Business as usual for It's A Knockout and Jeux Sans Frontières, but a year that British teams in Europe might want to forget. The year's programmes included the last Cup Final Knockout and a Christmas special from Scotland, pitting the local team, Aviemore, against teams from Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Netherlands left the series at the end of 1977 because their JSF broadcasts were recorded for later transmission - and many Dutch viewers were watching JSF live from the Belgian stations BRT (Flemish) or RTBF (French). They were replaced in 1978 by Yugoslavia.

In addition to the now-traditional international competition of Jeux Sans Frontières, three countries got together to host the first series of Interneige, a version of JSF staged in the snows of winter. Three towns each from Switzerland, Italy and France competed for the Winter JSF Trophy. Competitors were generally sourced from specialist ski resorts and clubs.  

It's A Knockout 1977
including FA Cup Final Knockout,
It's A Celebrity Knockout and It's A Championship Knockout

Presenters: Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring
Referees: Arthur Ellis, Mike Swann (not Cup Final or Celebrity Knockouts)
International Referee (Championship Knockout only): Gennaro Olivieri

Games Arranger: Paul Trerise / Designer: Mel Bibby
Producer: Cecil Korer / Director: Geoffrey Wilson
A BBC North West Production

1977-05

It's A Knockout 1977

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 22nd April 1977, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 10th April 1977

Venue: Wellesley Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Weather Conditions: Sunny

Teams: Beverley v. Calderdale v. Wakefield

Team Members included:
Beverley - Debra Windass

Games included: 'Musical Giants'

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Beverley
 Wakefield
 Calderdale

28
25
22

Beverley qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Italy: transmitted on 7th September 1977

Did You Know? Beverley team member Debra Windass later returned to It's A Knockout in 1978 and 1979 as a regular scoregirl, made an appearance as a mermaid mascot for the Bridlington and North Wolds team in the 1980 series, and returned to the role of scoregirl once again for Heat 2 of the 1981 series!

Did You Also Know? Calderdale was created under the Local Government Act of 1972, and includes the towns of Brighouse, Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-06

It's A Knockout 1977

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 29th April 1977, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 17th April 1977

Venue: Alexandra Park, Oldham, Greater Manchester
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Very Warm

Teams: Oldham v. Wigan v. Wirral

Team Members included:
Oldham (Full Squad)- Stephen Andrews (24), Johnathon Boyce (20), Michael Cannon (32), Frank Collinson (26), Steve Kenney (23), Alex Kerrigan (26), Mark McLoughlin (21), Michael Maloney (24), Tony Edwards (36), Don Errock (19), Eric Fitzsimmons (26), Ian Hamilton (20), Warren Hilton (23), Barry Gordon (27), Sid Jolley (27), Nicholas Marrington (19), Tony Nanyn (21), Brian Parkinson (25), Bob Tait (32), Sheila Antrobus (25), Lynne Bowden (21), Carol Driver (19), Nadia Duda (19), Karen Halliwell (17), Ruth Lawson (20), Fiona Nicholl (21), Christine Silk (22), Alison Turner (22), Jane Welton (21), Derek Smallwood (Team Manager), Dorothy Emerson (Ladies' Team Manager), Tom Hill (Assistant Team Coach), Diane Cook (Assistant Team Coach);
Wigan (Full Team) - John O'Brien, Michael Pilling, Fred Hazeldean, Anthony Moffatt, Ian Boardman, Kevin Sutch, Donald Jenkinson, Michael Sweeney, Billy Higgins, Terry Rimmer, Alan Perry, David Blake, Gillian Mather, Janet Swift, Valerie Rimmer, Mary Martin, Jacqueline Talbot, Kathryn Millar, Pauline Bristow, Diane Greeves, Brian Wallwork;
Wirral - John Oxton (Team Captain)

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Oldham
 Wirral
 Wigan

28
22
21

Oldham qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in France: transmitted on 21st September 1977

Did You Know? Wirral was created under the Local Government Act of 1972, and includes the towns of Birkenhead, Hoylake, Port Sunlight and Wallasey.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-07

