1978's Knockout broadcasts began with possibly the most unusual of the IAK specials: It's A Miners' Knockout, in which miners from England, Scotland and Wales battled it out for a trophy presented by future Knockout presenter, Keith Chegwin.

It's A Knockout 1978
including It's A Miners' Knockout,
It's A Celebrity Knockout and It's A Championship Knockout

Presenters: Eddie Waring (not Miners' Knockout) and Stuart Hall
Referees: Arthur Ellis and Mike Swann
(+ Debra Windass, Paul Ridyard and Terry Harland for Championship Knockout)
International Referee: Gennaro Olivieri (Championship Knockout only)

Scoregirls: Pam Nolan, Dinah May and Debra Windass

Designer: Stuart Furber / Producer: Cecil Korer
Directors: Geoffrey Wilson (Miners' only), Paul Loosley (1978 Heats + Championship Knockout)
and Keith Phillips (Celebrity Knockout only)
A BBC North West Production

1978-05

It's A Miners' Knockout 1978

Spring Special

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 14th April 1978, 8.15-9.00pm
Recorded: Wednesday 29th March 1978

Venue: The Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire
Weather Conditions: Not applicable as this heat was held indoors
Winners' Trophy presented by: Keith Chegwin

Teams: English Miners v. Scottish Miners v. Welsh Miners

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 English Miners
 Welsh Miners
 Scottish Miners

15
14
12

Did You Know? The presentation of the trophy to the winners was made by a young 21-year old Keith Chegwin from BBC TV’s The Multi-Coloured Swap Shop. Keith would return 21 years later in 1999 to present the revamped Channel 5 series of the programme.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-06

It's A Knockout 1978

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 21st April 1978, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 9th April 1978

Venue: North Parade Road Recreation Ground, Bath, Avon
Weather Conditions: Overcast, Dull and Misty

Teams: Bath v. Bristol v. Minehead

Team Members (Full Squads):
Bath - Neil Barnes (17), Ming Lau (16), Ian Grammer (19), Salvatore Sorisi (24), Steve Gregory (24), Gerald Brownell (24), Terry Beckett (29), Vince Ware (23), Mark Holmes (17), Paul Booton (23), Martin Grixoni (18), Robert Legg-Bagg (22), Robert Anning (21), John Young (26), Roger Chubb (23), Paul Leaney (22), Andras Bornemisza (32), Peter Coombs (19), Debbie Mills (16), Lucinda Lord (18), Sue Bartlett (17), Lyn Matson (19), Lynne Bornemisza (23), Margaret Williams (over 21!), Penny Heeley (17), Catie Ball (21), Margaret Thatcher (over 21!), Carolyne Gilbert (18), Diane Green (20), Peter Foister (Team Manager/Captain - age not given) and David Lease (Team Coach - age not given);
Minehead - Brian Hurford (Team Captain - 45), Keith Graddon (16), David Hawker (29), Jonathon Hull (17), Colin Makay (25), James Merryfield (17), Michael Norman (31), Dave Sizer (20), Graham Sizer (27), Duncan Shepherd (20), Tom Middleton-Smith (Team Trainer - 40), Alan Woollam (29), Anne Bailey (23), Jenny Clatworthy (16), Susan Clatworthy (20), Cynthia Coles (28), Dawn Harbourne (32), Bridgeltee Harris (16), Carole Hayes (31), Joanne How (16), Nina Sweetland (17), Jeannette Tucker (33);
Bristol - Sandra Attwell (25), Sarah Bacon (23), Colleen Ford (36), Janet Greeney (23), Allison Hill (16½), Jane Howell (25), Carmelita Kelly (16½), Yvonne Lucas (16½), Frances Marshall (16½), Christine Setherton (23), David Alfred (29), Jeremy Allen (17), Chris Amos (18½), Roger Avery (28), Ken Bates (19), Chris Buckley (18), John Hillier (29), Richard Holley (19), Andrew Jay (24), Paul Kennedy (24), Phillip Knowles (29), Andrew Mackenzie (23), Ray Ponting (22), Neil Summerell (19), Ian Willoughby (24), Tony Rance (Team Captain - age not given), Les Bardsley (Team Physio - age not given) and Dennis Fowler (Team Medical Officer - age not given).

