Producer Barney Colehan stepped aside after ten years with It's A Knockout and Jeux Sans Frontières, his position taken by Cecil Korer. The tenth anniversary of the British domestic series was marked by a special feature in Radio Times magazine and original series personnel Charlie Chester and McDonald Hobley made a special appearance in the opening heat. New costume characters introduced into the Domestic series this year were the Tweedles and the Giants. In a new development, winning teams from the It's A Knockout heats competed for the Knockout Trophy in a special event, It's A Championship Knockout.

It's A Knockout 1976
including FA Cup Final Knockout,
It's A Celebrity Knockout and It's A Championship Knockout

Presenters: Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring / Referee: Arthur Ellis
International Referee (Championship Knockout only): Gennaro Olivieri

Scoregirls: Dinah May, Leena Skoog, Hazel Lyons and Marie Worth

Games Arranger: Paul Trerise
Designer: Paul Montague / Designer (Celebrity Knockout only): Mel Bibby
Producer: Cecil Korer / Director: Geoffrey Wilson
A BBC North West Production

1976-01

It's A Cup Final Knockout 1976

FA Cup Final Special

BBC1 Transmission: Saturday 1st May 1976, 12.20-1.05pm
(Shown as part of Cup Final Grandstand)

Recorded: Sunday 25th April 1976

Venue: Princess Mary Playing Fields, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

Teams: Manchester United F.C. Supporters' Club v. Southampton F.C. Supporters' Club

Team Members included:
Past and present players and celebrity supporters of both teams including Tony Blackburn, Lesley Judd, Peter Purves, Dave Lee Travis, Marilyn Ward, Noel Cantwell, Nobby Stiles, Hugh Fisher, Paul Bennett and Pat Earl

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Manchester United F.C. Supporters' Club
 Southampton F.C. Supporters' Club

11
7

Did You Know? This special Cup Final edition of It's A Knockout was recorded in tandem with the Cleckheaton domestic heat (1976 Heat 4) at the same venue.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-02

It's A Knockout 1976

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 21st May 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 4th April 1976

Venue: Promenade, Morecambe, Lancashire
Special Guests: Charlie Chester and McDonald Hobley

Teams: Morecambe v. Blackpool v. Liverpool

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Blackpool
 Morecambe
 Liverpool

21
20
16

Blackpool qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in France: transmitted on 11th August 1976

Did You Know? Original It's A Knockout presenters McDonald Hobley and Charlie Chester returned for this programme in a special one-off appearance to mark the tenth anniversary of the series. The first two teams to appear in the series, Blackpool and Morecambe, were chosen to compete (along with Liverpool) in this celebratory edition.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-03

It's A Knockout 1976

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 28th May 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 11th April 1976

Venue: Hanley Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Teams: Stoke-on-Trent v. Birmingham v. Tamworth

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Tamworth
 Birmingham
 Stoke-on-Trent

21
20
18

Tamworth qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Italy: transmitted on 18th August 1976

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-04

It's A Knockout 1976

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 4th June 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 18th April 1976

Venue: Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire

Teams: Winchcombe v. Cirencester v. Newbury

Team Members included:
Newbury - Sue Grantham

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
2nd

 Newbury
 Cirencester
 Winchcombe

23
18
18

Newbury qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Switzerland: transmitted on 25th August 1976

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-05

It's A Knockout 1976

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 11th June 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 25th April 1976

Venue: Princess Mary Playing Fields, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

Teams: Kirklees v. Leeds v. Doncaster

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Kirklees
 Leeds
 Doncaster

25
24
13

Kirklees qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Great Britain: transmitted on 1st September 1976

Did You Know? Kirklees was created under the Local Government Act of 1972, and includes the towns of Cleckheaton, Dewsbury, Holmfirth and Huddersfield.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-06

It's A Knockout 1976

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 18th June 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 9th May 1976

Venue: Harlow Sports Centre, Harlow, Essex

Teams: Harlow v. Lee Valley Park v. Thurrock

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
2nd

 Thurrock
 Harlow
 Lee Valley Park

23
19
19

Thurrock qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Belgium: transmitted on 10th September 1976

Did You Know? Lee Valley (Regional) Park is a 26 mile (42 km) long area, running through the North East of London from the River Thames to Ware in Hertfordshire, through areas such as Hackney, Camden, Tottenham, Enfield, Cheshunt, Broxbourne and Hoddesdon. Thurrock, meanwhile, was created under the Local Government Act of 1972, and includes the towns of Gray’s Thurrock and Tilbury.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-07

