The series moves into the 1980s, clearly past its halcyon days, but there's no doubt there's life in the old girl yet! Director, Geoffrey Wilson takes over the reigns as producer, and veteran It’s A Knockout producer, Barney Colehan returns for one year to help him learn the ropes. New costumed characters this year included the ‘Gruffs’, huge over-sized Bloodhound-like dogs and the wide-open mouthed ‘Drunkards’ (which had been used at the British International at St. Albans last year). 1980 also saw Belgium achieve two wins in the programme (for the first time since 1971). West Germany's long association with Jeux Sans Frontières came to an end this year, a result of poor audience figures after the show was moved to a Saturday morning slot in the WDR schedule. Meanwhile, Yugoslavia joined the Winter ‘Interneige’ competition to create a four-country competition.

Jeux Sans Frontières in the Snow (Interneige) 1980

Entrants Winter 1980:
France (F) • Italy (I) • Switzerland (CH) • Yugoslavia (YU)

Presenters of International Heats:
Ettore Andenna and Claudio Lippi (I), Georges Kleinmann (CH),
Dragan Nikitovic and Milan Subota (YU)

Produced by A2F (F), RAI (I), SSR-SRG-TSI (CH), JRT (YU)

1980-01

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 1

A2F France Transmission: Friday 22nd February 1980
Recorded: Saturday 9th February 1980
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Pentes de Ski (Ski Slopes), Le Mont Dore, France
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Cold

Theme: Snow and Ice

Teams: Le Mont-Dore (F) v. Cavalese Val di Fiemme (I) v. Les Brenets (CH) v. Gostivar (YU)

Games: ‘The Giant Snowballs’, ‘Tug-o-War’, ‘The Fighting Dogs’, ‘Skis’, ‘The Wrong Doors’, ‘Water Drop’ and ‘The Teams’ Farewell’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

Did You Know? Sixteen towns from four European countries were fighting for the Winter JSF Trophy in this competition.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1980-02

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 2

A2F France Transmission: Friday 29th February 1980
Recorded: Sunday 17th February 1980
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Piste de Sci (Ski Slopes), Bormio, Italy
Weather Conditions: Very Cold

Theme: Snow and Ice

Teams: Serre-Chevalier (F) v. Bormio (I) v. Zinal-Val d’Anniviers (CH) v. Kranj (YU)

Games: ‘The Dancing Cats’, ‘Frozen Frogs’, ‘Jumping the River’, ‘The Old Cars’, ‘Skiing for Water’, ‘The Bottles’ and ‘The Teams’ Farewell’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

Did You Know? Both Bormio (I) and Zinal-Val d’Anniviers (CH) took a second try in the Winter competition. Bormio managed to improve their points score by one, but Zinal-Val d’Anniviers did worse than in their previous participation.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1980-03

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 3

A2F France Transmission: Friday 7th March 1980
Recorded: Sunday 24th February 1980
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Pentes de Ski (Ski Slopes), Torgon, Switzerland
Weather Conditions: Sunny with Light Snow

Theme: Snow and Ice

Teams: Morzine (F) v. Recoaro Terme (I) v. Torgon (CH) v. Delnice (YU)

Games: ‘Opening the Shops’, ‘The Groceries’, ‘Finding the Money’, ‘Lifting the Trees’, ‘The Tents’, ‘The Plane’s Departure’ and ‘The Teams’ Farewell’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

Did You Know? France made it a hat-trick of wins with Morzine's triumph in this heat. Conversely, Yugoslavia made it a hat-trick of last places! The French looked like going on to win every heat this series, but were there some dirty tricks awaiting their team in the final heat to prevent this? See the note below Heat 4...

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1980-04

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 4

A2F France Transmission: Friday 14th March 1980
Recorded: Sunday 2nd March 1980
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Skija Nagib (Ski Slopes), Jahorina, Yugoslavia
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Very Cold

Theme: Snow and Ice

Teams: Megève-la Blanche (F) v. Gressoney-Aosta (I) v. Les Diablerets (CH) v. Jahorina-Sarajevo (YU)

Games: ‘Bears in the Cave’, ‘Whistle to Stop’, ‘The Giant Fruits’, ‘The Fox and the Rabbits’, ‘The King’s Ale’, ‘Finding the Beds’ and ‘The Teams’ Farewell’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

Did You Know? France lead Yugoslavia by a single point going into the last game. The final game involved every team member completing a lap of a slalom course on skis, one at a time against eachother. Competitors were not to touch any of the flagpoles when weaving through them. If a flagpole was touched, a light would come on and the team member would have to go past that pole again. However, the Yugoslavian team finished each of the eight laps in a quicker time every time. The French team soon realised that something was awry and noticed that although the Yugoslavians touched some of the poles, the lights stayed off. After a long protest, the result was upheld and Yugoslavia were awarded the four points. A victory and a place in the Winter International Final were secure - and France’s four-wins whitewash had been averted in suspicious circumstances.