Games: 'Chimps Obstacle Race', 'Medicine Ball Balance', 'Balloon Burst', 'Posting Letters', 'Caterpillar Roll', 'The Bumbles', 'Tug-of-War', 'Rocker Stack', 'Climb and Slide' and 'Beat the Bell' (Marathon)

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Bath
 Bristol
 Minehead

30
24
18

Bath qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Italy: transmitted on 20th September 1978

Did You Know? Due to wet weather conditions in the days leading up to the event, the wooden boards in the scoreboard had expanded with damp. When scoregirl Dinah May attempted to add six points for Bath (bringing their score to 12pts) after they had played their Joker, the boards became jammed after five points had been added and would not budge. Recording was stopped and a member of scenery staff examined the boards and returned them to their original positions. Referee Arthur Ellis read the points out again but the boards jammed once more at the same point. While further backstage staff appeared and tried to alleviate the problem by oiling and prodding the jammed area, Dinah May was in fits of laughter. A third attempt was made, but the problem persisted. It was finally decided to remove the holding bolts at the back of the scoreboard and move the offending board to its correct position (12pts). The bolts were then replaced and a shot of the correct score was then filmed. The final edited transmission inserted a brief shot of the crowd in between shots of Dinah May moving the scores to 10pts (from the original recording) and the shot of the score at 12pts. Unless you had been there, it was impossible to tell what had happened - a very clever bit of editing prompted by a desperate situation. Clips of this incident could be seen in the hastily broadcast Best of Knockout at the end of 1982.

Did You Also Know? Scoregirl Debra Windass was a member of last year’s Beverley It’s A Knockout team, 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! An impressive It’s A Knockout career.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-07

It's A Knockout 1978

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 28th April 1978, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 16th April 1978

Venue: The Roodee, Chester Racecourse, Chester, Cheshire

Teams: Chester v. Crewe and Nantwich v. Wrexham

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
2nd

 Crewe and Nantwich
 Chester
 Wrexham

26
23
23

Crewe and Nantwich qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Belgium: transmitted on 27th September 1978

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-08

It's A Knockout 1978

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 5th May 1978, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 23rd April 1978

Venue: The Harbour Car Park, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Windy

Teams: Carrickfergus v. Dungannon v. Londonderry

Games included: 'Chimps' Scooter Race'

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Londonderry
 Dungannon
 Carrickfergus

24*
24
23

Londonderry qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Germany: transmitted on 4th October 1978

Did You Know? Londonderry won on a tie-breaker. This heat was previewed and reported on by Northern Ireland BBC regional news. Details in Knockout TV.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-09

It's A Knockout 1978

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 12th May 1978, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 30th April 1978

Venue: Wolverhampton Stadium (aka Aldersley Stadium), Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm

Teams: Wolverhampton v. Redditch v. Sandwell

Team Members (Full Squads are listed):
Wolverhampton - John Arthur (17), Michael Caddick (31), Michael Cheshire (21), John Dowen (35), Keith Gosling (18), Robert Hill (27), Andrew Howson (16), John Johnson (26), Antony Lockley (25), John McGavin (28), David Middleton (23), Bob Munn (Assistant Coach - 27), Dave Seddon (26), Nigel Walters (28), Peter Warden (Team Captain - 36), Keith Williams (19), David Wilkinson (26), Janette Clayton (16), Diane Edwards (16), Pat Lawrence (19), Krystyna Liberadska (22), Carol Price (20), Pat Slyde (24), Debbie Smith (16), Christine Wilkinson (25);

Redditch - Joyce Cowie (Ladies' Team Captain - 42), Tracy Minton (17), Brenda Spencer (24), Wendy Southwell (17), Bronwen Smith (26), Lesley Pelling (23), Carol Hodgkins (24), Marlene McKeown (27), Ken Cowie (Team Captain - 42), Albert Cowell (30), Andrew Fisher (22), David Davies (25), Terry Greatbach (29), Roger Harris (25), Dennis Hill (25), Brian Hill (28), Les Holleron (30), Peter Ramage (29), John Satchwell (25), John Gilmore (39), Terry Sefton (31), Ted Roe (Team Coach - 53);