It's A Knockout 1976

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 25th June 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 16th May 1976

Venue: Seafront Boating Lake, Redcar, Cleveland

Teams: Redcar v. Carlisle v. Durham

Team Members included:
Redcar - Ann Miller and Alex Vickers

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Redcar
 Durham
 Carlisle

25
19
15

Redcar qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in West Germany: transmitted on 17th September 1976

Did You Know? The opening shots of this heat show presenter Stuart Hall wearing a waterproof suit aboard a small craft on the boating lake, and as he is introducing the programme buckets of water are continuously thrown at him to give the illusion of being at sea in rough weather!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-08

It's A Knockout 1976

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 2nd July 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 23rd May 1976

Venue: King William's College, Stirling, Central Scotland

Teams: Stirling v. Edinburgh v. Linlithgow

Team Members included:
Edinburgh - Charlie Jackson

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Edinburgh
 Linlithgow
 Stirling

22
19
18

Edinburgh qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Netherlands: transmitted on 24th September 1976

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-09

It's A Celebrity Knockout 1976

Summer Special

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 9th July 1976, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 4th July 1976

Venue: Crystal Palace F.C. Football Ground (Selhurst Park),
South Norwood, Greater London
The Lord's Taverners Knockout Trophy presented by: Esther Rantzen

Teams: The Lord's Taverners v. Celebrities

Team Members included: Judith Chalmers, James Ellis, Sheila Steafel, John Blythe, Anita Harris, Robin Askwith, Ann Moore, Ed Stewart, Jan Hunt, Neil Durden-Smith, Linda Cunningham, Richard Stilgoe, Meriel Tufnell, Bob Grant, Jenny Hanley, George Layton, Sarah Bullen, Mick McManus, Ian Carmichael, Bob Wilson, Michael Aspel, Shaw Taylor, Raymond Baxter, Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Bernard Cribbins, McDonald Hobley, Frazer Hines, Robin Nedwell, Richard O’Sullivan, Peter Glaze, Richard Meade, James Villiers, Cardew Robinson, William Rushton, Chris Ralston

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd

 The Lord's Taverners
 Celebrities

17
13

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-10

It's A Championship Knockout 1976

Summer Special

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 4th August 1976, 7.15-8.30pm
Recording Date: Sunday 27th June 1976

Venue: Arena North, Park Hall, Charnock Richard, Lancashire
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Warm

Radio Times Trophy presented by: John Inman

Teams: Blackpool v. Edinburgh v. Kirklees v. Newbury v. Redcar v. Tamworth v. Thurrock

Team Members included:
Edinburgh - Charlie Jackson;
Newbury - Sue Grantham;
Redcar - Ann Miller and Alex Vickers

Games: ‘Over the Nets’, ‘Over the Hurdles’, ‘Balloons over Pool’, ‘Tweedles', ‘Dropping Sails’, ‘Under the Mats’, ‘Balancing on Trolley’, ‘Collecting Eggs’ (Marathon) and ‘Giants’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
5th
6th
7th

 Blackpool
 Edinburgh
 Tamworth
 Thurrock
 Kirklees
 Newbury
 Redcar

41
40
38
38
31
29
26

Did You Know? Previously awarded to the team scoring the highest number of points in the domestic heats, the Knockout Trophy is, from here on, awarded to the winner of a massive head-to-head between all the winners from the year's domestic heats.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Entrants 1976: Belgium (B) • France (F) • West Germany (D) • Great Britain (GB)
Netherlands (NL) • Italy (I) • Switzerland (CH) 

Presenters of International Heats:
Paule Herreman and Mike Verdrengh (B), Guy Lux and Simone Garnier (F), Erhard Keller and Manfred Erdenberger (D), Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring (GB), Dick Passchier and Barend Barendse (NL), Giulio Marchetti and Rosanna Vaudetti (I), Ezio Guidi and Georges Kleinmann (CH)

Commentators (BBC): Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring
International Referees: Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi
Referees (BBC): Arthur Ellis (Heats 1, 4 and Final) and Mike Swann (Heat 2 onwards)

Games Arranger (BBC): Paul Trerise / Designer (BBC): Paul Montague
Producer (BBC): Cecil Korer / Director: Geoffrey Wilson
Produced by RTB-BRT (B), A2 (F), ARD-WDR (D), 
BBC North West (GB), NCRV (NL), RAI (I), SSR (CH)