It's A Knockout 1977

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 6th May 1977, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 24th April 1977

Venue: Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Weather Conditions: Sunny

Teams: Mansfield v. Macclesfield v. Wirksworth

Games included: 'Tweedles' Obstacle Race'

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Macclesfield
 Mansfield
 Wirksworth

31
26
17

Macclesfield qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Switzerland: transmitted on 28th September 1977

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-08

It's A Knockout 1977

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 13th May 1977, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 1st May 1977

Venue: Pembroke Castle, Pembroke, Dyfed
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Warm

Teams: Pembroke v. Tenby v. Cwmbran

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Cwmbran
 Pembroke
 Tenby

26
25
24

Cwmbran qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in West Germany: transmitted on 5th October 1977

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-09

It's A Knockout 1977

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 20th May 1977, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 8th May 1977

Venue: London Road Recreation Ground, Camberley, Surrey
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Warm

Teams: Surrey Heath v. Windsor and Maidenhead v. Basingstoke

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Windsor and Maidenhead
 Basingstoke
 Surrey Heath

31
25
15

Windsor and Maidenhead qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Great Britain: transmitted on 12th October 1977

Did You Know? Surrey Heath and Windsor and Maidenhead were both created under the Local Government Act 1972. Surrey Heath includes the towns of Camberley, Frimley and Frimley Green. Windsor and Maidenhead includes the towns of Ascot, Eton, Maidenhead and Windsor.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-10

It's A Cup Final Knockout 1977

FA Cup Final Special

BBC1 Transmission: Saturday 21st May 1977, 12.30-1.15pm
(Shown as part of Cup Final Grandstand)
Recorded: Sunday 8th May 1977

Venue: London Road Recreation Ground, Camberley, Surrey
Weather Conditions: Cloudy and Warm

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

Team Members included:
Past and present players and celebrity supporters of both teams

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd

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

12
11

Did You Know? This special Cup Final edition of It's A Knockout was recorded in tandem with the Camberley domestic heat (1977 Heat 5) at the same venue.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-11

It's A Knockout 1977

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 27th May 1977, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 22nd May 1977

Venue: Westminster Lodge Sports Arena, St. Albans, Hertfordshire
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Very Warm

Teams: St. Albans v. Southend-on-Sea v. Wandsworth

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Southend-on-Sea
 St. Albans
 Wandsworth

25 (28)*
25 (27)*
24

Southend-on-Sea qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Belgium: transmitted on 19th October 1977

* Did You Know? At the end of normal competition, St Albans and Southend-on-Sea were tied at 25 points each. A tie-break game - a sack race - was staged, in which St Albans squandered a flying start and Southend-on-Sea came through to win. The scoreboard at the end showed Southend with 28 points and St. Albans 27.

Did You Also Know? The venue for this heat was used again as the location for the 1979 British International Heat. It was also used for the final (recorded) domestic heat and for the British Championship, when Channel 5 resurrected the show in 1999.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-12

It's A Knockout 1977

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 3rd June 1977, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 29th May 1977

Venue: Crawley Sports Centre, Crawley, West Sussex
Weather Conditions: Sunny

Teams: Crawley v. Dartford v. Maidstone

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Crawley
 Dartford
 Maidstone

27
24
22

Crawley qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Netherlands: transmitted on 26th October 1977

Did You Know? At the end of the competition, British World Champion boxer, Alan Minter presented the winning team, Crawley with the trophy. Crawley's team mascot was a large kangaroo which had Alan Minter’s boxing glove attached to the end of its tail.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-13

It's A Celebrity Knockout 1977

Summer Special

BBC1 Transmission: Tuesday 16th August 1977, 6.55-7.50pm
Recorded: Sunday 3rd July 1977

Venue: Chelsea F.C. Football Ground (Stamford Bridge), Chelsea, Greater London
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Hot
The Lord's Taverners Knockout Trophy presented by: Susan Hampshire