Sandwell - Geoff Bennett (Captain - 33), Steve Millard (25), Raymond Morris (19), Stan Osborne (24), Gary Payne (19), Peter Reynolds (25), Geoff Tibbetts (26), Paul Butler (24), John Collins (19), Colin Dewis (25), Trevor Drew (21), Tony Gale (30), David Gillard (20), Mervyn Green (33), Ian Hamblett (25), Roger Hill (31), Paul Kelsey (19), Brian Lewis (20), Paul Lippiatt (22), Mick Lockwood (26), Jim Lavin (28), Rosie Bishop (Ladies' Team Captain - 33), Janet Dale (24), Sandy Dallas (31), Karen Dumpleton (23), Judith Gowan (23), Hazell Humm (age not given), Patricia Jones (24), Ann Keighley (25), Yvonne Painting (22), Lesley Pallett (22), Gill Shinton (19), Ann Smith (21), Amanda Thornton (16).

Games: 'Motor Bike Race', 'Beat the Belt', 'Drum Wheels', 'Bumbles Ball Game', 'Over the Hurdles', 'Square Roll', 'Milk Crate Stack', 'Drum Swing', 'Climb and Slide' and 'The Chimps' (Marathon)

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Sandwell
 Redditch
 Wolverhampton

30
25
19

Sandwell qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Yugoslavia: transmitted on 11th October 1978

Did You Know? Sandwell was created under the Local Government Act of 1972, and includes the towns of Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-10

It's A Knockout 1978

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 19th May 1978, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 7th May 1978

Venue: Coatbridge Sports Centre, Coatbridge, Strathclyde
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm

Teams: Monklands v. Clydebank v. East Kilbride

Team Members included:
East Kilbride - Steven Archibald, George Bell, Aileen Calder, Bob Cunningham, Irene Flaherty, Helen Graham, Iain Jackson, Elaine Kay, Duncan Laird, Ben McKenna, Dougie Patterson, Ann Sheed, Eileen South, Brian Thomson and Jim Thomson

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 East Kilbride
 Monklands
 Clydebank

26*
26
20

East Kilbride qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in France: transmitted on 18th October 1978

Did You Know? East Kilbride won on a tie-breaker.

Did You Also Know? Monklands was created under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and included the towns of Airdrie and Coatbridge, but was abolished in 1996.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-11

It's A Knockout 1978

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 26th May 1978, 8.00-9.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 14th May 1978

Venue: Denbigh Sports Ground, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
Weather Conditions: Overcast

Teams: Milton Keynes v. Hemel Hempstead v. Stevenage

Team Members included:
Stevenage - Steve Mitzei

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Stevenage
 Hemel Hempstead
 Milton Keynes

26*
26
20

Stevenage qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Switzerland: transmitted on 25th October 1978

Did You Know? Stevenage won on a tie-breaker.

Did You Also Know? Milton Keynes is classed as a ‘new town’ and only became into being in 1967, and includes the towns of Bletchley, Wolverton and Stony Stratford.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-12

It's A Knockout 1978

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Sunday 4th June 1978, 1.55-2.55pm
Recorded: Sunday 21st May 1978

Venue: Open-Air Swimming Pool, Cleethorpes, Humberside
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Warm

Teams: Cleethorpes v. Gainsborough v. Lincoln

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Cleethorpes
 Lincoln
 Gainsborough

26
25
23

Cleethorpes qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Great Britain: transmitted on 1st November 1978

Did You Know? The result depended on the last game, with Cleethorpes and Lincoln both on 23, with Gainsborough on 22 going into it. The competition was played in Cleethorpes bathing pool with all the games on water. 5000 spectators packed into the pool, some waiting two hours to get in. As the mist rolled in from the sea and the rain started to fall, Cleethorpes just edged ahead. Incidentally, next day the bathing pool was still shut to the public and the local papers received complaints from the public as they were unable to use it!

