Grandstand was one of the BBC longest running sports shows but ended on Sunday 28th January 2007. Here is the end of the programme, presented by Clare Balding, with some of the highlights of its 49 year history.
Even after 13 and a half years (writing this in June 2020) it still doesn't seem like a normal Saturday, and sometimes Sunday afternoon without hearing the Grandstand theme on the telly.
@@iangascoigne8231 WTF? Because I enjoy watching sport on TV that I am not talented enough to be involved in at a professional level, I need to get out more?
Richard Bullock WTF? If after 13 and half years, it still doesn’t seem like a normal Saturday and sometimes Sunday afternoon without hearing the Grandstand theme on the telly, then yes you really need to get out more. What’s not been talented enough to play professional sport got to do with anything anyway?
Richard Bullock Yes but after 13 and a half years do I miss Grandstand then no. If there’s nothing to watch then there’s nothing to watch. And I don’t miss the BBC presenter smug fest either.
I think they'd love to have carried on, but they couldn't get any rights to show sports, so it would have been a bit crap. Football fans these days would also prefer to watch Jeff Stelling than get limited score flashes every 10-15 minutes while watching horse racing.
Oh the excitement watching the tele-printer then the vidi-printer when your teams name started to appear on the screen, and the anticipation of the score.
Always reminds me of my Dad when i was a kid watching the horse racing & Dad getting excited in his chair. my dad passed away last year...💔😢 all good things come to an end..☹
Nothing man... the boat race... 2 boat loads of posh tossers faffing around on the Thames. It's mad as I live in Ireland now y er can ALWAYS see England games (football an rugby) on terrestrial YET would need a subscription to Sky at al back home. Utter Madness
I felt really nostagic watching this. I didn't realise it had ended so long ago. I have lived in NZ for 20 years,where sports coverage is dire to say the very least. David Coleman and Des Lyneham were bloody gods so long ago.
Whether you watched Grandstand on the BBC as a youngster or an older viewer when it was still on TV this theme song ("News Scoop" by Len Stevens if anyone was wondering what it's actually called and who it was composed by) is arguably the most iconic part of the program.
The fact that this is on BBC 2 says it all. Grandstand had sport for everyone and anyone. The words that set up your Saturday afternoon "And now on BBC 1, Grandstand, with Desmond Lynam"
It was only 2 years after that she asked Liam treadwell to show the world his teeth after his triumphant grand national win on mon mome at 100/1 !! RIP Liam -- ❤️
The days before the internet and mobile phones sitting in here at 4.40 for the final scores and the racing results was a highlight or switching on the radio on your way home from the game.
Haven’t heard the theme music to Grandstand for years until now . Brought a lump in my throat . Reminds me also of Des running through the league tables after full time at 5pm with Bruce Hornsby’s ‘The Way It Is ‘ playing in the background ‘.
There is an argument that Grandstand became less relevant, but only because the BBC didn't adapt to a change in viewing habits. 24/7 news coverage (mainly Sky) and the internet have, if anything, squashed the creativity of picking the best sporting moments for the week in-hand. Grandstand was an own introduction to many different sports, and nothing has replaced it.
Which sports/bands did Grandstand/Top of the Pops show that involved us taking over other countries and shafting them for everything we could get out of them?
I will never ever get tired of the theme music! The theme tune inspired the Motors great track “Forget About You” and Teach In’s Eurovision winning song Ding-A-Dong.
You knew it was time to start getting ready to go to the game when you heard this music. Get a bite of lunch while watching Football Focus. Then go and get the scarf out, make sure you’ve got money for the bus, a program, sweeties, money to get in and Chippy on the way home. Who remembers waiting to see if your game was on or not due to weather? This was not a tv show, it was a lifestyle.
I wouldn't get in time for final score because I was too busy chasing the away supporters in my flares so, I could kick em up the arse with my platform shoes.
48 years then it was gone, even 12 years ago the BBC was losing sports & now its left with virtually nothing, they can never have a programme like this again, not enough content for 30 min let alone a whole afternoon !