Did You Also Know? This was the fifth time that a team from Aosta, Italy, had appeared in Jeux Sans Frontières. In 1975 and 1979, a team participated in the main Jeux Sans Frontières competition, and also teamed up with the ski resort of Pila (1977), the town of Cogne (1979) and with Val di Gressoney this year, for the Winter competitions.

Did You Also Know? A team from the town of Megève had already participated in the Winter competition in 1979, but for 1980, a team from the ski-club of Megève-la Blanche was entered.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1980-05

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Winter Final

A2F France Transmission: Friday 21st March 1980
Recorded: Saturday 8th March 1980
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Pentes de Ski (Ski Slopes), Megève, France
Weather Conditions: Sunny with Light Snow

Theme: Snow and Ice Choice Games

Teams: Le Mont-Dore (F) v. Cavalese Val di Fiemme (I) v. Torgon (CH) v. Jahorina-Sarajevo (YU)

Games: ‘The Old Cars’, ‘The Hens and the Boxes’, ‘Opening the Shops’, ‘The Fox and the Rabbits’, ‘Taking the Photographs’, ‘The Wrong Doors’ and ‘The Teams’ Farewell’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
1st
3rd
4th

Did You Know? No tie-break game was played, and a trophy - a large ice cube with the JSF logo inside - was presented to both winners.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

It's A Knockout 1980
including
It's A Celebrity Knockout and It's A Championship Knockout

Presenters: Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring (not Heat 4)
Referees: Arthur Ellis and Mike Swann (not Celebrity Knockout)
(+ Paul Ridyard, Terry Harland and Christopher Coldrey for Championship Knockout)
International Referee: Gennaro Olivieri (Championship Knockout only)
Scorers: Tracy Dodds, Roz Tranfield and Jean Kelly (a Marilyn Monroe lookalike)

Designer: Stuart Furber / Executive Producer: Barney Colehan
Producer: Geoffrey Wilson
Director: Tony Harrison
A BBC North West Production

1980-06

It's A Knockout 1980

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 9th May 1980, 7.00-7.50pm
Recorded: Monday 7th April 1980 (Easter Monday)

Venue: The Market Square, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
Weather Conditions: Drizzly

Teams: Ashfield v. Newark v. Rushcliffe

Team Members included:
Ashfield - John Best, Rita Marsden, Keith Old, Gary Walker
Newark - John Emrys-Jones, Lorraine Joyce, Janet Leeson, Tom Pykit
Rushcliffe - Chris Bukarzer, Penny Howsen, Neil Reeston

Games: ‘Drunkards’, ‘Collecting Ale’, ‘Trolley Balance’, ‘Water Carriers’, ‘Disc Stretch’, ‘The Hungry Dogs’, ‘See-Saw Bridge’, ‘Roping the Incline’ (Marathon) and ‘Stepped Dirigible’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Rushcliffe
 Newark
 Ashfield

23
23
22

Rushcliffe qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in France: transmitted on 9th August 1980

Did You Know? With the match drawn between the two teams, Newark and Rushcliffe had to play a reserve game tie-breaker to decide the result. In this instance, the tie-break task was to build a human pyramid. Rushcliffe completed their structure in just 13 seconds and were declared the heat winners.

Did You Also Know? Eddie Waring was a little hoarse at this heat, suffering from a severe throat infection. Stuart Hall referred to him as sounding like ‘Old Mother Riley’!

Did You Also Know? Ashfield, Newark and Rushcliffe were created under the Local Government Act 1972. Ashfield includes the towns of Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield. Newark (known as Newark and Sherwood since 1996) includes the towns of Balderton and Newark-on-Trent. Rushcliffe includes the towns of East Bridgford, West Bridgford and Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-07

It's A Knockout 1980

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 16th May 1980, 7.00-7.50pm
Recorded: Sunday 13th April 1980

Venue: Bodlondeb Park, Conway, Gwynedd

Teams: Aberconwy v. Delyn v. Rhuddlan

Games: Unknown.

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Rhuddlan
 Delyn
 Aberconwy

27
22
20

Rhuddlan qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Portugal: transmitted on 16th August 1980

Did You Know? Aberconwy, Delyn and Rhuddlan were all created under the Local Government Act 1972. Aberconwy included the towns of Betws-y-Coed, Llandudno and Penmaenmawr. Delyn included the towns of Flint, Holywell and Mold. Rhuddlan included the towns of Prestatyn, Rhyl and St. Asaph. All three local authorities were abolished in 1996.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives and is also held in the British Film Industry's National Film and Television Archive in Berkhampstead

1980-08

It's A Knockout 1980

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 23rd May 1980, 7.00-7.50pm
Recorded: Sunday 27th April 1980

Venue: Wicksteed Leisure Park, Kettering, Northamptonshire
Weather Conditions: Overcast

