Home > Memories >

Prestwick stars in It's a Knockout - 1971

12 January
  • The It's a Knockout scoreboard from Pretwick's international heat in France

It's not often that one of the UK's most popular TV shows comes to town, but that's what happened in 1971, when Prestwick hosted an episode of the BBC's 'It's a Knockout', with the local team taking on rivals from Falkirk in a UK heat of the pan-European show.

The programme was the fourth in the 1971 series of It's a Knockout, and although the programme had not yet reached the popularity and massive audiences of the late 1970s, the arrival in the town of the BBC crew was a major event.

The games were played at in Prestwick on Sunday 9th May 1971, with the show hosted by Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring, with Arthur Ellis the referee. The programme was broadcast on BBC1 the following Wednesday, 12th May at 7.10pm.

Unfortunately, the tape of the programme appears to have been lost, with none of it existing in the BBC archive.

The Prestwick team were the winners of the programme by 14 points to five, and the winning team from Prestwick went on to take part in an edition of the European show, Jeux Sans Frontieres in July.

The international heat was held in Lac d'Allier, Vichy in France, and Prestwick performed credibly, finishing fourth in a heat which was won by Tournai from Belgium

One of the members of the Prestwick team was Brian Pickin, who also took part in the show for Ayr in 1975.

You can read more about the Prestwick Knockout programme - and about It's a Knockout - here.

Did you, or do you know anyone who took part in the programme? Or maybe you were in the crowd on the day? Let us know - and share your memories and photos here.

And if you have any other memories of Prestwick - the town or the people - appearing on television - or even in the movies, then share them with everyone here on s1prestwick


Have your say...

Add your own comment

Add

You need to be logged in to add memories & pictures. If you haven't already, it's quick & easy to Sign up.

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with. If you have forgotten your password we can send you a reminder.

Sign In
  4. Forgotten Password?

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with.

Password reminder

  1. If you have forgotten your password, simply enter the email address associated with your account below and we will send you a link to reset it.

    Please note for security reasons the link will expire within 1 hour. After that you will need to request another link.

  4. <<Return to Login

Your sign in details have been retrieved and an email is on its way to you!

<<Return to Login

Contribute

  1. By posting on s1prestwick you’re agreeing to abide by our Posting Policy. Your email address won’t be displayed to the public.

  1. Here's your chance to make sure your contribution is exactly as you'd like it.

  3. Your photos will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    Your video will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    Your photos and video will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

  4. By clicking 'send it' you’re agreeing to abide by our Posting Policy.

Memories, Nostalgia & History

History doesn't have to be in black & white

Your memory of a local character or a school photo from the last ten years can be just as interesting as wars and Victorians.

Add

You need to be logged in to add memories & pictures. If you haven't already, it's quick & easy to Sign up.

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with. If you have forgotten your password we can send you a reminder.

Sign In
  4. Forgotten Password?

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with.

Password reminder

  1. If you have forgotten your password, simply enter the email address associated with your account below and we will send you a link to reset it.

    Please note for security reasons the link will expire within 1 hour. After that you will need to request another link.

  4. <<Return to Login

Your sign in details have been retrieved and an email is on its way to you!

<<Return to Login

Contribute

  1. Write as much or as little as you like. Sometimes just a picture says it all, although please give enough detail for people to know what it is.

    Posting Tips

  4. If your contribution is about a specific location, please enter the nearest postcode (if known)

  1. Here's your chance to make sure your contribution is exactly as you'd like it.

  3. Your photos will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    Your video will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    Your photos and video will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

  4. By clicking 'send it' you’re agreeing to abide by our Posting Policy.

More prestwick Memories

  • The Shaw Monument

    by Roger Griffith 28 February

    The Shaw Monument, an 18th century folly, located on rising ground (NS 36778 26122) near the...… 4 Comments

  • Please help find this house

    by alan picton 16 August

    My great great grandparents lived in Carlaverock Rowgin House in the monkton & prestwick area in 1881. Does anyone know the history of the house and if it still exists? Many thanks, Alan Picton alan_picton@sky.com…

  • Prestwick Cross 1954

    by Graeme Smith 14 September

    This is bound to bring back a few memories - a picture of Prestwick Cross, taken by the Evening Times back in 1954.The snap was taken in June, and even though it's black and whit… 3 Comments

  • Horsing around on Prestwick Beach

    2 September

    Here's a trip down memory lane... This picture was taken for the Evening Times in May 1956. It shows the ponies which gave children rides along the sands at Prestwick on their first summer outing of t…

Want a site like this for your community? Suggest a new location
© Herald & Times Group. All rights reserved.
Contact us | Terms of use | Privacy policy | Newsquest Media Group