Sportsnight

Sportsnight was a successor to Sportsview which started on 8 April 1954.[2] Sportsview was devised by Paul Fox, later Controller of BBC1 and Peter Dimmock was the original host for a decade (and did host occasional editions from 1964–68).[3] The BBC 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 replaced by Sportsnight with Coleman from 12 September 1968.[4] A junior version of Sportsview also ran from 1956 to 1962.

Sportsnight was originally shown on Thursday nights. The original presenter was David Coleman and the programme was billed as Sportsnight with Coleman. It moved to Wednesdays in 1973. The theme tune was composed by Tony Hatch.[1]

The show broadcast many sports and acted as a midweek version of Grandstand, although almost all of its coverage was in highlights form, often featuring midweek football action, particularly international matches and FA Cup replays. Pre-recorded features were also part of the programme. In the final few years, the Sportsnight brand was used when the BBC was showing live European football.

The programme was not broadcast during the summer months, generally on air from September until the following April.

The final edition of Sportsnight was broadcast on 14 May 1997, with live coverage of that year's UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final.[5]

• Peter Dimmock (Sportsview, 1954–1968) (occasional host from 1964-1968)
• Frank Bough (Sportsview, 1964–1968)
• David Coleman (1968–1972)
• Tony Gubba (1972–1975)
• Harry Carpenter (1975–1985)
• Steve Rider (1985–1991)
• Desmond Lynam (1991–1997)