Did You Also Know? This heat was broadcast on Sunday 4th June, whereas all the others had been shown on the previous six Fridays. The reason for the change in transmission was that the 1978 FIFA World Cup Finals had commenced in Argentina on Thursday 1st June, and the BBC were broadcasting the 'live' opening match between Italy and France on the evening of Friday 2nd June 1978.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-13

It's A Celebrity Knockout 1978

Summer Special

BBC1 Transmission: Monday 21st August 1978, 7.10-8.10pm
Recorded: Sunday 16th July 1978

Venue: Fulham F.C. Football Ground (Craven Cottage), Fulham, Greater London
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Hot

Teams: The Lord’s Taverners v. Celebrities

Team Members included: Robin Askwith, Raymond Baxter, John Blythe, Tommy Boyd, Patricia Brake, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Paul Burnett, Eddie Capelli, Judith Chalmers, Jacqueline Clarke, Julie Dawn Cole, John Craven, Pat Crerand, Barry Cryer, Linda Cunningham, Roger de Courcey, Neil Durden-Smith, Jessie Evans, Tony Gale, Graeme Garden, Bob Grant, David Hamilton, Jenny Hanley, Anita Harris, Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Frazer Hines, Derek Hobson, Kid Jensen, Barry John, John Junkin, Diane Langton, George Layton, Legs & Co., Liverpool Express, Linda Lusardi, Victor Maddern, Tony Mahoney, Mick McManus, Ann Moore, Patrick Moore, Eric Morecambe, Don Moss, Bill Oddie, Richard O’Sullivan, Nicholas Parsons, Lance Percival, Nora Perry, Magnus Pyke, Chris Ralston, Tim Rice, Cardew Robinson, William Rushton, Sheila Steafel, Ray Stevens, Mike Swann, Shaw Taylor, Meriel Tufnell, Bob Wilson and Norman Wisdom

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Celebrities
 The Lord's Taverners

16
11

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-14

It's A Championship Knockout 1978

Autumn Special

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 13th September 1978, 7.05-8.15pm
Recorded: Sunday 18th June 1978

Venue: Arena North, Park Hall, Charnock Richard, Lancashire
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Hot
Radio Times Trophy presented by: Ken Dodd

Theme: Domestic Re-run

Teams: Bath v. Cleethorpes v. Crewe and Nantwich v. East Kilbride v. Londonderry v. Sandwell v. Stevenage

Team Members included:
East Kilbride - Steven Archibald, George Bell, Aileen Calder, Bob Cunningham, Irene Flaherty, Helen Graham, Iain Jackson, Elaine Kay, Duncan Laird, Ben McKenna, Dougie Patterson, Ann Sheed, Eileen South, Brian Thomson and Jim Thomson
Sandwell - Geoff Bennett (Captain - 33), Steve Millard (25), Raymond Morris (19), Stan Osborne (24), Gary Payne (19), Peter Reynolds (25), Geoff Tibbetts (26), Paul Butler (24), John Collins (19), Colin Dewis (25), Trevor Drew (21), Tony Gale (30), David Gillard (20), Mervyn Green (33), Ian Hamblett (25), Roger Hill (31), Paul Kelsey (19), Brian Lewis (20), Paul Lippiatt (22), Mick Lockwood (26), Jim Lavin (28), Rosie Bishop (Ladies' Team Captain - 33), Janet Dale (24), Sandy Dallas (31), Karen Dumpleton (23), Judith Gowan (23), Hazell Humm (age not given), Patricia Jones (24), Ann Keighley (25), Yvonne Painting (22), Lesley Pallett (22), Gill Shinton (19), Ann Smith (21), Amanda Thornton (16)
Stevenage - Steve Mitzei

Games: ‘Ski Race’, ‘Horses’, ‘Leaping Frogs’, ‘The Hidden Gold’, ‘Rolling the Wheels’, ‘Barrel Balance’, ‘Carpet Roll’, ‘Water in Containers’ (Marathon) and ‘The Relay Race’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 Sandwell
 Stevenage
 East Kilbride
 Cleethorpes
 Londonderry
 Bath
 Crewe and Nantwich

38*
38
37
34
32
30
27

Did You Know? Sandwell won on a tie-breaker.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Entrants 1978: Belgium (B) • France (F) • West Germany (D) • Great Britain (GB)
Italy (I) • Switzerland (CH) • Yugoslavia (YU)

Presenters of International Heats:
Michel Lemaire and Paule Herreman (B), Simone Garnier and Guy Lux (F), Manfred Erdenberger and Brigitte Martz (D), Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring (GB), Ettore Andenna and Milly Carlucci (I), Rosemarie Pfluger and Jan Hiermeyer (CH), Dragan Nikitovic, Dunya Lango and Milan Subota (YU)

