Its A Knockout Hire, Events & News

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This is a nice compilation of clips and interviews based around the ‘winter sports’ version of Its A Knockout at Avimore -- a regular venue for the old BBC games show… featuring Geoff Wilson and Stuart Hall

“They didn’t realise at the time these were the best years of their lives… “

Ahhh it takes you back ….  LISTEN TO  THIS rendition of the happy upbeat theme tune form the BBC’s Its A Knockout. The tune “Bean Bag” was originally written and performed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass who still have a dedicated web site here.

Recently spotted on Ebay….

..a rare franked letter from 1971 – depicting the great International  Heat of It’s a Knockout in Blackpool known as Jeux Sans Frontieres.

Get your bids in !

‘SkoolDays’ web site has a list and dates of all the International Heats and Finals across Europe. I see Aviemore, Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe get a mention.

You can still take part in your own private Its A Knockout Competitions across the land by hiring the event yourself… get some teams together at work (team Building) with friends and family.. it really is just a FANTASTIC DAY OUT !!

… It’s A Knockout was very funny and great family fun in my day !!

Well I am a 70′s child so the original It’s A Knockout is a fond and happy memory of what was good about family TV viewing. From a large family, it was pretty much compulsive viewing for all seven of us. We laughed and laughed and laughed some more… how often does that happen in families now ?

Well I recently stumbled on an old web site called” SkoolDays” which has loads of info and stories of old Family TV Prog’s  to reminisce about!

+ It has loads of pics and history from It’s A Knockout - check it out ! Pretty much a definitive guide to all things It’s A Knockout.

Hire It’s A Knockout…

You can still hire It’s A Knockout for your corporate team building event, carnival, sports day or big family fun day. it’s still great fun for every one.

Well most people can tell you who hosted the BBC’s It’s a Knockout right? Here is a list of the famous five I remember…

MacDonald Hobley (the original host, 1966) | David Vine (1967-71) | Stuart Hall (1972-82 + some specials) |  Keith Chegwin (Channel 5 90s).

It’s A Knockout Assistants

There were lots of people in the ‘knockout staff’ over the years. Here’s some you may remember:

Ted Ray (60′s) | Katie Boyle (60′s) | Arthur Ellis ( referee ) | Eddie Waring ( judge and commentator)

The Hi De Hi team also stepped in in ’81 (Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc and Su Pollard).

Assistants and score keepers I can remember were (a lot form Blue Peter/Swap Shop):
Sarah Greene , Peter Duncan, Simon Groom, Maggie Philbin, Keith Chegwin + Floella Benjamin, Brian Cant, Stu Francis, The Krankies, Bill Owen, Kathy Staff, Frazer Hines and in the 90s version, Frank Bruno and Nell McAndrew

Hire It’s A Knockout…

You can still hire It’s A Knockout for your corporate team event, carnival, sports day or big family fun day. it’s still great fun for every one. And you can still get a “The Very Best of  Its a Knockout – Here Come The Belgians” video through Amazon Online of some fave clips.

So think you know about the BBC’s It’s A Knockout yeah ?

Well here are 10 related ‘Knockout’ questions to test you courtesy of the Squidoo site.

See how you get on.

Yes the legendary It’s a Knockout Compére and Sports Broadcaster Stuart Hall is 80 years young on Christmas Day  !!!

And he is still spreading the smiles, laughter and general good cheer… never a dull moment with Stuart. What a guy… who still likes the sound of his own voice but he CAN talk and is at 80, just as an eloquent speaker as he has always been… a master of words and a natural presenter.

There have been many tributes recently. The good ol’ BBC set a 2 hour radio tribute to Stuart Hall. If you’re quick you may still find it on the BBC’s iPlayer Service.

The Guardian has a piece of him too… “I love words. Words like chocolate and custard and crystal and iconoclast.”

And his beloved Manchester City (Stuart loves them through thick and thin) have also set tributes with a video interview on the MUFC web site.

• Page: Happy 8th Birthday Stuart
• Video Clip / Interview
• Biog for Stuart Hall (BBC Presenter)

Cheers Stuart… see you at 90 yeah ?