Teams: Corby v. Kettering v. Watford

Team Members included:
Corby - Lynn Campbell, Morris Carroll, David Crooks, Charles LaVene, John Murray, Mikhail Lubonicz
Kettering - Kate Blissett, Jeanette Butterfield, Roger Davies, Ian Dunns, Alan Fosbrook, Rowley Furness, Clive Hawkins, Peter Norton, Janet Smith, Jane Tight, Susan Wager, Chris Wilds
Watford - Derek Barnett, Martin Chant, Julia Collins, Ann Fusey, Jacqueline Howard, Gary Hunt, Steve Osman, Diana Reed, Eddie Rooley, Kim Santer, John Williams, Robert Williams, Andrew Wood

Games: ‘Rolling Board’, ‘Dice Roll’, ‘Threading the Needles’, ‘Stilted Boots’, ‘Water Carousel’, ‘Musical Dogs’, ‘Pool Swing’, ‘Inclined Basketball’ (Marathon) and ‘Stepped Dirigible’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Kettering
 Watford
 Corby

24
23
18

Kettering qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Yugoslavia: transmitted on 23rd August 1980

Did You Know? The Watford manager made a team change on the Marathon which ultimately cost them the contest. This year, as had been previously, the Marathon was played three times with each team competing twice, and most teams kept the same team members throughout. However in this heat, the Watford team changed both team members in its second round and really struggled to achieve any score. With the scores at Watford 18, Kettering 17 and Corby 12 before the start of the final round, Kettering took command (just as it had on its first round) and scored the 6 pts, with Corby scoring 4 pts and Watford receiving just 2 pts. This meant that the Kettering team was in an unbeatable position leading the contest by 3 pts. However, Watford went on to win the last game and Kettering came third. This again goes to prove how much a small decision had on the outcome of contests!

Did You Also Know? For the first time in the programme’s history, three forms of transport were used to bring the presenters, teams, scoregirls and referees into the arena. Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring arrived on ‘The Mississippi Queen’, a replica paddle-steamer used on the park’s lake, the teams arrived on a miniature railway which encircles the park, pulled by ‘Cheyenne’ again a replica of an original larger steam engine, and the scoregirls and referees arrived in a 1910 Bakery Van decked out in the livery of ‘Henry Barlow Family Steam Bakery’ which was celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Did You Also Know? The venue for this heat - Wicksteed Park - was Europe’s first and largest free Leisure park in the Common Market (European Union) at the time of recording. Covering over 160 acres, it was bequeathed to the people of Kettering by the Wicksteed family in 1916.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-09

It's A Knockout 1980

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 30th May 1980, 7.00-7.50pm
Recorded: Saturday 3rd May 1980

Venue: Recreation Ground Tennis Courts, Portrush, Co. Londonderry
Weather Conditions: Sunny/Windy
Guest Presenter: Mary Peters, athlete (Eddie Waring absent)

Teams: Coleraine v. North Down v. Strabane

Team Members included:
Coleraine - David Blair, Helen Charteris, Linda Elliott, Trevor Gillan, Nicola Henry, John Mallows, Gary Moran, Renee Stewart
North Down - Barbara Herman, Lawrence Patterson, Russell Wether
Strabane - Christopher Cook, Aileen Doherty, Deirdre Hoares, Gina Mays, ‘Milky’ McGowan, Adrian McLoughlin

Games: ‘Ski Trolleys’, ‘Sheriffs of Nottingham’, ‘Truck Push and Disc Stack’, ‘Stepping Stones’, ‘Raft Balance’, ‘Scootering Gruffs’, ‘Grappling Hooks’, ‘Revolving Pole’ (Marathon) and ‘Stepped Dirigible’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Coleraine
 Strabane
 North Down

28
22
20

Coleraine qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Switzerland: transmitted on 5th September 1980

Did You Know? This was the first time a domestic It’s A Knockout heat had been held on a Saturday since the Northern Ireland qualifiers in 1969. The original scheduled date of Sunday 4th May 1980 was rejected by the local council due to it being a Holy Day. The local council removed all fences and netting from the tennis courts to allow the public seating to be erected and for the filming to take place.

Did You Also Know? Game 7 of this heat involved two team members atop metal scaffolding, and the idea was to swing a grappling hook attached to a rope across the gap to another piece of scaffolding, so that it would hold in place whilst one of the team shimmied across. On reaching the other side, the team member had to catch the remaining rope from his colleague and secure it so that he could do the same. On his arrival, the rope was to be released and pulled across to them so that the next scaffolding could be attempted. Strabane went first and only got to the second scaffold. However, when Coleraine started, the team was just slipping the rope around a small vertical end piece of the upright of the scaffold. Stuart Hall announced that he thought that the rope had to be attached to the horizontal beam of the scaffolding (this obviously took more time to attach), and the team finished the course in record time. Before the announcement of the result, the Strabane team coach appealed to referee Arthur Ellis that Coleraine had clearly broken the rules of the game. However, the result was upheld and Arthur Ellis stated that, “There was no question about it, the team had used the equipment to the best of their advantage”.

