BBC axes Question of Sport after 53 years

The BBC has axed Question of Sport after 53 years on the air, it has been confirmed.

The quiz show has been a staple of BBC One's schedules since 1970 but the most recent series - the 52nd - will be the last.

A spokesperson said: "Due to inflation and funding challenges difficult decisions have to be made, therefore Question of Sport is currently not in production at the moment."

The news comes three years after comedian Paddy McGuinness took over from long-time host Sue Barker, who had been in the chair since 1997.

Speaking last year about her departure from the show, Barker said: "I was asked to announce I was leaving for the good of the show. I was astounded.

"Was that because I was too old or not good enough? Either way, it was insulting. Did they expect me to sack myself?

"Naively, I'd expected more after 24 years. Why had we been shown so little respect?"

Following Barker's exit the show's ratings continued to slide, with an episode in August this year managing just 730,000 viewers.

Written by
Neil Wilkes

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