Simply the Best was at the centre of ITV1's assault on Saturday night prime-time in Summer 2004. The eight feature-length programmes, recorded on the beautiful Channel Island of Jersey, were based on Intervilles (as was It's A Knockout, of course) and were positively bursting at the seams with celebrities. While not an own goal of the magnitude of ITV1's later Saturday night flop, Celebrity Wrestling, Simply the Best failed to find a significant audience and was laid to rest after just one series. Indeed, it was unceremoniously moved to a Saturday afternoon slot for its last edition - never a good sign.

The eight programmes were all recorded at a temporary arena with space for one thousand spectators which was erected solely for Simply the Best. The arena stood on reclaimed land in the Waterfront area of St. Helier. The events involved games featuring two teams comprised of celebrities and members of the public, who had to tackle physical tasks against each other. The games were interspersed by musical interludes from top chart artistes.

In a divergence from the traditional qualifying system in Jeux Sans Frontières, qualification for the final not by highest points score, but by the Champions' Wall events instead. Each team tackled the Champions' Wall at the end of each heat, with the points haul counting towards a head start on this last game. The two winning teams that completed in the Champions' Wall in the quickest time went through to the final. This same system is employed in Intervilles.

Simply the Best 2004

Presenters: Kirsty Gallacher and Phil Tufnell
Cheerleaders: from the Scottish Claymores American Football Team

Based upon the original format: Intervilles
Created by Guy Lux and Developed by Mistal Productions France

Producer: Lestyn Williams
Director: Ian Hamilton

Channel Television / Granada Television for ITV1
in association with Mistral Productions France

2004-01

Simply the Best 2004

Heat 1

ITV1 Transmission: Saturday 17th July 2004, 7.30-9.05pm
Recorded: Friday 2nd July 2004, 7.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Weather Conditions: Windy and cold.

Teams: Cardiff v. Liverpool

Celebrity Team Members included: Weather forecaster Sian Lloyd and television presenter Tim Vincent for Cardiff; actor Alex Fletcher and Kevin Simm of Liberty X for Liverpool

Musical Performers included: Katie Melua, Lionel Richie and The Shapeshifters

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Cardiff
 Liverpool

1 minute 48 secs
-

15
12

Did You Know? This first edition had a troubled recording session which lasted five hours and finished around midnight. This was due to windy, cold weather conditions, which obviously made it uncomfortable for competitors, performers and spectators alike. Subsequent recordings started an hour earlier to prevent similar over-runs with the rest of the series.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

2004-02

Simply the Best 2004

Heat 2

ITV1 Transmission: Saturday 24th July 2004, 7.30-9.10pm
Recorded: Monday 5th July 2004, 6.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Teams: Belfast v. Birmingham

Celebrity Team Members included: Former boxer Barry McGuigan and former Miss UK Gayle Williamson for Belfast; Ritchie Neville of the boy band Five and singer Toyah Willcox for Birmingham

Musical Performers included: Anastacia, Natasha Bedingfield and Busted

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Birmingham
 Belfast

1 minute 56 secs
-

22
12

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

2004-03

Simply the Best 2004

Heat 3

ITV1 Transmission: Saturday 31st July 2004, 7.35-9.10pm
Recorded: Friday 9th July 2004, 6.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Teams: London v. Manchester

Celebrity Team Members included: Television presenter Jeff Brazier and actress Lucy Speed for London; television presenter Sarah Cawood and comedian Paul Tonkinson for Manchester

Musical Performers included: Jennifer Ellison, Gabrielle and V

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 London
 Manchester

2 minutes 8 secs
-

18 or 24*
9

* Final score for London not clear. We have two differing records on this. If anyone can confirm one score or the other as being correct, please let us know.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

2004-04

Simply the Best 2004

Heat 4

ITV1 Transmission: Saturday 7th August 2004, 7.35-9.10pm
Recorded: Sunday 11th July 2004, 6.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Weather Conditions: Heavy rain

Teams: Edinburgh v. Leeds

Celebrity Team Members included: Actor Ross Davidson and actress Catherine McQueen for Edinburgh; actress Malandra Burrows and actor Ben Freeman for Leeds