A great childhood memory that one and the Man Utd v Arsenal final a couple of years later too with all the late drama. Fulham v West Ham was the first one I remember watching. What a great day of tv the Cup Final day used to be. Now they can't even stick to the 3pm kick off.
Cup Final '78! Now a Tractor Boy of over 50 years standing, remember so well walking into school on the Monday after the Cup Final with my blue & white Ipswich Town scarf on (was the only Town fan in a school of 1200!), and the Teachers letting me wear it in lesson under my jumper as they knew what it meant to me being in a school full of kids supporting the London Clubs, Liverpool or Man Utd!
I honestly thought Grandstand ended in about 2000. Genuinely surprised it was as late as 2007. I was maybe at too many Saturday football matches at the time, to be around to actually watch Grandstand.
*Very sad day* indeed for sport when they decided to stop this iconic show. The theme tune alone had become an institution. Sports coverage would never be the same again and you clearly see the emotion in Clare Balding's voice at the end. It was reported that she burst out crying and almost broke up with her girlfriend after that.
Why oh why oh why did they have to take grandstand and World of sport off the air it has left a big hole in my Saturday afternoons there will never again be sports programs like them the memories of those wonderful Saturdays will live on forever in my mind thank god for the theme music of both I often sit down and pour myself a drink and spend hours getting lost down memory lane and reminisce about those brilliant and wonderfully happy days
@@darren253 I wouldn't be a bit surprised at all if they were the reasons why Grandstand and World of Sport were taken off air unfortunately money talks
The fact this show ended at the Great Yarmouth festival of bowls tells its own story sadly! I mean it’s hardly riveting live sport for the box is it! What a show though - loved it! And the theme tune music, I still play it as an upbeat tune! It’s on all major music services! Footy Focus to - loved it!
Wonder if/when someone has a recording to post of the video printer coming up with Scunthorpe result - missing the "S" - obviously a sacking for a backroom staff member! I watched it live! Think he said oh there appears to be a problem with the printer!
***** It was an honest question. I feel terribly stupid now, but at least I know :) It's just that often these pieces of music are written independantly. Like Jessica by the Allman brothers for Top Gear or what not. Thanks for your answer. :)
I am Karmoon don't worry F1 is the funniest of tunes, Fleetwood Mac - The Chain great tune very Fleetwood (80's) then silence then roughly 3mins20secs rolls in the epic F1 sound! Classic Mick Fleetwood sound!
I am Karmoon You probably know by now, but the music is called Grandstand and it's by Keith Mansfield on the legendary KPM music library. /watch?v=5TMZivxjj34
MrPeterpiper1969 Steve Rider had gone to ITV by that point to anchor their Formula One coverage, as well as doing some of their live Champions League matches. He's still there as host of their British Touring Car Championship coverage.
Michael Smith I am 50 years old,[Cerbral Palsy] siince birth. Living in the UK. Used to care for my 86 year old mother [who is now in a Local Care home] Am now caring for my 60 year old brother who has a non-cancerious tumour. Hence the phrase 50 year old disabled carer. GOD BLESS!
This was a sad day, shame the BBC couldn't revise it, instead we have repeats of Bargain Hunt, Money for nothing. Why not bring it back for big events, cup final day, Wimbledon, challenge Cup, Olympics etc. Miss the theme tune.
This was the pivotal moment for the BBC. After this went it was on the road to ruin. Now, it is an utter disgrace of a broadcaster. I would doubt I've seen more than five hours of their output in the last two years.
My sentiments exactly. A piece of TV history in the making lending itself to the full length theme that was very rarely heard, and we got a typical BBC response, Repeat after repeat after repeat!!
It says everything abut why Grandstand had to end that for their last shot on their final show they were covering Bowling-and no disrespect to those who love Bowling but it had represents the kind of sport that would bring in mass audiences.
You can hear in her voice that no one thinks BBC Sport can carry the can. Indeed it couldn't. How on earth cancellation of the oldest sports programme could compete with Sky
They could have at least ended it after the end of the 06/07 football season. Nowadays you have a lot of tv filler. Sundays were never the same after Grandstand finished.