 

Key: International Heats  l = Qualified for International Final / l = Heat Winner (Silver Trophy) International Final l = Gold Trophy   l = Silver Trophy   l = Bronze Trophy

1976-11

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 11th August 1976, 7.15-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 2nd June 1976

Venue: Romain Amphithéâtre (Roman Amphitheatre), Nîmes, France
Weather Conditions: Warm, Dry and Windy
Winners' Trophy presented by: Simone Garnier

Theme: Ancient Circus Games

Teams: Blankenberge (B) v. Nîmes (F) v. Trostberg (D) v. Blackpool (GB) v. Pijnacker (NL) v. Jésolo (I) v. Huttwil (CH)

Team Members included:
Jésolo (I) - Daniela Alzani, Paolo Bastianutto, Antonella Bedei, Roberto Cedrelli, Patrizia Cicola, Giorgio Crema (Vice Team Captain), Mauro Finotto, Wilma Fontana, Egle Maran, Gianni Marchesin, Rodolfo Marigonda, Mauro Pasquali, Manfredo Oliveti, Erminio Pieretto, Paulo Scagnetto (Team Captain), Pierantonio Turchetto

Games: ‘The Javelin Throwers’, ‘The House in Nîmes’, ‘The Gladiators’, ‘Into the Lions' Den’, ‘Return to Egypt’, ‘Hannibal’s Elephants’, ‘Releasing the Tigers’, ‘The Obelisks’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘The Chariot Race’
Jokers: Roman Standards

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
2nd
2nd
5th
6th
7th

 I • Jésolo l l
 CH • Huttwil
 D • Trostberg
 NL • Pijnacker
 F • Nîmes
 GB • Blackpool
 B • Blankenberge

41
40
40
40
37
34
26

Did You Know? At the beginning of the programme, presenter Guy Lux reminded the audience (both in the arena and at home) that France were very proud to be the reigning Jeux Sans Frontières champions, after French team Nancy’s walkover victory in 1975.

Did You Also Know? The opening game - ‘The Javelin Throwers’ - involved two members from each team throwing javelins at four small blocks above a columned terrace. When the blocks were hit, letters dropped down and when completed, spelled out JEUX SANS FRONTIÈRES 1976 - a total of 22 letters. To allow for the six teams to hit four blocks each, an asterisk * was placed before and after the word FRONTIÈRES. Just for the record, Belgium had to hit ‘JEUX’, the Netherlands had ‘SANS’, West Germany had ‘*FRO’, France had ‘NTIÈ’, Switzerland had ‘RES*’ and Italy had ‘1976’.

Did You Also Know? Due to excessive high winds and equipment malfunction, Game 3 had to be abandoned after the first heat of three. A replacement game - ‘Discus Throw’ - was added and took place after the scheduled final game. Dutch team, Pijnacker, who were meant to miss Game 3 were not permitted to compete in the additional game for this reason. After the scheduled final game, they were leading by two points, and had to watch from the sidelines as the Italians scored just three points to snatch the victory from them.

Did You Also Know? On Game 7 - ‘Releasing the Tigers’ - four teams played their Jokers and ALL won, each scoring 12 points. On announcing the results/scores, referee Gennaro Olivieri stated that it was “truly extraordinary for Jeux Sans Frontières that four teams play their Jokers on the same game and all get 12 pts. This is a first for Jeux Sans Frontières”. Fortunately, one of those was the British team of Blackpool!

Did You Also Know? Italian team-mates Giorgio Crema and Paolo Scagnetto had previously participated as members of the Jésolo team in 1971.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-12

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 18th August 1976, 7.15-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 16th June 1976

Venue: Palazzo del Sport (Palace of Sport), San Siro, Milano, Italy
Weather Conditions: Not applicable as this heat was held indoors

Theme: The Animal Olympiad

Teams: Schaerbeek (B) v. Toulon (F) v. Lippstadt (D) v. Tamworth (GB) v. Weert (NL) v. Bollate (I) v. Roche (CH)

Team Members included:
Bollate (I) - Gianluca Azario, Pietro Bassi, Fabio Bolognesi, Claudio Brazzarola, Patrizio Donati, Cosetta Galletti, Orianna Girardi delle Nave, Marco Strada, Maria Grazia Piccirillo, Maria Grazia Taveggia, Milena Volpi