Musical Performers included: Macy Gray, Mark Owen, Rachel Stevens and The 411

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Leeds
 Edinburgh

1 minute 38 secs
-

15
11

Did You Know? The promoters issued too many tickets for this event. The tickets, which were free for all the recordings, were given out online, at cinemas and (unofficially) via a phone line. The over-issue unfortunately resulted in some ticket holders being refused entry to the arena. This naturally lead to disappointment, anger and complaints in the local press in Jersey.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

2004-05

Simply the Best 2004

Heat 5

ITV1 Transmission: Saturday 14th August 2004, 6.10-8.10pm
Recorded: Wednesday 14th July 2004, 6.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Teams: Brighton and Hove v. Newcastle

Celebrity Team Members included: Actor John Altman and television presenter Holly Willoughby for Brighton; actress Terri Dwyer and Chris Park of boy band Phixx for Newcastle

Musical Performers included: Gabrielle, Darren Hayes, Javine and The Sugababes

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Brighton and Hove
 Newcastle

2 minutes 8 secs
-

9
17

Did You Know? For this edition and the next, the programme's duration was extended from an hour and a half to two hours. This also accounts, in part, for the earlier timeslot.

Did You Also Know? Despite being the higher scorers in this event, Newcastle lost because they squandered their head start on the Champions' Wall, when their team member couldn't get over the top. He was overtaken by the Brighton and Hove competitor, who won victory for his team.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

2004-06

Simply the Best 2004

Heat 6

ITV1 Transmission: Saturday 21st August 2004, 6.15-8.15pm
Recorded: Friday 16th July 2004, 6.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Weather Conditions: Sunny

Teams: Glasgow v. Portsmouth

Celebrity Team Members included: Beauty queen Nicola Jolly and disc jockey Steve McKenna for Glasgow; singer Leilani Dowding and television presenter Stuart Miles for Portsmouth.

Musical Performers included: Gabrielle, Kristian Leontiou, Shaznay Lewis and Brian McFadden

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Glasgow
 Portsmouth

1 minute 48 secs
-

12*
12

* Glasgow won the tie-breaker.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

2004-07

Simply the Best 2004

Heat 7

ITV1 Transmission: Saturday 28th August 2004, 6.40-8.10pm
Recorded: Monday 19th July 2004, 6.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Weather Conditions: Sunny with Showers

Teams: Bristol v. Sheffield

Celebrity Team Members included: Supermodel Sophie Anderton and swimmer Mark Foster for Bristol; television presenter Anna Walker and footballer Lee Sharpe for Sheffield

Musical Performers included: Big Brovas, Brian McFadden, McFly and Mike and the Mechanics

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Sheffield
 Bristol

1 minute 43 secs
-

15
9

Did You Know? In the week between the transmission of this heat and the final, ITV screened a behind the scenes documentary about the making of Simply the Best. Further details about this programme can be found in Series Guide: Knockout TV.

Did You Also Know? After two consecutive heats that ran for two hours, this 7th edition reverts to the ninety-minute format of the earlier programmes.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

2004-08

Simply the Best 2004

The Final

TV1 Transmission: Saturday 4th September 2004, 3.25-5.10pm
Recorded: Thursday 22nd July 2004, 6.00pm

Venue: St. Helier Waterfront, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Teams: Leeds v. Sheffield

Celebrity Team Members included: Actress Malandra Burrows and actor Ben Freeman represented Leeds; television presenter Anna Walker and footballer Lee Sharpe for Sheffield

Musical Performers included: Girls Aloud, Ronan Keating (withdrew due to ill health) and VS

Result:

 Team:

Champions' Wall:

Points:

1st
2nd

 Leeds
 Sheffield

1st
2nd

-
-

Did You Know? By winning this series final, Leeds earned a prize of £50,000. The winners' celebrations and the end of the series were marked by a spectacular late night fireworks display launched from the nearby tourist attraction, Elizabeth Castle in St. Aubin's Bay.

Did You Also Know? In another variation on running time, this final occupied a 105 minute timeslot. ITV1's lack of faith in the series also lead to this final being unceremoniously dumped in a mid-afternoon graveyard slot.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in Mistral/Granada Television Archives

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