Teams: The Lord's Taverners v. Celebrities

Team Members included: Robin Askwith, Raymond Baxter, Bernard Bresslaw, Eddie Capelli, Judith Chalmers, Keith Chegwin, Roger de Courcey, Bernard Cribbins, Linda Cunningham, Neil Durden-Smith, Eric Flynn, Alan Freeman, Gillian Gilks, Peter Glaze, Bob Grant, Susan Hampshire, Terrence Hardiman, Anita Harris, Nicky Henson, Frazer Hines, Derek Hobson, John Junkin, Ian Lavender, Legs & Co., Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Liverpool Express, Don McLean, Mick McManus, Bill Oddie, Lance Percival, Hilary Pritchard, Chris Ralston, Norman Rossington, Willie Rushton, Sam’s Set, Ian St. John, Shaw Taylor, Meriel Tufnell, Roger Whittaker, Bob Wilson, Frank Windsor and Kenneth Wolstenholme

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Celebrities
 The Lord's Taverners

18
17

Did You Know? This competition featured members of The Lord's Taverners, a charitable association of cricketing actors, engaging in a "jocular joust for The Lord's Taverners Knockout Trophy" with other celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sports

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-14

It's A Championship Knockout 1977

Summer Special

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 7th September 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Sunday 19th June 1977

Venue: Arena North, Park Hall, Charnock Richard, Lancashire
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Hot
Guest Stars: Frankie Vaughan and his son, Andrew

Theme: Domestic Re-run

Teams: Beverley v. Crawley v. Cwmbran v. Macclesfield v. Oldham v. Southend-on-Sea v. Windsor and Maidenhead

Team Members included:
Beverley - Debra Windass;
Oldham (Full Squad)- Stephen Andrews (24), Johnathon Boyce (20), Michael Cannon (32), Frank Collinson (26), Steve Kenney (23), Alex Kerrigan (26), Mark McLoughlin (21), Michael Maloney (24), Tony Edwards (36), Don Errock (19), Eric Fitzsimmons (26), Ian Hamilton (20), Warren Hilton (23), Barry Gordon (27), Sid Jolley (27), Nicholas Marrington (19), Tony Nanyn (21), Brian Parkinson (25), Bob Tait (32), Sheila Antrobus (25), Lynne Bowden (21), Carol Driver (19), Nadia Duda (19), Karen Halliwell (17), Ruth Lawson (20), Fiona Nicholl (21), Christine Silk (22), Alison Turner (22), Jane Welton (21), Derek Smallwood (Team Manager), Dorothy Emerson (Ladies' Team Manager), Tom Hill (Assistant Team Coach), Diane Cook (Assistant Team Coach)

Games: ‘Catching the Pollen’, ‘Crossing the Pool’, ‘Barrel Roll’, ‘Jumping the Gap’, ‘Balancing the Glasses’, ‘Ski Race’, ‘Collecting Footballs’, ‘Picking the Cherries’ (Marathon) and ‘The Golden Eggs’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 Macclesfield
 Beverley
 Oldham
 Crawley
 Windsor and Maidenhead
 Cwmbran
 Southend-on-Sea

46
37
36
35
32
28
25

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Entrants 1977: Belgium (B) • France (F) • West Germany (D) • Great Britain (GB)
Netherlands (NL) • Italy (I) • Switzerland (CH) 

Presenters of International Heats:
Mike Vendrengh and Ann Michel (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),
 Jacques Huwyer, Georges Kleinmann and Ezio Guidi (CH)

Commentators (BBC): Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring
International Referees: Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi
Referees (BBC): Arthur Ellis (Heat 5 only) and Mike Swann

Designer (BBC): Stuart Furber
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-SRG-TSI (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

1977-15

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 14th September 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 1st June 1977

Venue: Marina di Carrara, Italy
Weather Conditions: Very Warm

Theme: Greek Mythology

Teams: Alken (B) v. Ambarès (F) v. Schliersee (D) v. Beverley (GB) v. Dalfsen (NL) v. Marina di Carrara (I) v. Freienbach (CH)