Did You Also Know? North Down was created under the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act 1973, and includes the towns of Bangor and Holywood.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-10

It's A Knockout 1980

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 6th June 1980, 7.00-7.50pm
Recorded: Sunday 11th May 1980

Venue: Castle Howard, Malton, North Yorkshire
Weather Conditions: Sunny

Teams: Bridlington and North Wolds v. Ryedale v. Scarborough

Team Members included:
Bridlington and North Wolds - Nigel Butterworth, Mark Fenton, Brian Gallagher, Caroline Gallagher, Dawn Holdsworth,
Jean Hyde, Adrian Thompson, Valerie Wilkinson, Walter Wilkinson
Ryedale - Catherine Bonney, Stuart Dawson, Susan Dick, Paul Elliott, Gary Johnson, Richard Johnson, Penny Mittley, Brian ‘Wizzy’ Wood
Scarborough - Carol Buckley, Ian Cherry, Lou Crichlow, David Fletcher, Tony Holden, Christopher Ledley, David Tessart, Brian Whittey

Games: ‘The Drunkards’, ‘Up and Under’, ‘Sand Trucks’, ‘Grand National Carousel’, ‘Gruffs Tag Match’, ‘Ball Strike’, ‘Balloon Burst’, ‘Hoop Ladder’ (Marathon) and ‘Stepped Dirigible’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Bridlington and North Wolds
 Scarborough
 Ryedale

24
23
19

Bridlington and North Wolds qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Italy: transmitted on 12th September 1980

Did You Know? Although appearing as 'Bridlington' on screen, the team was representing the local area of North Wolds. The team’s T-shirts and tracksuits clearly displayed 'Bridlington & North Wolds', not only in this heat, but also when the team went to It’s a Championship Knockout and to Martina Franca in July.

Did You Also Know? Game 7 of this heat was actually Game 5 originally. The game involved three large 15ft high cylindrical nets full of balloons, and the idea of the game was that two blindfolded team members would enter the net from the top and burst all the balloons. However, on the afternoon of recording, the bottom of the Scarborough net came loose from its base and many of the balloons escaped onto the arena and could not be burst. As a re-run was not possible for the team straight away (more balloons were needed immediately), it was decided to re-run the game completely as soon as the net was fixed. However, the original start to this game was never broadcast, and this is the reason the games structure in this heat is different to the other six heats in the series.

Did You Also Know? Former 1978/79 scoregirl Debra Windass made an appearance as a mermaid mascot of the Bridlington and North Wolds team. On winning their Joker game, she was immediately thrown into the fountain at Castle Howard. Debra had also been a member of the 1977 Beverley It’s A Knockout team, and also returned next year as a scoregirl in Heat 2 of the domestic series! An impressive It’s A Knockout career.

Did You Also Know? Bridlington and North Wolds team member Walter Wilkinson was famous back in 1964 by becoming the first athlete from the North of England to break the four-minute mile, which had been predominantly achieved by athletes from the South. He attained this feat at the Stretford racetrack in Manchester.

Did You Also Know? North Wolds and Ryedale were both created under the Local Government Act 1972. North Wolds included the towns of Bridlington, Driffield and Pocklington, but was abolished in 1996. Ryedale includes the towns of Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton and Pickering.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-11

It's A Knockout 1980

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 13th June 1980, 6.55-7.45pm
Recorded: Sunday 18th May 1980

Venue: Leatherhead Leisure Centre, Leatherhead, Surrey
Weather Conditions: Sunny

Teams: Bracknell v. Hertsmere v. Mole Valley

Team Members included:
Bracknell - Michael Bond, Caroline Clarke, Terri Irvine, Dennis Lansley (Team Captain), Martin Scarterfield
Hertsmere - Tony Butcher, David Sanders, Helen Shearer, Christopher Warren, Dave Weston, Linda Whiteley
Mole Valley - Caroline Day, Richard Escott, David Mitchell, Fiona Pankhurst, Richard Piggott, Stuart Trussler

Games: ‘Gruffs Collecting Bones’, ‘Rope Climb Over Pool’, ‘Cranked Boots Football’, ‘Landing on the Mountain’, ‘Oval Drum Roll’, ‘Slippery Slope’, ‘Wheelbarrow Carousel’, ‘Flour Tubes’ (Marathon) and ‘Stepped Dirigible’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Bracknell
 Hertsmere
 Mole Valley

24
22
21

Bracknell qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Belgium: transmitted on 26th September 1980

Did You Know? Stuart Hall, Eddie Waring, Arthur Ellis, Mike Swann and the three scoregirls all arrived in the arena in actor Oliver Reed’s £68,000 Panther Deville car.

Did Also You Know? The first game involved the Gruffs in an elimination game. The idea of the game was for opposing team members to throw bones down the course, and then the Gruffs were to run down and pick up their respective numbered bones and come back to their podiums. But the rules stated that the bones had to be thrown within the limits of the course. Hertsmere which was Bracknell’s adversary, threw the bone out of the course limits on the first two runs, and the Bracknell team’s Gruff did not even have to compete, as its place in the next rounds of the game had already been secured!

