Sportsnight
Encyclopedia
Sportsnight was a midweek BBC television
sports programme that ran from 1968 until 1997.
was the original host for a decade. The BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award evolved as a spin-off from Sportsview, when the last show of its inception year featured the Sports Review of 1954. Frank Bough
took over as main host in 1964 and Sportsview was cancelled/replaced by Sportsnight with Coleman from 1968.
era dubbed as Sportsnight with Coleman until it moved to Wednesdays in 1973. Its theme tune was composed by Tony Hatch
.
The show broadcast many sports and acted as a midweek version of Grandstand
, although almost all of its coverage was in highlights form. Midweek football action was often shown on Sportsnight, particularly international matches and FA Cup replays.
The programme was not broadcast during the summer months and was generally on air from September until the following April.
A further show, Sport on Friday, ran from 1987 until 1997, acting as a companion to both Sportsnight and Grandstand. Its main live coverage was of sports such as snooker, bowls and horse racing and was shown on BBC2 on Friday afternoons between October and April and ran from 2.15pm until 3.50pm with a three-minute newsbreak at 3pm. The presenter was originally David Icke
but he was replaced by Helen Rollason
in 1990.
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
sports programme that ran from 1968 until 1997.
Sportsview
Sportsnight was a successor to Sportsview which started on 8 April 1954. Sportsview was devised by Paul Fox, later Controller of BBC1 and Peter DimmockPeter Dimmock
Peter Harold Dimmock CBE, CVO is a pioneering former sports broadcaster of British television during its formative years in the 1950s. He was the first host of the BBC's long-running Grandstand and also the first host of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.-Early life and career:Dimmock...
was the original host for a decade. The BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award evolved as a spin-off from Sportsview, when the last show of its inception year featured the Sports Review of 1954. Frank Bough
Frank Bough
Frank Bough is a retired British television presenter who is best known as the former host of BBC sports and current affairs shows including Grandstand, Nationwide and Breakfast Time, which he fronted alongside Selina Scott.-Early life:...
took over as main host in 1964 and Sportsview was cancelled/replaced by Sportsnight with Coleman from 1968.
Sportsnight
Sportsnight was shown on Tuesday nights and during the David ColemanDavid Coleman
David Coleman, OBE is an English former sports commentator and TV presenter who worked for the BBC for almost fifty years. In 2000, he was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the Olympic movement....
era dubbed as Sportsnight with Coleman until it moved to Wednesdays in 1973. Its theme tune was composed by Tony Hatch
Tony Hatch
Anthony Peter "Tony" Hatch is an English composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and producer.-Early life and early career:...
.
The show broadcast many sports and acted as a midweek version of Grandstand
Grandstand (BBC)
Grandstand was a British television sport programme. Broadcast between 1958 and 2007, it was one of the BBC's longest running sports shows, alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Its first presenter was Peter Dimmock...
, although almost all of its coverage was in highlights form. Midweek football action was often shown on Sportsnight, particularly international matches and FA Cup replays.
The programme was not broadcast during the summer months and was generally on air from September until the following April.
A further show, Sport on Friday, ran from 1987 until 1997, acting as a companion to both Sportsnight and Grandstand. Its main live coverage was of sports such as snooker, bowls and horse racing and was shown on BBC2 on Friday afternoons between October and April and ran from 2.15pm until 3.50pm with a three-minute newsbreak at 3pm. The presenter was originally David Icke
David Icke
David Vaughan Icke is an English writer and public speaker, best known for his views on what he calls "who and what is really controlling the world." Describing himself as the most controversial speaker in the world, he has written 18 books explaining his position, and has attracted a substantial...
but he was replaced by Helen Rollason
Helen Rollason
Helen Frances Rollason MBE was a British sports journalist and television presenter.-Early life:Born 11 March 1956, Helen Rollason was an adopted child. She was born in London, grew up in Bath and studied at Chelsea School of Physical Education, Eastbourne and Dalhousie University, in Canada...
in 1990.
Regular hosts
- Peter DimmockPeter DimmockPeter Harold Dimmock CBE, CVO is a pioneering former sports broadcaster of British television during its formative years in the 1950s. He was the first host of the BBC's long-running Grandstand and also the first host of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.-Early life and career:Dimmock...
(Sportsview, 1954–1964) - Frank BoughFrank BoughFrank Bough is a retired British television presenter who is best known as the former host of BBC sports and current affairs shows including Grandstand, Nationwide and Breakfast Time, which he fronted alongside Selina Scott.-Early life:...
(Sportsview, 1964–1968) - David ColemanDavid ColemanDavid Coleman, OBE is an English former sports commentator and TV presenter who worked for the BBC for almost fifty years. In 2000, he was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the Olympic movement....
(1968–1972) - Tony GubbaTony GubbaTony Gubba is a British journalist and sports commentator. He was educated at Blackpool Grammar School in Blackpool, a coastal town in England's North West...
(1972–1975) - Harry CarpenterHarry CarpenterHarry Leonard Carpenter OBE was a British BBC sports commentator broadcasting from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1994. His speciality was boxing...
(1975–1985) - Steve RiderSteve RiderStephen Rider is an English sports presenter, and was the anchorman of ITV's football coverage, which included the Champions League, England Internationals, the FA Cup and the 2006 World Cup. He anchored ITV's Formula One coverage from 2006 to 2008, and football coverage from 2006 to April 2010...
(1985–1991) - Desmond Lynam (1991–1997)