Team Members included:
Beverley (GB) - Debra Windass;
Marina di Carrara (I) - Giorgio Andrei, Patrizio Arata, Graziana Arcolini, Patrizia Baccioli, Pietro Baruzzo, Massimo Bedini (Team Captain), Elisabetta Buracchioli, Alessandro Lambruschi, Luca Leati, Stefano Menconi, Cleta Montefiore, Silvano Santucci, Massimo Tedeschi

Games: ‘Cupid’, ‘Collecting Nectar’, ‘Jupiter’, ‘Feast of the Gods’, ‘12 Tasks of Hercules’, ‘Discovery of Fire’, ‘Girl in Polystyrene Box’, ‘Greek Temple’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Maze’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 I • Marina di Carrara l l
 D • Schliersee l
 NL • Dalfsen
 B • Alken
 CH • Freienbach
 GB • Beverley
 F • Ambarès

50
38
31
30
30
29
19

Did You Know? Italian games designer, Popi Perani, once again produced a spectacular heat. With the theme of Greek Mythology, one of the games was based around 'The Twelve Labours of Hercules’. The game involved one male member of each team trying to knock over each of the twelve ‘labours’ - two opposing members from each side and two from his own team - so a score of at least two was guaranteed. These ‘labours’ included the Nemean Lion, the Hydra of Lemae, the Augean Stables, the Stymphalian Birds, the Cretean Bull, the Apples of Hesperides and Cerberus the guardian dog of Hades. All wonderfully costumed, it was one of those games that caused the BBC commentator, Stuart Hall, to descend into in fits of laughter.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-16

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 21st September 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 15th June 1977

Venue: Parc du Safari de Saint-Vrain (Saint-Vrain Safari Park), Évry, France
Weather Conditions: Very Warm with Light Breeze
Winners' Trophy presented by: Guy Lux and King Kong

Theme: Science Fiction and Horror Films

Teams: Frameries (B) v. Évry (F) v. Dahn (D) v. Oldham (GB) v. Buren (Betuwe) (NL) v. Solofra (I) v. Olivone (CH)

Team Members included:
Évry (F) - Michelle Villeau
Oldham (Full Squad)- Stephen Andrews (24), Johnathon Boyce (20), Michael Cannon (32), Frank Collinson (26), Steve Kenney (23), Alex Kerrigan (26), Mark McLoughlin (21), Michael Maloney (24), Tony Edwards (36), Don Errock (19), Eric Fitzsimmons (26), Ian Hamilton (20), Warren Hilton (23), Barry Gordon (27), Sid Jolley (27), Nicholas Marrington (19), Tony Nanyn (21), Brian Parkinson (25), Bob Tait (32), Sheila Antrobus (25), Lynne Bowden (21), Carol Driver (19), Nadia Duda (19), Karen Halliwell (17), Ruth Lawson (20), Fiona Nicholl (21), Christine Silk (22), Alison Turner (22), Jane Welton (21), Derek Smallwood (Team Manager), Dorothy Emerson (Ladies' Team Manager), Tom Hill (Assistant Team Coach), Diane Cook (Assistant Team Coach)
Solofra (I) - Rita Dembastro

Games: ‘Barbarella’, ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, ‘Frankenstein’s Monster’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Moby Dick’, ‘Dracula’, ‘Superman’, ‘King Kong’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Godzilla’
Jokers: Bananas

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 CH • Olivone l l
 GB • Oldham l
 B • Frameries
 D • Dahn
 F • Évry
 I • Solofra
 NL • Buren (Betuwe)

40
37
35
34
33
32
27

Did You Know? Following on from the Italian heat, came a very well costumed French heat. Games were based on famous science fiction and horror films, and included games based on Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dracula and Godzilla.