Did You Also Know? Although strictly a town in itself, the Bracknell team was actually representing its local district, which was created under the Local Government Act 1972. It included the towns of Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurst and Winkfield. The local authority was renamed Bracknell Forest in 1996. Bracknell Forest would go on to participate in the revival series of It’s A Knockout in 1999.

Did You Also Know? Bracknell team member Terri Irvine was goalkeeper for Aylesbury Town F.C. Ladies’ Team as well as for the England Team!

Did You Also Know? Both Hertsmere and Mole Valley were also created under the Local Government Act 1972. Hertsmere includes the towns of Borehamwood, Bushey, Elstree and Potters Bar and Mole Valley includes the towns of Dorking and Leatherhead.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-12

It's A Knockout 1980

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 20th June 1980, 7.00-7.50pm
Recorded: Sunday 1st June 1980

Venue: Cliff Park, Seaburn, Tyne and Wear
Weather Conditions: Sunny

Teams: Gateshead v. Newcastle-upon-Tyne v. Sunderland

Team Members included:
Gateshead - Jim Atkinson, David Aywin, Steve Barrett, Diane Bell, Angela Corbett, Ian Hornby, Terry Lewis, Dave Roberts, Debbie Ross, George Skidmore, Ian Westwood, Anne Wilson
Newcastle-upon-Tyne - Fergus Donaldson, Kevin Ford, Phil Forsyth, Susan Gipson, Christine Hutchinson, Jane Vasey, John Waterlow
Sunderland - Jean Applegar, Charlie Bentley, Tony Carlisle, Roy Davison, John Debraskey, Ross Edwards, Vivian Holmes, Adrian Kelth, Richard Pitts (Team Captain), Kevin Youdan

Games: ‘The Drunkards’, ‘Carousel Football’, ‘Hoop Swing’, ‘Raft Swing’, ‘Suction Cups’, ‘Gruffs and Beach Balls’, ‘Rocking Disc Balance’, ‘The Monks Crossing’ (Marathon) and ‘Stepped Dirigible’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd

 Gateshead
 Sunderland
 Newcastle-upon-Tyne

27
22
17

Gateshead qualified for Jeux Sans Frontières in Germany: transmitted on 3rd October 1980. The final British team to participate in Jeux Sans Frontières, Arun, qualified as host town for the international British heat.

Did You Know? The opening introduction was made by members of Sunderland’s North Wings Parachute Team, who all landed on a cross in the arena.

Did You Also Know? Sunderland’s team captain was Richard Pitts, who was a member of Sunderland F.C.’s F.A. Cup winning side of 1973, and its team mascot was an 8-year old boy called Stuart Hall!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-13

It's A Celebrity Knockout 1980

Summer Special

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 11th July 1980, 7.05-8.00pm
Recorded: Sunday 29th June 1980

Venue: Fulham F.C. Football Ground (Craven Cottage), Fulham, Greater London
Weather Conditions: Overcast with Sunny Spells

Teams: The Lord’s Taverners v. The Rest of the World

Team Members included: Debbie Arnold, Robin Askwith, Raymond Baxter, John Blythe, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Cannon and Ball, Bobby Charlton, Jess Conrad, Roger de Courcey, Barry Cryer, Linda Cunningham, Suzanne Danielle, Frederick Davies, Windsor Davies, Neil Durden-Smith, Arthur English, Liz Fraser, Peter Glaze, Claire Gordon, Bob Grant, Anita Harris, Bill Hayes, Melvyn Hayes, Nicky Henson, Frazer Hines, Derek Hobson, Rod Hull and Emu, Jan Hunt, John Junkin, Stephen Lewis, Adrian Love, Malcolm Macdonald, Victor Maddern, Kebark Malikyan, Teresa Mann, Mick McManus, Frank Mills, Patrick Moore, Ann Moore, Roy North, Wendy Padbury, Lance Percival, Magnus Pyke, Cardew Robinson, Willie Rushton, Catherine Schell, Harry Secombe, George Sewell, Jim Standon, Sheila Steafel, Jerry Stevens, Rocky Taylor, Alan Tarrant, Meriel Tufnell, Dee Dee Wilde and Pan’s People and Frank Windsor

Games: Unknown

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd

 The Lord's Taverners
 The Rest of the World

23
16

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-14

It's A Championship Knockout 1980

Summer Special

BBC1 Transmission: Saturday 2nd August 1980, 7.00-8.15pm
Recorded: Sunday 15th June 1980

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

Theme: Domestic Re-run

Teams: Arun v. Bracknell v. Bridlington and North Wolds v. Coleraine v. Gateshead v. Kettering v. Rhuddlan v. Rushcliffe

