A Question of Sport

Hosts

Stuart Hall (pilot show only, 1968) David Vine (1970 – 1978, 1989) David Coleman (1979 – 1997) Bill Beaumont (2 programmes, 1996) Sue Barker (2 programmes in 1996, then 1997 – 2021) Stephen Fry (Sport Relief specials 2002 – 2006) Jimmy Carr (Sport Relief special 2008) Jason Manford (A Question of Sport: Super Saturday)

Team Captains

Cliff Morgan (1970 – 1975) Henry Cooper (1970 – 1979) Fred Trueman (1976 – 1977) Brendan Foster (1977 – 1979) Emlyn Hughes (1979 – 1981, 1984 – 1988) Gareth Edwards (1979 – 1981) Willie Carson (1982 – 1983) Bill Beaumont (1982 – 1996) Ian Botham (1989 – 1996) John Parrott (1996 – 2002) Ally McCoist (1996 – 2007) Frankie Dettori (2002 – 2004) Matt Dawson (2004 – 2021) Phil Tufnell (2008 – 2021)

Broadcast (BBC1)

Pilot: 2 December 1968 Series: 5 January 1970 – Present

Packagers

BBC

A Question of Sport is a long-running sports-based British game show.

Premise

Two teams of sport stars answer questions on the world of sports, each team consists of three members (one team captain and two sport stars).

Quiz format

The rounds played include:

• Picture Board – numbered squares reveal sports person for contestant to identify
• Action Round – contestants are asked questions about a montage of sporting action
• What Happened Next? – sports footage is halted at optimum moment and teams are asked what occurred thereafter (often an answer of amusement)
• Observation Round – sports action is shown and contestants are asked questions about details of what they have just seen, e.g. "What colour hat was a certain person wearing?" or "How many balls can you see in the following clip?" The footage for the latter question will be of many different events and all show balls, or whatever item has been asked
• Mystery Guest – teams have to identify a sports star in unfamiliar circumstances and with unconventional camera angles. (For many years, the backing music for this item was Johnny Nash's 1972 song "There Are More Questions Than Answers".)
• Home or Away – contestants can answer a question on their own sport for one point ('home'), or a question on any sport for two points ("away"). Team captains always receive "away" questions.
• Captain's Challenge – the captains have a contest in different feats.
• One Minute Round – teams are asked nine questions in 60 seconds
• On the Buzzer – teams answer questions at quickfire pace (this was only introduced in later years – in the Vine and Coleman eras, the show would end with the remaining six Picture Board questions)

Trivia

A Question of Sport is arguably the longest running UK game show in terms of the years it has been around. Countdown, on the other hand, is said to be the longest running one in terms of series and episodes.

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