Did You Also Know? The Fil Rouge consisted of a man in a gorilla outfit negotiating an obstacle course carrying a banana which had to be delivered into the hand of a forty-foot high King Kong figure. This prop later made an appearance at the opening of a new Carrefour hypermarket in Caerphilly in 1978. BBC Wales reporter, Jennifer Murray contributed a short report to Wales Today. No mention was made of JSF, just that it was built by French engineers. At the end of the report she did a 'Fay Wray' by being hoisted up in its giant hand!

Did You Also Know? Oldham team member, Fiona Nicholl, played a blinder on Game 5, based on the film Moby Dick, in which she was dressed as a mermaid and had to jump around a carousel-shaped course with her ankles tied together, chased by a 15ft open-mouthed whale, which was operated by two opposing team members. The five other competing girls could only manage to keep going for about 10-33 seconds before being engulfed by the whale, but Fiona kept going and was finally caught after 92 seconds, surviving 59 seconds longer than her nearest rival. She was delighted (and somewhat fatigued) to win six points for the team.

Did You Also Know? Game 3 was based on the horror film Frankenstein, and involved a girl (again with tied ankles) having to negotiate a winding course, planting giant flowers into vases with very small mouths. After ten seconds start, the girl's pusuer was released and out from behind closed doors appeared Frankenstein's monster, an 8ft giant with huge square boots (which hindered the movement of the opposing team member inside). The monster had to catch the girl by ‘tagging’ her. Not surprisingly, each of the six heats of this game did not last very long and none lasted more than thirty seconds.

Did You Also Know? At the start of Game 6 - ‘Dracula’ - a loose King Charles spaniel ran into the arena and across the game set. Astonished scene hands desperately tried to catch the loose animal, but to no avail. However, eventually it ran back into the crowd as fast as it had appeared!

Did You Also Know? As in the early 1980s when the BBC broadcast the heats in a different order to that recorded, this heat was the first heat in the schedule of French channel A2. Even French TV presenter Guy Lux stated to the television audience “Bienvenue au première émission de Jeux Sans Frontières 1977”. After this introduction, co-presenter Simone Garnier was seen sitting about 15ft in the air on the hand of the giant King Kong prop. She was gradually lowered down to the podium, where she dismounted. Accordingly at the end of the programme, Guy Lux sat in the hand and was hoisted up whilst the end credits rolled.

Did You Also Know? It just goes to show that you cannot believe everything that your own national commentator tells you. At the start of Game 5, BBC commentator Stuart Hall clearly stated that the game was based on the film ‘Jaws’ and then went on to describe the film in his own inimitable style, but the props did not fit in with his description of the game’s theme. However in the A2 (France) transmission, presenter Guy Lux stated that the game is based on the film ‘Moby Dick’, which clearly fitted in with the game’s theme!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-17

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 28th September 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 29th June 1977

Venue: Carré du Marché (Market Square), Carouge, Switzerland
Weather Conditions: Torrential Rain

Theme: Courtship and Marriage Tasks

Teams: Zwevegem (B) v. Blanzac (F) v. Schwäbisch Gmünd (D) v. Macclesfield (GB) v. Nieuwegein (NL) v. Moena (I) v. Carouge (CH)

Games: ‘Balloon Bursting’, ‘Shoeing Horses’, ‘Smashing Vases’, ‘Puppets’, ‘Banging the Hammer’, ‘Balloons on Carts’, ‘Ugly Woman’, ‘Witches in Bed’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Climbing Up Carpet’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 NL • Nieuwegein l l
 I • Moena
 D • Schwäbisch Gmünd
 F • Blanzac
 B • Zwevegem
 CH • Carouge
 GB • Macclesfield

47
38
36
32
32
20
19

Did You Know? Macclesfield went to this heat just a week after being crowned British Champions, and had strong convictions that they would also win this heat. During rehearsals, they faired quite well, but on the night of the recording, torrential rain brought about a night of disappointment for the team. Their Joker game was a complete disaster. In the game, the team had to lift a 25-foot hammer 180 degrees on a pivot. During rehearsals, Macclesfield won the game on both occasions, but on the night they went first, tried too hard and lifted the hammer out of the pivot. The other five countries seeing this got their girl member to sit on the hammer at the pivot to counterbalance it. Macclesfield finished last with just 2 points from their Joker. Two more last places followed and the team set the record for the lowest score by any British team in Jeux Sans Frontières. However, Rotherham would eventually take this unwanted record away from Macclesfield in 1982.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-18

