A Question of Sport

Image: Fred Trueman, David Vine and Henry Cooper on A Question of Sport in April 1974. 

The television quiz A Question of Sport first aired on 5 January 1970. The Radio Times promised "50 years of world sporting action on film, 50 of our greatest sporting stars - in the studio during the series".

Presenter David Vine introduced team captains Henry Cooper and Cliff Morgan. Guest panellists on the first edition were George Best, Ray Illingworth, Lillian Board and Tom Finney.

Only a handful of presenters have hosted the programme over its long run. David Coleman replaced Vine in 1979 and Sue Barker took over in 1997. Since 2021 Paddy McGuinness has been in the hot seat, along with Sam Quek and Ugo Monye. 

Many team captains have taken part including Ian Botham, Bill Beaumont, Emlyn Hughes, Brendan Foster, Willie Carson, Ally McCoist, Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson. Guests have come from all areas of sport and included, in 1987, Princess Anne.

The format of the quiz has remained largely unchanged and generally starts and ends with the picture board round. Another perennial favourite is the Mystery Guest round, where the panellists have to identify a sports personality from a film in which they are glimpsed doing something out of character, such as staring through binoculars or gardening. A Question of Sport has survived, inspiring newcomers like they Think It's All Over, and regularly provides specials for Sport Relief.