Team Members included:
Arun - Jan Barnes, Martin Eley, Mike Fairs, Penny MacDougall, Geoff Tidyman
Bracknell - Michael Bond, Caroline Clarke, Terri Irvine, Dennis Lansley (Team Captain), Martin Scarterfield
Bridlington and North Wolds - Nigel Butterworth, Mark Fenton, Brian Gallagher, Caroline Gallagher, Dawn Holdsworth, Jean Hyde, Adrian Thompson, Valerie Wilkinson, Walter Wilkinson
Coleraine - David Blair, Helen Charteris, Linda Elliott, Trevor Gillan, Nicola Henry, John Mallows, Gary Moran, Renee Stewart
Gateshead - Jim Atkinson, David Aywin, Steve Barrett, Diane Bell, Angela Corbett, Ian Hornby, Terry Lewis, Dave Roberts, Debbie Ross, George Skidmore, Ian Westwood, Anne Wilson
Kettering - Kate Blissett, Jeanette Butterfield, Roger Davies, Ian Dunns, Alan Fosbrook, Rowley Furness, Clive Hawkins, Peter Norton, Janet Smith, Jane Tight, Susan Wager, Chris Wilds
Rushcliffe - Chris Bukarzer, Penny Howsen, Neil Reeston

Games: ‘Dogs Up Slope’, ’Coconut Shy’, ‘Barrel Jump’, ‘Through the Hoops’, ‘Biting the Apples’, ‘Beam Across Pool’, ‘Pole Climb’, ‘Balloon into Mouth’ (Marathon) and ‘Finding the Bones’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th

 Kettering
 Rushcliffe
 Gateshead
 Bridlington and North Wolds
 Coleraine
 Arun
 Rhuddlan
 Bracknell

47
45
41
38
35
34
31
30

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Entrants 1980: Belgium (B) • France (F) • West Germany (D) • Great Britain (GB)
Italy (I) • Portugal (P) • Switzerland (CH) • Yugoslavia (YU)

Presenters of International Heats:
Mike Vendrengh, Linda Lepomme, Paule Herreman and Michel Lemaire (B), Guy Lux and Simone Garnier (F), Manfred Erdenberger (D), Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring (GB), Milly Calucci and Michele Gammino (I), José Fialho Gouveia and Elàdio Clímaco (P), Georges Kleinmann (CH), Dunya Lango, Bruno Alesio and Mita Trefalt (YU)

Commentators (BBC): Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring
International Referees: Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi
Referees (BBC): Arthur Ellis (Heat 6 only) and Mike Swann (Heat 6 only)

Designer (BBC): Stuart Furber / Executive Producer: Barney Colehan
Producer (BBC): Geoffrey Wilson / Director (BBC): Tony Harrison
Produced by RTBF-BRT (B), A2F (F), ARD-WDR (D), 
BBC North West (GB), RAI (I), RTP (P), 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

1980-15

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 1

BBC1 Transmission: Saturday 9th August 1980, 7.10-8.25pm
Recorded: Wednesday 21st May 1980

Venue: Carré du 8 Mai 1945 (8 May 1945 Square), Antibes, France
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm

Theme: Bacchus and the Wine

Teams: Waremme (B) v. Antibes (F) v. Bellheim (D) v. Rushcliffe (GB) v. Virgilio (I) v. Póvoa de Varzim (P) v. Bülach (CH) v. Titov Veles (YU)

Team Members included:
Rushcliffe (GB) - Chris Bukarzer, Penny Howsen, Neil Reeston

Games: ‘Cups of Wine’, ‘Grapes into Nets’, ‘Crossing the Bridge’, ‘Wine and Carousel’, ‘Grapes into Baskets’, ’Bottles, Wines and Cubes’, ‘Gongs and Dummies’, ‘Gongs and Bicycles’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Barrels Up Slopes’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th

 CH • Bülach l
 D • Bellheim
 F • Antibes
 GB • Rushcliffe
 I • Virgilio
 B • Waremme
 P • Póvoa de Varzim
 YU • Titov Veles

51
50
44
41
38
29
22
19

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-16

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 2

BBC1 Transmission: Saturday 16th August 1980, 7.10-8.25pm
Recorded: Tuesday 27th May 1980

Venue: A Marina (The Marina), Vilamoura, Portugal
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Warm

Theme: The Wonders of the Sea

Teams: Marche-en-Famenne (B) v. Périgueux (F) v. Todtnau (D) v. Rhuddlan (GB) v. Teramo (I) v. Vilamoura (P) v. Cernier (CH) v. Kikinda (YU)

Games: ‘Rain-Clouds’, ‘Mermaids’, ‘Sardine Cans’, ‘Fat Lady on Skis’, ‘Chimneys’, ‘Octopuses’, ‘Walking Up Pole’, ‘Cats, Oysters and Seagulls’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Ribbons and Boats’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
2nd
4th
5th
5th
7th
8th

 D • Todtnau l l
 GB • Rhuddlan l
 P • Vilamoura l
 I • Teramo
 CH • Cernier
 YU • Kikinda
 B • Marche-en-Famenne
 F • Périgueux

44
40
40
38
33
33
32
31

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-17

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 3

BBC1 Transmission: Saturday 23rd August 1980, 7.05-8.20pm
Recorded: Tuesday 10th June 1980

Venue: Marinirati (The Marina), Portorož, Yugoslavia
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm

Theme: The Navy

Teams: De Haan-Wenduine (B) v. Châteauroux (F) v. Bad Wurzach (D) v. Kettering (GB) v. Anagni (I) v. Coimbra (P) v. Agno (CH) v. Portorož (YU)

Team Members included:
Kettering (GB) - Kate Blissett, Jeanette Butterfield, Roger Davies, Ian Dunns, Alan Fosbrook, Rowley Furness, Clive Hawkins, Peter Norton, Janet Smith, Jane Tight, Susan Wager, Chris Wilds

Games: ‘Baggage and Ship’, ‘Lifebelts and Slope’, ‘Sailors and Roses’, ‘Washing the Deck’, ‘Egg, Cup and Spoon’, ‘Sailors, Barrels and Bottles’, ‘Fruit Machine’, ‘Salt and Horses’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Mermaids and Sails’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
5th
6th
7th
8th

 YU • Portorož l l
 F • Châteauroux
 B • De Haan-Wenduine
 GB • Kettering
 CH • Agno
 D • Bad Wurzach
 P • Coimbra
 I • Anagni

46
41
39
39
37
32
29
25

Did You Know? Yugoslavian team Portorož led this competition from start to finish, except after Game 7 (which it had to miss out), when the leader on the scoreboard was the British team from Kettering!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-18

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 4

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 5th September 1980, 7.00-8.20pm
Recorded: Wednesday 25th June 1980

Venue: Carré du Marché (Market Square), Fribourg, Switzerland
Weather Conditions: Dry and Warm followed by Light Rain

Theme: Sunday Pastimes in Switzerland

Teams: Charleroi (B) v. Troyes (F) v. Groß-Zimmern (D) v. Coleraine (GB) v. Grado (Grado) (I) v. Lousã (P) v. Fribourg (CH) v. Varaždin (YU)

Team Members included:
Coleraine (NI) - David Blair, Helen Charteris, Linda Elliott, Trevor Gillan, Nicola Henry, John Mallows, Gary Moran, Renee Stewart
Grado (Grado) (I) - Mauro Atturo, Claudio Bean, Laura Bressan, Loredana Cosatto, Antonio Casciaro, Cristina Filiput, Alessandro Gasparetti, Marino Gregoni, Fabio Persi, Aldo Piatto, Beniamino Ros, Francesca Rup, Leandro Tognon, Margherita Zacheli

Games: ‘Bells and Doves’, ‘Flags and Cheese’, ‘Catching Carp’, ‘Carrying Eggs’, ‘Pumping the Organ’, ‘Bottles and Beds’, ‘Riding the Pig’, ‘Ship Down Slope’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Trees Down Slope’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
6th
8th

 B • Charleroi l
 I • Grado (Grado)
 CH • Fribourg
 GB • Coleraine
 D  • Groß-Zimmern
 F • Troyes
 YU • Varaždin
 P • Lousã

43
41
40
33
32
31
31
26

Did You Know? After three heats of the Fil Rouge, game failure prevented Portuguese team Lousã and Swiss team Fribourg from finishing. A reserve game - ‘Sack Race Down Slope’ - was held after the final game. If the original result had stood, Italian team Grado would have finished in 3rd place on the Fil Rouge. However, in the reserve game, it finished in 5th place, robbing it of 2 points, an equal 1st place with Belgian team Charleroi and a qualifying place in the International Final!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-19

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 5

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 12th September 1980, 7.05-8.20pm
Recorded: Wednesday 9th July 1980

Venue: Martina Franca, Italy

Theme: Return to Nature

Teams: Merksem (B) v. Rumilly (F) v. Willingen (D) v. Bridlington and North Wolds (GB) v. Martina Franca (I) v. Santarém (P) v. Lodrino (CH) v. Budva (YU)

Team Members included:
Bridlington and North Wolds (GB) - Nigel Butterworth, Mark Fenton, Brian Gallagher, Caroline Gallagher, Dawn Holdsworth, Jean Hyde, Adrian Thompson, Valerie Wilkinson, Walter Wilkinson
Martina Franca (I) - Elisabetta Bruno, Angelo Carbotti, Paolo Carrieri, Anna Maria de Ingeniis, Lucia Lodeserto, Martino Lodeserto, Patrizia Miola, Armando Pellegrini, Riccardo Ponte, Ester Russo, Giuseppe Schiavone (Team Captain), Rita Semeraro, Achille Tuzzi, Vito Zaino

Games: ‘Chickens’, ‘Sunflowers’, ‘Donkeys’, ‘Glow-Worms’, ‘Collecting Beans’, ‘Stingrays’, ‘Sheep’, ‘Frogs’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Squirrels’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
5th
7th
8th

 B • Merksem l l
 I • Martina Franca l
 YU • Budva
 CH • Lodrino
 F • Rumilly
 D • Willingen
 GB • Bridlington and North Wolds
 P • Santarém

54
44
41
32
31
31
30
20

Did You Know? As the theme for this heat was ‘Return to Nature’, it gave Italian games designer, Popi Perani the usual ideal conditions to create some wonderfully coloured costumed games. These included ‘Chickens’, ‘Donkeys’, ‘Glow-Worms’, ‘Stingrays’, ‘Sheep’, a Fil Rouge involving ‘Frogs’ and a final game which involved ‘Giant Squirrels’.

Did You Also Know? Belgian team Merksem was so determined to win this heat, it had ensured victory before the final game. Leading Italian team Martina Franca by 9 points, Merksem increased its lead by actually winning the final game and gaining another 8 points, whilst Martina Franca came in 2nd place, scoring 7 points.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-20

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 6

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 19th September 1980, 7.00-8.20pm
Recorded: Wednesday 23rd July 1980

Venue: Avisford Park, Walberton, Arundel, West Sussex, Great Britain
Weather Conditions: Very Warm and Humid

Theme: Magic

Teams: Saint-Ghislain (B) v. Aurignac (F) v. Groß-Umstadt (D) v. Arun (GB) v. Monreale (Sicilia) (I) v. Machico (Madeira) (P) v. Meiringen-Hasliberg (CH) v. Tuzla (YU)

Team Members included:
Arun (GB) - Jan Barnes, Martin Eley, Mike Fairs, Penny MacDougall, Geoff Tidyman

Games: ‘The Disappearing Spots’, ‘Vanishing Act’, ‘Flying Carpets and Fakirs’, ‘Card Tricks’, ‘Rope Tricks’, ‘The Magic Box’, ‘The Magic Dice’, ‘Budgies and Bells’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Rabbits and Hats’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

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

 CH • Meiringen-Hasliberg l l
 F • Aurignac
 D • Groß-Umstadt
 I • Monreale (Sicilia)
 GB • Arun
 B • Saint-Ghislain
 P • Machico (Madeira)
 YU • Tuzla

55
44
39
38
37
34
27
27

Did You Know? This heat was unfortunately marred by the death of co-organiser Jonathan Lewis, his body being found in the River Arun. Details can be found in Knockout TV.

Did You Also Know? After Swiss team, Meiringen-Hasliberg’s win at Walberton, the BBC presented the team with one of the giant rabbit costumes which was used on the final game. The reason for the gesture was that Meiringen-Hasliberg lies in the Hasliberg valley, and the literal meaning of Hasliberg is ‘rabbit mountain’. The ‘rabbit’ made an appearance a year later when the Swiss heat was held at Meiringen-Hasliberg.

Did You Also Know? The Fil Rouge in this heat involved giant budgerigars traveling along a perch and ringing a bell. Along with the giant rabbits (see note above), the budgerigars were to be a constant games feature in the 1981 season of It’s A Knockout.

Did You Also Know? Swiss team Meiringen-Hasliberg was comprised of some very strong team members and was determined to win this heat. So much in fact that the team (like Belgian team Merksem in Heat 5) had already won the heat before the final game, and were 8 points clear of their nearest rival, French team Aurignac. But the team was not done yet and did not ‘lie on their laurels’ - whilst Aurignac was struggling on the game finishing in 5th place, Meiringen-Hasliberg had already come in 2nd on the game, securing another 7 points.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-21

Jeux Sans Frontières 1980

Heat 7

BBC1 Transmission: Friday 26th September 1980, 7.05-8.20pm
Recorded: Wedneday 27th August 1980

Venue: Stadspark (City Park), Diest, Belgium
Weather Conditions: Overcast

Theme: Conservation of the Earth

Teams: Diest (B) v. Coutances (F) v. Baunatal (D) v. Bracknell (GB) v. Cortona (I) v. Figueira da Foz (P) v. Airolo (CH) v. Kraljevo (YU)

Team Members included:
Airolo (CH) - Ferruccio Aldighiero, Simona de Agostini, Luca Figgini, Marinella Jori, Massimo Filippini, Renato Gianetti, Franz Gut, Paul Gut, Edy Mottini, Sandro Pedretti, Donatella Pessina, Simona Peverelli, Ulisse Piccardi, Eliano Ramelli, Roberta Ramelli, Marcel Scheidegger
Bracknell (GB) - Michael Bond, Caroline Clarke, Terri Irvine, Dennis Lansley (Team Captain), Martin Scarterfield

Games: ‘Collecting Banners’, ‘Collecting Food’, ‘Climbing on Globe’, ‘Water-Powered Cars’, ‘Tug-o-War and Couples’, ‘Saving Energy at Home’, ‘Drilling for Oil’, ‘Melting the Icebergs’ (Fil Rouge) and ‘Irrigating the Desert’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th

 CH • Airolo l
 D • Baunatal
 YU • Kraljevo
 B • Diest
 GB • Bracknell
 F • Coutances
 I • Cortona
 P • Figueira da Foz

53
45
44
41
36
34
29
22

Did You Know? Although the fourth heat of Game 4 seemed to be played out without problems, the West German team protested to the referees regarding mechanical failure of the water-powered cars being used. The protests were upheld, the game abandoned and a reserve game - a sack race - was played after the final game - which Bracknell promptly won!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

1980-22