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 5th October 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 13th July 1977

Venue: Favorite Park, Ludwigsburg, West Germany
Weather Conditions: Warm with Light Breeze

Theme: The Characters of Walt Disney

Teams: Spa (B) v. Fontainebleau (F) v. Ludwigsburg (D) v. Cwmbran (GB) v. Gilze en Rijen (NL) v. Lagonegro (I) v. Zurzach (CH)

Games: ‘Pluto’, ‘Donald Duck’, ‘Mickey Mouse’, ‘Goofy’, ‘King Louie’, ‘The Three Little Pigs’, ‘Baloo and Mowgli’, ‘Vultures’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
1st
3rd
4th
5th
5th
7th

 F • Fontainebleau l
 NL • Gilze en Rijen l
 CH • Zurzach
 B • Spa
 D  • Ludwigsburg
 GB • Cwmbran
 I • Lagonegro

40
40
38
34
32
32
22

Did You Know? Games in this heat were based on Walt Disney’s characters and included games based on Pluto, Goofy and Baloo and Mowgli (The Jungle Book).  The Fil Rouge involved team members costumed as giant vultures (again from The Jungle Book) having to cross a pool on a wooden beam, to deposit a giant egg (hidden inside the costume and released as a normal egg would be laid!) into a basket on the other side. However, if a competitor fell in the pool, their vulture costume became slippery and heavy with water, making it even harder to negotiate the beam.

Did You Also Know? Just as in 1974, when many of the British teams took the names of their local authority, Dutch team Gilze en Rijen became the first of many Dutch teams to take its name from its local municipality. Comprised of competitors from the villages of Gilze, Hulten, Molenschot and Rijen, the team proved more than a match for the rest of Europe (except for France). Leading three times in the competition, the team found itself in 3rd place before the final game, two points behind the French and Swiss teams. However, a convincing win on the final game gave the team seven points and only the French team, Fontainebleau, finishing 3rd on the game, could equal its performance.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-19

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 12th October 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Tuesday 26th July 1977

Venue: Home Park, Windsor, Great Britain
Weather Conditions: Very Warm

Theme: A Tour of Merrie England

Teams: Uccle (B) v. Toulon (F) v. Bebra (D) v. Windsor and Maidenhead (GB) v. Landsmeer (NL) v. Gubbio (I) v. Tesserete (CH)

Team Members included:
Tesserete (CH) - Anna Baruffaldi, Daniele Besomi, Margherita Cattanbo, Mirto de Martini, Adriana d’Onofrio, Patrizia Fraschina, Ferruccio Landis, Claudio Martinenghi, Giorgio Menghetti, Ettore Mini, Graziano Morosoli, Jasmine Rinaldi, Raffaele Quadri, Kiki Stampononi (Team Captain)

Games: ‘Sedan Chairs’, ‘The Water Mill’, ‘The Highwaymen’, ‘Barrels (Tar and Feathers)’, ‘Maypole Dancing’, ‘Loading the Coach’, ‘Horse into Stable’, ‘The Innkeeper’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Penny-Farthing Race’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 B • Uccle l l
 F • Toulon
 NL • Landsmeer
 GB • Windsor and Maidenhead
 CH • Tesserete
 D • Bebra
 I • Gubbio

43
40
40
38
31
30
14

Did You Know? French team, Toulon, were very strong and wanted desperately to win this heat. They won four consecutive games (Games 3, 4, 5 and 7 - they missed Game 6), one of which was their Joker game, and it seemed nothing could stop them. However, a very disappointing 7th place on the Fil Rouge and only 5th place on the last game enabled Belgian team, Uccle, to win the heat.

