15 August 2003 31
    33 3 October 2003 13 August 2004 42
    34 17 September 2004 15 July 2005 41
    35 10 September 2005 8 September 2006 42
    36 15 September 2006 18 May 2007 34
    37 15 September 2007 11 June 2008 36
    38 5 September 2008 12 June 2009 42
    39 2 October 2009 27 August 2010 35
    40 29 November 2010 1 August 2011 36
    41 8 August 2011 20 August 2012 35
    42 1 September 2012 31 July 2013 36
    43 21 October 2013 13 August 2014 30
    44 20 August 2014 15 July 2015 31
    45 12 August 2015 5 August 2016 36
    46 24 August 2016 31 May 2017 36
    47 16 August 2017 23 May 2018 35
    48 18 July 2018 12 April 2019 36
    49 21 June 2019 29 May 2020 36
    50 5 June 2020 28 May 2021 36
    51 3 September 2021 24 June 2022 35
    52 22 July 2022 8 September 2023 36

    Spin-offs

    The A Question of Sport format has been applied to various other areas of knowledge. The following spin-off series were all made by the BBC:

    Series Start date End date Episodes
    1 19 April 1971 24 May 1971 6
    Series Start date End date Episodes
    1 24 April 1988 28 August 1988 18
    • A Question of Pop, presented by
      Suggs
      were the team captains.
    Series Start date End date Episodes
    3 January 2000[72] 1
    1 8 April 2000 3 June 2000 9
    28 December 2000[73] 1
    2 28 April 2001 28 July 2001 12
    Series Start date End date Episodes
    1 5 July 2001 29 August 2001 8

    Roslin also hosted a one-off special,

    Comic Relief 2007, but after a scandal involving contestant Jade Goody it was replaced with a special edition of Top Gear titled Top Gear of the Pops
    .

    A Question of Spit was a short segment aired in 1988 as part of the inaugural

    Red Nose Day telethon, featuring Daley Thompson, Barry McGuigan and Mike Gatting forming a team, with their opponents being their own Spitting Image puppets, captained by an Emlyn Hughes puppet. The quiz was hosted by the Spitting Image puppet of David Coleman, with the real Coleman and the puppet Steve Davis
    also making an appearance.

    On 21 March 2012, One Media Radio's Final Whistle produced a one-off end-of-year special titled Final Quizzle: Final Whistle does A Question of Sport. Presented by Barry Landy, the show featured two teams consisting of Stuart Hodge, Rory Wilde, Phil Peacock, Steve Sanders, Ben Mouncer and Lewis Davies and included rounds such as 'Tiger's Eighteen Holes' and 'Whelan or Fortune'.

    In November 2012, One Media Radio's Head of Sport Edmund Doc Crosthwaite confirmed that Final Quizzle would return for a one-off Christmas special on 12 December 2012.

    A Question of Sport Relief is a special version of the show usually presented by a guest presenter on Sport Relief night since 2002. The 2002, 2004 and 2006 versions were hosted by Stephen Fry. 2008's version was hosted by Jimmy Carr after Fry had to withdraw, having broken his arm.

    BBC One Scotland aired a one-off A Question of Scotland as part of Children in Need 2008, with Jackie Bird as quizmaster.

    The

    Dick and Dom in da Bungalow
     made a parody called A Question of Muck as part of the 'creamy muck muck' grand finale game.

    The CBBC programme

    The Saturday Show did a segment called A Question of Busted. Featuring the band Busted answering questions about themselves, it was presented by Fearne Cotton
    who in each segment was dressed as Sue Barker.

    In popular culture

    The What Happened Next? round was spoofed in an episode of A Bit of Fry & Laurie as David Coleman (Fry) asks Emlyn Hughes (Laurie) to guess what happened after the action stopped in the previous sketch. The host's refusal to confirm whether the given answer is correct then leads into another round of the game, with the question of what happened following the original What Happened Next? sketch.

    The show was one of many British TV shows reinterpreted by Chanel 9, a recurring sketch on The Fast Show, where it was titled Questo Sporta and featured the mystery guest round.

    References

    1. ^ "A Question of Sport".
    2. Daily Telegraph
      . Retrieved 18 January 2024.
    3. ^ "A Question of Sport". History of the BBC. BBC. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
    4. ^ "Question of Sport stops production, BBC confirms". BBC. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
    5. ^ "BBC One – Question of Sport – Episode guide". BBC.
    6. ^ "Profile: Stuart Hall". BBC News. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    7. ^ a b "The history of the show". BBC Sport. 23 November 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    8. BBC Genome
      . 14 March 1989. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    9. ^ "A Question of Sport: 21 March 1989". BBC Genome. 21 March 1989. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    10. ^ "A Question of Sport: 28 March 1989". BBC Genome. 28 March 1989. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    11. ^ "A Question of Sport: 4 April 1989". BBC Genome. 4 April 1989. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    12. ^ "A Question of Sport: 11 April 1989". BBC Genome. 11 April 1989. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    13. ^ "BBC One – Question of Sport – Sue Barker". BBC.
    14. ^ "Sue Barker Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell leaving BBC's A Question of Sport". BBC News. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    15. ^ a b "Paddy McGuinness replaces Sue Barker as A Question of Sport host". BBC News. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    16. ^ "BBC – Press Office – Frankie Dettori joins A Question of Sport". BBC. 26 June 2002. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    17. ^ a b Pye, Steven (7 October 2013). "A Question of Sport in the 1980s". The Guardian.
    18. ^ a b Billen, Andrew (4 March 2013). "One thousand not out for A Question of Sport". The Times.
    19. ^ "Remember When: A Question of Sport celebrates 45 years". 2 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
    20. ^ "Fifty years of A Question of Sport: Sue's top 10 moments". BBC Bitesize.
    21. Irish Daily Mirror. Reach plc
      . Retrieved 18 January 2024.
    22. The Radio Times
      . 28 May 1970. p. 23.
    23. ^ a b "A Question of Sport World Cup Edition". The Radio Times. 28 May 1970. p. 23. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
    24. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 11 January 1971". BBC Genome Project. 11 January 1971. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    25. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 5 April 1971". BBC Genome Project. 5 April 1971. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    26. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 20 March 1972". BBC Genome Project. 20 March 1972. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    27. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 19 June 1972". BBC Genome Project. 19 June 1972. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    28. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 8 January 1974". BBC Genome Project. 8 January 1974. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    29. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 2 April 1974". BBC Genome Project. 2 April 1974. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    30. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 10 July 1975". BBC Genome Project. 10 July 1975. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    31. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 28 August 1975". BBC Genome Project. 28 August 1975. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    32. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 3 May 1976". BBC Genome Project. 3 May 1976. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    33. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 12 July 1976". BBC Genome Project. 12 July 1976. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    34. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 18 April 1977". BBC Genome Project. 18 April 1977. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    35. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 30 May 1977". BBC Genome Project. 13 June 1977. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    36. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 8 January 1979". BBC Genome Project. 8 January 1979. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    37. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 2 April 1979". BBC Genome Project. 2 April 1979. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    38. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 7 January 1980". BBC Genome Project. 7 January 1980. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    39. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 18 March 1980". BBC Genome Project. 31 March 1980. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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    41. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 22 May 1981". BBC Genome Project. 22 May 1981. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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    46. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 29 December 1983". BBC Genome Project. 29 December 1983. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    47. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 8 May 1984". BBC Genome Project. 8 May 1984. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    48. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 31 December 1984". BBC Genome Project. 31 December 1984. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    49. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 11 April 1985". BBC Genome Project. 11 April 1985. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    50. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 5 December 1985". BBC Genome Project. 5 December 1985. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    51. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 1 May 1986". BBC Genome Project. May 1986. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    52. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 11 December 1986". BBC Genome Project. 11 December 1986. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    53. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 14 May 1987". BBC Genome Project. 14 May 1987. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    54. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 3 December 1987". BBC Genome Project. 3 December 1987. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    55. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 26 April 1988". BBC Genome Project. 26 April 1988. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    56. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 25 October 1988". BBC Genome Project. 25 October 1988. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    57. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 11 April 1989". BBC Genome Project. 11 April 1989. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    58. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 24 October 1989". BBC Genome Project. 24 October 1989. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    59. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 1 May 1990". BBC Genome Project. May 1990. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    60. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 23 October 1990". BBC Genome Project. 23 October 1990. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    61. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 23 April 1991". BBC Genome Project. 23 April 1991. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    62. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 15 October 1991". BBC Genome Project. 15 October 1991. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    63. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 21 April 1992". BBC Genome Project. 21 April 1992. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    64. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 27 October 1992". BBC Genome Project. 27 October 1992. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    65. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 20 April 1993". BBC Genome Project. 20 April 1993. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    66. ^ "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 19 October 1993". BBC Genome Project. 19 October 1993. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
    67. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 30 May 1994". BBC Genome Project. 30 May 1994. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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    69. ^ a b "A Question of Sport – BBC One London – 2 May 1995". BBC Genome Project. 2 May 1995. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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    72. ^ "A Question of Pop". 30 December 1999. p. 90 – via BBC Genome.
    73. ^ "A Question of Pop". 21 December 2000. p. 118 – via BBC Genome.

    External links

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