Games: ‘Chickens’, ‘Butterflies’, ‘Rams’, ‘Octopuses’, ‘Walruses’, ‘Chimpanzees’, ‘Storks’, ‘Kangaroos’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Tortoises’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
2nd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 CH • Roche l
 D • Lippstadt
 NL • Weert
 B • Schaerbeek
 F • Toulon
 I • Bollate
 GB • Tamworth

37
36
36
34
33
31
29

Did You Know? The Swiss team of Roche, a town with a population of just 800 people, is the smallest town ever to win a Jeux Sans Frontières heat. At this point, this was also the only indoor JSF heat ever.

Did You Also Know? With games designed by Popi Perani, this was one of the most spectacular heats in the history of Jeux Sans Frontières. With fantastically lifelike costumes, games featured rams, octopuses, tortoises and a Fil Rouge involving catching kangaroos. The most memorable game of the heat was that featuring giant chimpanzees in a boxing match. Of course, British commentator Stuart Hall could not contain himself, and was in hysterics.

Did You Also Know? This heat was the closest ever finish between all seven teams in the history of Jeux Sans Frontières. With only eight points separating all the teams, the Swiss team from Roche scored the lowest ever points win (37) in this current formula, and hold the record for winning with the lowest percentage of available points - 66% (37 out of a possible 56).

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-13

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 25th August 1976, 7.15-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 23rd June 1976

Venue: Riva del Lago Lugano (Shores of Lake Lugano), Caslano Malcantone, Switzerland
Weather Conditions: Warm and Dry

Theme: Holidays

Teams: Wezembeek-Oppem (B) v. Arbois (F) v. Birkenfeld (D) v. Newbury (GB) v. Zutphen (NL) v. Amalfi (I) v. Caslano Malcantone (CH)

Team Members included:
Newbury (GB) - Sue Grantham

Games: ‘Waiters’, ‘Golfing Moles’, ‘Caravan and Stew’, ‘Harpooning Fish’, ‘Cycling’, ‘Cow over Carpet’, ‘Ice-Cream’, ‘Holiday on the Island’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Skiing’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 GB • Newbury l l
 CH • Caslano Malcantone
 F • Arbois l
 I • Amalfi
 D • Birkenfeld
 B • Wezembeek-Oppem
 NL • Zutphen

46
43
36
33
32
31
24

Did You Know? This heat was a battle-royal between Newbury and Caslano Malcantone. The Swiss team won four of the eight games they competed in, whilst Newbury only managed to win one - their Joker game featuring 18-year old Sue Grantham, who really was the heroine of the night. In addition to winning their Joker game, Newbury registered five 2nd places, a 4th and a 3rd place in the final game. It is one of the best placings records in the programme’s history.

Did You Also Know? Game 3 involved two members in a caravan, which contained a huge cooking pot. The idea of the game was to add a list of ingredients to the pot to make a stew. The only problem was that the caravan was severely rocked up and down from end to end by opposing team members. This game was the most hilarious of the night and the teams really struggled to keep their footholds. However, Italian team Amalfi were confident enough to play their Joker on this game and got 12 points. That’s what you call confidence! Incidentally, if you are wondering how the game could be seen from the outside - Swiss TV had purchased a real caravan and literally cut one of the sides completely off and mounted the wheels on to a podium!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-14

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 1st September 1976, 7.15-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 14th July 1976

Venue: Roundhay Park, Leeds, Great Britain
Weather Conditions: Very Warm and Dry
Winners' Trophy presented by: Lord Mayor of Leeds

Theme: Farm Animals

Teams: Tournai (B) v. Villefranche-sur-Saône (F) v. Traunstein (D) v. Kirklees (GB) v. Oldekerk (NL) v. Riva Del Garda (I) v. Füllinsdorf (CH)

Games: ‘Tomatoes’, ‘Turkeys and Eggs’, ‘Milking the Cows’, ‘Finding the Eggs’, ‘Sheep-Dipping’, ‘Donkeys’, ‘Caterpillars’, ‘Horses Obstacle Race’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Sheepdogs and Sheep’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 GB • Kirklees l
 D • Traunstein
 NL • Oldekerk
 CH • Füllinsdorf
 F  • Villefranche-sur-Saône
 B • Tournai
 I • Riva Del Garda

45
41
38
32
25
24
23

Did You Know? Kirklees had 40 points before the final game, and needed to finish 1st or 2nd on the game to qualify for the International Final, but could only manage 3rd place. However, on the night they did win three games.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-15

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 10th September 1976, 7.10-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 11th August 1976

Venue: Liège, Belgium
Weather Conditions: Very Warm and Windy

Theme: Bicycles

Teams: Liège (B) v. Agen (F) v. Bad Füssing (D) v. Thurrock (GB) v. Hilvarenbeek (NL) v. Perugia (I) v. La Neuveville (CH)

Games: ‘Sticky Slopes’, ‘Wheels’, ‘Collecting Water’, ‘Slow Cycle Race’, ‘Pushing the Car’,
‘Uni-Cycles’, ‘Pursuit’, ‘Presents Over Pool’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Maze’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 CH • La Neuveville l l
 NL • Hilvarenbeek l
 B • Liège
 D • Bad Füssing
 F • Agen
 GB • Thurrock
 I • Perugia

45
40
36
33
31
30
22

Did You Know? Netherlands teams Pijnacker (Heat 1) and Hilvarenbeek (Heat 6) had both achieved a 2nd place with 40 pts each. Under the rules of Jeux Sans Frontières, the qualifying team for the International Final (if placing and scores were equal) would be decided on the number of 1st placings on games. However, both teams had scored three 1st placings, and also one 2nd placing each. The leading team had to be decided on the number of 3rd placings on games. Pijnacker had one whilst Hilvarenbeek had two. This was the first time that the International Final competitor had been decided in this way, although an almost similar happening occurred previously in 1975 with the Dutch teams (see Did You Know? footnote for International Heat 6, 1975)!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-16

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 17th September 1976, 7.10-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 25th August 1976

Venue: Innerer Schloßhof (Inner Castle Courtyard), Deutschordenschloß (German Torture Castle), Bad Mergentheim, West Germany
Weather Conditions: Very Warm and Dry

Theme: The Nine Ages of Man

Teams: Geel (B) v. Douai (F) v. Alsfeld (D) v. Redcar (GB) v. Valkenisse (Walcheren) (NL) v. Milazzo (Sicilia) (I) v. Brissago (CH)

Team Members included:
Redcar (GB) - Ann Miller and Alex Vickers

Games: ’Baby and Pram’, ‘Playtime on Scooters’, ‘School-time’, ‘First Loves’, ‘Marriage Ceremony’, ‘Furnishing the Home’, ‘The Family Day Out’, ‘Housewarming Party’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘A New Husband’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 B • Geel l l
 D • Alsfeld
 GB • Redcar
 CH • Brissago
 F • Douai
 I • Milazzo (Sicilia)
 NL • Valkenisse (Walcheren)

46
45
34
31
29
25
24

Did You Know? This heat featured the hilarious Russian dolls game on which four teams chanced their Jokers. With four team members handcuffed together and going head to head with two other teams through an obstacle course, it was pure Jeux Sans Frontières. British commentator Stuart Hall, was once again in hysterics and could hardly speak. However, British team Redcar, pulled off the biggest surprise of the night by winning this game, forcing the four played Jokers to score only 10, 8, 6 and 2. This result certainly helped Redcar's overall score.

Did You Also Know? Before the last game, Belgian team, Geel and West German team, Alsfeld were level on 39 points each. The final game involved a girl member having to find a new ‘husband’. The West German girl started off quite well, but the small Belgian girl made up ground and it came down to a very, very close finish. The West German crowd had believed that Alsfeld had clearly won, and were cheering and singing. However, when Gennaro Olivieri came to deliver the results with the immortal words "Die Plätze - Erste ist Belgian" ("The Placings - First is Belgium"), the West German crowd fell silent and then booed very loudly, whilst the small Belgian contingency in the crowd celebrated. Incidentally, this was the first Belgian win since Ieper in 1973.