Did You Also Know? This heat was set against the backdrop of Windsor Castle, one of the residences of the British Royal Family. On the night of recording, shadows could be seen at some of the windows. Was Her Majesty possibly overseeing the event?

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-20

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 19th October 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 10th August 1977

Venue: Grote Markt (Grand Market), Antwerpen, Belgium
Weather Conditions: Overcast and Warm

Theme: Reubens the Painter

Teams: Antwerp (B) v. Quimper (F) v. Seelze (D) v. Southend-on-Sea (GB) v. Ooststellingwerf (NL) v. Vignola (I) v. Sion (CH)

Games: ‘Keys of the City’, ‘Painting the Squares’, ‘Big Shoes’, ‘Bowls of Fruit’, ‘Horses and Scrolls’, ‘Throwing the Dolls’, ‘The Artist’s Palettes’, ‘Angel of St. Nicholas’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Finding the Hand’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 NL • Ooststellingwerf l
 B • Antwerp
 D • Seelze
 I • Vignola
 GB • Southend-on-Sea
 F • Quimper
 CH • Sion

41
38
36
35
27
26
20

Did You Know? The Dutch team of Ooststellingwerf became the second Dutch team this year to take its name from its local municipality. Made up of competitors from the villages of Appelscha, Elsloo, Oosterwolde and numerous other hamlets, the team proved more than a match for the rest of Europe. After winning the first two games, and finishing 3rd on its Joker game (Game 3), the team streaked to the top of the standings early on and never looked back after that.

Did You Also Know? The funniest game of the night was a game where team members dressed as pieces of fruit - an apple, a banana, a cherry, a bunch of grapes and an orange - and had to climb into a huge fruit bowl. This game would become familiar in subsequent events, as it was re-used on many occasions. On the night, the Belgian, West German and Italian teams seemed to have no trouble, but the Swiss (playing its Joker), French and Dutch teams did not have a clue how to get its fruit into the bowl, and hilarious results ensued. Not only was BBC commentator Stuart Hall in fits of hysterics, but the crowd could clearly be heard laughing. Incidentally, Switzerland scored 2 pts on the Joker.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-21

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 26th October 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 24th August 1977

Venue: Sportpark Zuid (South Sports Park), Doetinchem, Netherlands
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm

Theme: Dutch Agriculture

Teams: La Calamine (B) v. Bourgoin-Jallieu (F) v. Limburg an der Lahn (D) v. Crawley (GB) v. Doetinchem (NL) v. Viterbo (I) v. Scuol (CH)

Games: ‘Giant Cheese Race’, ‘Miller and Windmill’, ‘Seesaws and Cheese’, ‘Tractors’, ‘Acrobats’, ‘Cat and Mice’, ‘Barrow of Cheese Race’, ‘Bride and Groom’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Pigs and Farmers’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 F • Bourgoin-Jallieu l l
 NL • Doetinchem
 CH • Scuol
 GB • Crawley
 B • La Calamine
 D • Limburg an der Lahn
 I • Viterbo

43
40
39
36
26
26
22

Did You Know? The third game in this heat resulted in a very unusual outcome. Six male team members had to hop down a course chasing tractors which had been set in motion by the on-course referees. (The tractors were designed to stop when hitting the piles of straw bales at the end of the course). Designed to be an elimination race, the first heat resulted in Switzerland and Netherlands not reaching their quarry and both were eliminated, scoring one point each. On the next run, none of the remaining four team members could reach the tractors in time and were all placed in joint 4th place. All teams were awarded three points each. This is the first and only time this happened in the history of Jeux Sans Frontières.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1977-22

Jeux Sans Frontières 1977

International Final

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 2nd November 1977, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 7th September 1977

Venue: Favorite Park, Ludwigsburg, West Germany
Weather Conditions: Very Warm

Theme: Baroque Splendour

Teams: Uccle (B) v. Bourgoin-Jallieu (F) v. Schliersee (D) v. Oldham (GB) v. Nieuwegein (NL) v. Marina di Carrara (I) v. Olivone (CH)