Commentators (BBC): Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring
International Referees: Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi
Referees (BBC): Arthur Ellis (Heats 1, 2, 4, 7 and Final only)
and Mike Swann (Heats 3, 5, 6, 7 and Final only)

Designer (BBC): Stuart Furber
Producer (BBC): Cecil Korer / Director: Geoffrey Wilson
Produced by RTB-BRT (B), A2F (F), ARD-WDR (D), 
BBC North West (GB), RAI (I), SSR (CH), JRT (YU)

 

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

1978-15

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 20th September 1978, 6.45-8.00pm
Recorded: Wednesday 31st May 1978

Venue: Lato del Lago (Lakeside), Intra, Verbania, Italy
Weather Conditions: Warm with a Slight Breeze

Theme: Grand Sport Hotel

Teams: Dilbeek (B) v. Meudon (F) v. Friedrichsthal (D) v. Bath (GB) v. Verbania (I) v. Bad Ragaz (CH) v. Split (YU)

Games: ‘Losing Weight’, ‘Sprinting Waiters’, ‘Animals in Kitchen’, ‘Honeymoon Couple’, ‘Dachshunds’, ‘Stealing the Flowers’, ‘Cats’, ‘Puppets in Balloon’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Soapy End’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 CH • Bad Ragaz l
 I • Verbania
 GB • Bath
 D • Friedrichsthal
 YU • Split
 B • Dilbeek
 F • Meudon

41
39
37
37
35
33
22

Did You Know? The Italian team of Verbania was deducted one point from its score in Game 5. The teams were told that they had to do the game barefoot, but the Italian player wore trainers!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-16

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 27th September 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Tuesday 13th June 1978

Venue: Parc des Roches (Park of Rocks), Rochefort, Belgium
Weather Conditions: Overcast

Theme: The Adventures of Tintin and Snowy

Teams: Rochefort (B) v. La Rochelle (F) v. Sobernheim (D) v. Crewe and Nantwich (GB) v. Abano Terme (I) v. Yverdon (CH) v. Novo Mesto (YU)

Team Members included:
Abano Terme (I) - Giampietro Bano, Lucia Casotto, Paolo Crestale, Lorenzo Gardin, Flavio Gomiero, Luisa Lazzaro, Emanuela Longo, Daniela Marini, Manuele Meneghini, Roberto Mioni, Roberto Milese, Paolo Rampado, Sergio Scudellaro, Massimo Teolato, Lidio Tolin

Games: ‘Snowy to the Rescue’, ‘Anaconda’, ‘Sausage Machine’, ‘Black Widow Spider’, ‘Sticky Boots’, ‘Atomic Reactor’, ‘Seaplane’, ‘Captain Haddock and Crocodiles’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Mountain Climb’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 D • Sobernheim l l
 B • Rochefort
 I • Abano Terme l
 CH • Yverdon
 GB • Crewe and Nantwich
 YU • Novo Mesto
 F • La Rochelle

44
39
39
34
32
27
25

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-17

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 4th October 1978, 6.55-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 28th June 1978

Venue: Strand und Spazieren (Beach & Promenade), Grömitz, West Germany
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Warmy

Theme: At the Beach

Teams: Willebroek (B) v. Cambrai (F) v. Grömitz (D) v. Londonderry (GB/NI) v. Battipaglia (I) v. Cavergno Valle Maggia (CH) v. Mostar (YU)

Team Members included:
Cambrai (F) - Brigitte Andrias, Jean-François Buisset, Ghislaine Cornolle, Carl Kriscolo, Serge Darras, Michele Declercq (Ladies’ Team Captain), Alain Degage (Team Captain), Dominigue Desbuquoit, Jacques Diers, Isabelle Dumont, Florence Lecoustre, Christine Llobel, Frédric Maerten, Jean-Noël Mantaux, Jean-Lionel Montigny, Jean-Michel Rey
Battipaglia (I) - Aldo Bini, Patrizia Carrara, Lucia Corradino, Pietro Dorsi, Alfredo Paolo Farabella, Emilio Maiorano (Team Captain), Francesco Muotri, Nestore Miceli, Rita Nola, Antonio Pace, Rosalba Sartari, Luciana Tortora, Giuseppe Visacadio, Fernando Zara

Games: ‘Lighthouse’, ‘Octopus’, ‘Motorbike Football’, ‘Catching Fish’, ‘Beach Chair’, ‘Jellyfish’, ‘Windbreak’, ‘Launching the Boat’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Departure’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 B • Willebroek l l
 F • Cambrai
 GB (NI) • Londonderry
 D • Grömitz
 I • Battipaglia
 YU • Mostar
 CH • Cavergno Valle Maggia

43
37
35
32
31
28
27

Did You Know? When Londonderry competed in this heat, the scoreboard ident letters and the ‘GB’ on the shirts, were replaced by 'NI', although they retained the usual red Great Britain colour. Stuart Hall explained this by saying that "throughout Europe we are known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-18

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 11th October 1978, 6.55-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 12th July 1978

Venue: Obala Riječni Dunav (Shore of the River Danube), Zemun, Beograd (Belgrade), Yugoslavia
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm

Theme: Chess Games

Teams: Silly (B) v. Fontainebleau (F) v. Lahnstein (D) v. Sandwell (GB) v. Tolfa (I) v. Altdorf (CH) v. Zemun (YU)

Team Members included:
Sandwell (GB) - Geoff Bennett (Captain - 33), Steve Millard (25), Raymond Morris (19), Stan Osborne (24), Gary Payne (19), Peter Reynolds (25), Geoff Tibbetts (26), Paul Butler (24), John Collins (19), Colin Dewis (25), Trevor Drew (21), Tony Gale (30), David Gillard (20), Mervyn Green (33), Ian Hamblett (25), Roger Hill (31), Paul Kelsey (19), Brian Lewis (20), Paul Lippiatt (22), Mick Lockwood (26), Jim Lavin (28), Rosie Bishop (Ladies' Team Captain - 33), Janet Dale (24), Sandy Dallas (31), Karen Dumpleton (23), Judith Gowan (23), Hazell Humm (age not given), Patricia Jones (24), Ann Keighley (25), Yvonne Painting (22), Lesley Pallett (22), Gill Shinton (19), Ann Smith (21), Amanda Thornton (16)

Games: ‘Chariot Race’, ‘Leap Frog’, ‘Lassoing Bishops’, ‘Pawns to Queens’, ‘Chess Basketball’, ‘Knights Spearing Rings’, ‘Collecting Water’, ‘Catching Balls on Boats’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Building a Pawn’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 GB • Sandwell l l
 F • Fontainebleau l
 CH • Altdorf
 B • Silly
 YU  • Zemun
 D • Lahnstein
 I • Tolfa

48
44
36
33
33
25
20

Did You Know? The teams entered the arena to the strains of Johann Strauss’ classic composition, The Blue Danube.

Did You Also Know? This heat was a two-team battle-royale from start to finish. The lead changed between French team, Fontainebleau and British team, Sandwell throughout the night. It was not until Game 7, when both teams were level on thirty-four points each, that Sandwell took charge. The Fil Rouge earned Sandwell seven points, whilst Fontainebleau could only muster four. Sandwell went into the final game with a three points lead, but the French could do nothing to close the gap. The Sandwell team was so determined to win the heat that they took seven points from the last game, their rivals finished as runners-up in the game and on the night as a whole. A classic Jeux Sans Frontières finish.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-19

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 18th October 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 26th July 1978

Venue: Stade de Football de Chantereine (Chantereine Football Stadium), Bourgoin-Jallieu, France
Weather Conditions: Warm and Humid with Heavy Rain Showers
Winner's Trophy presented by: Mayor of Bourgoin-Jallieu and Simone Garnier

Theme: Asterix and the Gauls

Teams: Hamme (B) v. Bourgoin-Jallieu (F) v. Wesseling (D) v. East Kilbride (GB) v. Montecatini Terme (I) v. Novazzano (CH) v. Ohrid (YU)

Team members included:
East Kilbride (GB) - Steven Archibald, George Bell, Aileen Calder, Bob Cunningham, Irene Flaherty, Helen Graham, Iain Jackson, Elaine Kay, Duncan Laird, Ben McKenna, Dougie Patterson, Ann Sheed, Eileen South, Brian Thomson and Jim Thomson
Novazzano (CH) - Roberto Beromi, Giuliana Bossi, Carla Bottani, Tommasco Caccavari, Lucio Cirebelli, Anna Cerruti, Brunello Luppi, Emiliano Maggi, Franco Mercolli, Luciano Meltoni,
Giovanni Ragonesi, Giuseppe Rezzinico, Tiziana Rezzenico

Games: ‘Collecting the Ladle’, ‘Legionnaires on Ramps’, ‘Collecting the Wine’, ‘Bursting Rain Clouds’, ‘Lighting the Greek Fire’, ‘Collecting Sacks’, ‘Ferocious Animals and Vases’, ‘The Roman Garrison’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Obelisks’
Jokers: Roman Standards with Banners

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 GB • East Kilbride l
 CH • Novazzano
 B • Hamme
 D • Wesseling
 F • Bourgoin-Jallieu
 YU • Ohrid
 I • Montecatini Terme

46
38
37
36
36
22
21

Did You Know? The venue used for this heat - Chantereine Football Stadium) is the home ground of FCBJ (Football Club Bourgoin-Jallieu)

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-20

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 25th October 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 9th August 1978

Venue: Hinterwald Park, Arosa, Switzerland
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm

Theme: The Table of the Heroes

Teams: Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve (B) v. Arette-la-Pierre-Saint Martin (F) v. Drolshagen (D) v. Stevenage (GB) v. Pescasseroli (I) v. Arosa (CH) v. Kotor (YU)

Team Members included:
Stevenage (GB) - Steve Mitzei

Games: ‘Pinocchio and Tyres’, ‘Duellists’, ‘Weighted Chairs’, ‘Flying Birds’, ‘Hiding in the Trees’, ‘Flying Cannonballs’, ‘William Tell and Crossbows’, ‘The Banquet’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Snowmen’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 CH • Arosa l l
 GB • Stevenage
 D • Drolshagen
 F • Arette-la-Pierre-Saint Martin
 I • Pescasseroli
 B • Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve
 YU • Kotor

44
42
36
35
34
22
21

Did You Know? One of the games in this heat centred on the French folk hero, Cyrano de Bergerac. The game was played over three heats and involved two members of opposing teams dressed as the hero, hanging like giant marionettes. Each of them was counterbalanced by means of a huge plastic bag around their midriff filled with gallons of water. On the whistle, the team members had to fight a duel - whilst still hanging - and try to burst the water-filled bellies. Obviously, as each one scored a direct hit, the water began cascading from the opponent’s belly, and the heavier of the marionettes would begin descending. The game ended when one of the marionettes reached the ground and the time was taken. Heats were (winning teams in bold) Switzerland (6 pts) v. Yugoslavia (1 pt), Great Britain (5 pts) v. West Germany (2 pts) and Belgium (3 pts) v. Italy (who played the Joker - 8pts).

Did You Also Know? Stevenage squandered the chance to make it three consecutive British wins this year. Leading by three points after the Fil Rouge result, the team was unable to build a snowman on the final game, and came last with just one point. Swiss team, Arosa took full advantage of Stevenage’s mishap, came in 2nd to the French team on the game, and scored the vital six points that they needed to secure victory.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-21

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 1st November 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 23rd August 1978

Venue: The Old Showground, Scampton, Lincoln, Great Britain
Weather Conditions: Dry and Very Warm

Theme: The Adventures of Robin Hood

Teams: Hasselt (B) v. Mandelieu/La Napoule (F) v. Telgte (D) v. Cleethorpes (GB) v. Pianoro (I) v. Tramelan (CH) v. Kragujevac (YU)

Games: ‘Friar Tuck’, ‘Hitting the Targets’, ‘Monkeys and Coins’, ‘Hiding the Gold’, ‘The Giant Rocks’, ‘Sheriff of Nottingham’, ‘Haystack’, ‘Little John over Pool’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Horse Race’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 B • Hasselt l
 YU • Kragujevac l
 D • Telgte
 F • Mandelieu/La Napoule
 CH • Tramelan
 GB • Cleethorpes
 I • Pianoro

37
37
36
36
35
29
24

Did You Know? Yugoslavian team, Kragujevac was leading by six points after the Fil Rouge result, and only needed to finish in 6th place on the final game to guarantee an outright win. However, the game - a horse race - proved too much for them, and the team could only manage 7th place. Belgian team, Hasselt took full advantage of this, winning the game and picking up the seven points to give themselves a joint win with the Yugoslavians - one of the greatest comebacks by any team in the history of the programme.

Did You Also Know? This is the closest finish ever in the history of Jeux Sans Frontières, with just three points separating the top five teams. In fact, any one of the top five could have won this heat along with the Yugoslavian team (which was already guaranteed a win - see Did You Know? note above).

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1978-22

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

International Final

BBC1 Transmission: Wednesday 8th November 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
Recorded: Wednesday 6th September 1978

Venue: Parco Terme (Terme Park), Montecatini Terme, Italy
Weather Conditions: Warm with Rain Showers

Theme: Old Baghdad

Teams: Willebroek (B) v. Fontainebleau (F) v. Sobernheim (D) v. Sandwell (GB) v. Abano Terme (I) v. Arosa (CH) v. Kragujevac (YU)

Team Members included:
Sandwell (GB) - Geoff Bennett (Captain - 33), Steve Millard (25), Raymond Morris (19), Stan Osborne (24), Gary Payne (19), Peter Reynolds (25), Geoff Tibbetts (26), Paul Butler (24), John Collins (19), Colin Dewis (25), Trevor Drew (21), Tony Gale (30), David Gillard (20), Mervyn Green (33), Ian Hamblett (25), Roger Hill (31), Paul Kelsey (19), Brian Lewis (20), Paul Lippiatt (22), Mick Lockwood (26), Jim Lavin (28), Rosie Bishop (Ladies' Team Captain - 33), Janet Dale (24), Sandy Dallas (31), Karen Dumpleton (23), Judith Gowan (23), Hazell Humm (age not given), Patricia Jones (24), Ann Keighley (25), Yvonne Painting (22), Lesley Pallett (22), Gill Shinton (19), Ann Smith (21), Amanda Thornton (16)
Abano Terme (I) - Giampietro Bano, Lucia Casotto, Paolo Crestale, Lorenzo Gardin, Flavio Gomiero, Luisa Lazzaro, Emanuela Longo, Daniela Marini, Manuele Meneghini, Roberto Mioni, Roberto Milese, Paolo Rampado, Sergio Scudellaro, Massimo Teolato, Lidio Tolin

Games: ‘Aladdin’s Lamp’, ‘Crocodiles and Plates’, ‘Roses’, ‘Collecting Jewels’, ‘Ostriches’, ‘Camels’, ’Lion, Rhinoceros and Orang-utan’, ‘Building the Palace’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Ostriches, Genies and Camels’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 I • Abano Terme l
 GB • Sandwell l
 F • Fontainebleau l
 CH • Arosa
 YU • Kragujevac
 B • Willebroek
 D • Sobernheim

43
41
36
31
31
28
25

Did You Know? This International Final featured the giant ostriches that were subsequently seen in many compilation programmes. The idea was for the ostriches to run up an incline, slide down the other side and then pick up a giant ring in their mouths, which were operated by the male team members inside the costumes. BBC commentator Stuart Hall was in stitches with laughter once again, especially when the ‘ostriches’ walked away to restart the game after every elimination heat.

Did You Also Know? This was the last year where playing a Joker would mean an automatic doubling of points scored in the game. From 1979, if a team finished their Joker game lower than third, they received no bonus points.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

It's A Christmas Knockout 1978

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

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

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

1978-23

It's A Christmas Knockout 1978

Christmas Special

BBC1 Transmission: Tuesday 26th December 1978 (Boxing Day), 3.25-4.25pm
Recorded: Tuesday 12th December 1978

Venue: Patinoire de Centre Sportive (Sports Centre Ice Rink), Villars-Sur-Ollon, Switzerland
Weather Conditions: Not applicable as this event was held indoors

Theme: Festive Fun

Teams: Liège (B) v. Richmond-upon-Thames (GB) v. Dalfsen (NL) v. Asiago (I) v. Villars (CH)

Games: ‘The Old Year