Did You Also Know? The team from host town Bad Mergentheim were beaten by Alsfeld in the West German Domestic series Telematch and failed to earn the right to participate in its own home heat!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-17

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 24th September 1976, 7.10-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 8th September 1976

Venue: Stadspark (City Park), Groningen, Netherlands
Weather Conditions: Warm and Humid

Theme: Customs and Excise

Teams: Aalter (B) v. Saint-Gaudens (F) v. Ettlingen (D) v. Edinburgh (GB) v. Groningen (NL) v. Silvi Marina (I) v. Liechtenstein (FL)

Team Members included:
Edinburgh (GB) - Charlie Jackson

Games: ‘Visas’, ‘Money and Gold’, ‘Butter’, ‘Water in Hats’, ‘Diamonds’, ‘Cigarettes’, ‘Fierljeppen (Dyke Jumping)’, ‘Baggage Reclaim’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Custom Officers’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 D • Ettlingen l l
 GB • Edinburgh
 NL • Groningen
 FL • Liechtenstein
 F • Saint-Gaudens
 B • Aalter
 I • Silvi Marina

42
37
36
34
32
28
21

Did You Know? With no television broadcasting station of its own (TV transmissions were from Swiss television channels), a team from the principality of Liechtenstein was granted entry into Jeux Sans Frontières to represent itself and its neighbours, Switzerland. It was also permitted to use its own national registration letters of FL.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1976-18

Jeux Sans Frontières 1976

International Final

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 1st October 1976, 7.05-8.30pm
Recorded: Wednesday 22nd September 1976, 9.00pm

Venue: South Shore Swimming Pool, Blackpool, Great Britain
Weather Conditions: Very Warm and Dry

Theme: Fairy Tales and Legends

Teams: Geel (B) v. Arbois (F) v. Ettlingen (D) v. Newbury (GB) v. Hilvarenbeek (NL) v. Jésolo (I) v. La Neuveville (CH)

Team Members included:
Newbury (GB) - Sue Grantham
Jésolo (I) - Daniela Alzani, Paolo Bastianutto, Antonella Bedei, Roberto Cedrelli, Patrizia Cicola, Giorgio Crema (Vice Team Captain), Mauro Finotto, Wilma Fontana, Egle Maran, Gianni Marchesin, Rodolfo Marigonda, Mauro Pasquali, Manfredo Oliveti, Erminio Pieretto, Paulo Scagnetto (Team Captain), Pierantonio Turchetto

Games: ‘Giants’, ‘Toadstools’, ‘Magic Beans’, ‘Golden Eggs’, ‘Chopping the Beanstalk’, ‘Stealing the Treasure’, ‘Big Acorns’, ‘Flying Doves’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Rescuing the Damsels’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 D • Ettlingen l
 CH • La Neuveville l
 B • Geel l
 F • Arbois
 GB • Newbury
 NL • Hilvarenbeek
 I • Jésolo

52
41
40
33
27
21
18

Did You Know? Ironically, just as the Swiss team, Roche, scored the lowest ever points win (37) in this current formula, the West German team of Ettlingen scored the highest ever points win (52) and holds the record for winning with the second highest percentage of available points – 92.85% (52 out of a possible 56). (See also Newbury (GB) 1976, Keskemét (H) 1993, Brno (CZ) 1995, Faro (P) 1995, Felgueiras (P) 1995 & Gyöngös (H) 1997).

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

It's A Christmas Knockout 1976

Commentators: Stuart Hall (GB), Paule Herreman & Mike Verdrengh (B),
Dick Passchier & Barend Barendse (NL), Rosanna Vaudetti (I)
 

Referees: Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi
British Referee: Mike Swann

Producer: Cecil Korer
Produced by RAI (I), BBC North West (GB), RTB-BRT (B), NCRV (NL)

1976-19

It's A Christmas Knockout 1976

Christmas Special

BBC1 Transmission: Christmas Sunday 26th December 1976, 4.35-5.35pm
Recorded: Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th December 1976

Venue: Rink Olimpico del Ghiaccio (Olympic Ice Rink), Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy
Weather Conditions: Not applicable as this event was played indoors

Theme: Festive Fun

Teams: Leeds (GB) v. Waterloo (B) v. The Dutch ‘All Stars’ (NL) v. Cortina D’Ampezzo (I)

Games: ‘Cards into Sacks’, ‘Presents Under Tree’, ‘Snowmen’, ‘Polar Bears’, ‘Collecting Icicles’, ‘Fathers Christmas’, ‘Musical Chairs’ and ‘Christmas Dinner Party’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

 B • Waterloo
 I • Cortina D'Ampezzo
 NL • The Dutch 'All Stars'
 GB • Leeds

29
25
16
13

Did You Know? The famous clip where Stuart Hall falls over with the giant polar bear (which was re-shown in many of the ‘highlights’ programmes), is taken from Game 4 of this heat.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

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