Team Members included:
Oldham (Full Squad)- Stephen Andrews (24), Johnathon Boyce (20), Michael Cannon (32), Frank Collinson (26), Steve Kenney (23), Alex Kerrigan (26), Mark McLoughlin (21), Michael Maloney (24), Tony Edwards (36), Don Errock (19), Eric Fitzsimmons (26), Ian Hamilton (20), Warren Hilton (23), Barry Gordon (27), Sid Jolley (27), Nicholas Marrington (19), Tony Nanyn (21), Brian Parkinson (25), Bob Tait (32), Sheila Antrobus (25), Lynne Bowden (21), Carol Driver (19), Nadia Duda (19), Karen Halliwell (17), Ruth Lawson (20), Fiona Nicholl (21), Christine Silk (22), Alison Turner (22), Jane Welton (21), Derek Smallwood (Team Manager), Dorothy Emerson (Ladies' Team Manager), Tom Hill (Assistant Team Coach), Diane Cook (Assistant Team Coach);
Marina di Carrara (I) - Giorgio Andrei, Patrizio Arata, Graziana Arcolini, Patrizia Baccioli, Pietro Baruzzo, Massimo Bedini (Team Captain), Elisabetta Buracchioli, Alessandro Lambruschi, Luca Leati, Stefano Menconi, Cleta Montefiore, Silvano Santucci, Massimo Tedeschi

Games: ‘Planting the Flowers’, ‘Sedan Chairs’, ‘Ballet Dancers’, ‘Hobby Horses’, ‘Football’, ‘Snuff Box’, ‘Watering the Flowers’, ‘Coachmen and Horses’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Changing the Guard’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 D • Schliersee l
 B • Uccle l
 CH • Olivone l
 F • Bourgoin-Jallieu
 GB • Oldham
 NL • Nieuwegein
 I • Marina di Carrara

47
36
35
32
32
31
27

Did You Know? This edition saw the last appearance of the blue electronic scoreboard which listed the countries in fixed alphabetical order. From 1978, a new scoreboard was introduced which could list the countries in order of points scored.

Did You Also Know? For the first time in the history of Jeux Sans Frontières, five teams played their Jokers on the same game (Game 4). The game involved six male team members moving down the course on hobby-horses. Placed at regular intervals down the course were balloons at varying heights, which the teams had to burst with the nail sticking out of the top of their hats. However, the rules stated they could not remove their hands from the handles of the hobby horses when jumping up to burst the balloons. The further down the course the teams got, the higher the balloons were hanging, which meant it got tougher to try and jump holding the handles, as well as being really tired. The West German team seemed to romp home and won the game, but the Dutch player was in tears, because throughout rehearsals he had won convincingly and he just could not burst the balloons on the night. The final result of the game was West Germany 12 points, Belgium 10 points, Switzerland 8 points, Great Britain 6 points, Netherlands 4 points and France (without the Joker) 1 point. Incidentally, this was the third consecutive game that the West German team had won, and it was also the winner of the next game, and clinched its fifth winning victory on the final game.

Did You Also Know? As they had acquired enough points, and their nearest rivals had performed poorly in the Fil Rouge, the West German team of Schliersee had actually won the Final after the conclusion of Game 7. Even if they had finished 7th on both the Fil Rouge and the last game, the team would still have won, albeit maybe with a tied heat.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

It's A Christmas Knockout 1977

Commentators: Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring (GB); Michel Lemaire and Bérengère Pascal (B); Dick Passchier and Barend Barendse (NL); Ettore Andenna and Barbara Marchand (I) and Georges Kleinmann (CH)

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

Designer: Stuart Furber
Producer: Cecil Korer / Director: Geoffrey Wilson
Produced by BBC North West (GB), RTBF-BRT (B), NCRV (NL), RAI (I), SSR (CH)

1977-23

It's A Christmas Knockout 1977

Christmas Special

BBC1 Transmission: Monday 26th December 1977 (Boxing Day), 4.15-5.05pm
Recorded: Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th December 1977

Venue: