Not all appearances involving the royal family on the BBC have been cringeworthy. Long before Prince Andrew, Pizza Express, and his revelations of being sweat free, and just before the toe-curlingly terrible It’s a Royal Knockout, there was a television programme that managed to paint the royal family in a positive light.
Princess Anne appearing on the 200th edition of A Question of Sport was a memorable moment in so many ways. With just four channels to choose from there were many shared television experiences like this throughout the decade, as the likes of JR, Charles and Diana, Den and Angie, and Taylor and Davis attracted millions of viewers.
Therefore, the announcement that Princess Anne would be the first royal to appear on a television quiz show was significant. The BBC had tried to keep the news under wraps, yet added security around their Manchester studios attracted attention. Filmed in January 1987, the programme featuring the Princess Royal would be aired on Thursday 5 February and was eagerly anticipated.
Regularly pulling in over 10 million viewers every week, A Question of Sport was the kind of show that could be enjoyed by all the family, even if many of the questions went unanswered by those watching. And for sport nerds like me, it was a highlight of the week.
“A Question of Sport is one of the few programmes I watch for pure amusement,” Guardian television critic Nancy Banks-Smith wrote after Princess Anne’s appearance. “You don’t have to pay me, it is my pleasure.” Hosted by the avuncular David Coleman, it was a simple quiz that was both comforting and entertaining.
The undoubted star of the show at the time was former Liverpool and England defender Emlyn Hughes. His cheeky manner, friendly nature, and warmth radiated into our front rooms. “He effervesces like a bucket of bubbles,” Banks-Smith noted, adding that Hughes often acted like a small boy. “In a grown man his passionate desire to win would be embarrassing,” she concluded.
Playing the straight man to Hughes’ jester was the retired England rugby union captain Bill Beaumont. A captain since 1982, Beaumont had a blind spot during the Mystery Guest round, occasionally struggling to select the gender of the sports star. Identifying Anne Hobbs as Jim Watt, and Gillian Gilks as Bryan Robson were just two examples of Beaumont’s bloopers, much to the amusement of Coleman.
But it would be an answer given by Hughes during the picture board round two weeks before the famous episode that proved to be the first chapter of this tale. “Is it John Reid?” Hughes enquired, as a picture of a mud-splattered jockey appeared. A guffawing Coleman could not contain himself. “Is it Princess Anne?” the grinning Beaumont responded. “It’s Princess Anne,” Coleman revealed.
Understandably there was much hilarity over Hughes’ error. Covering his face, Hughes shook his head. “Don’t put that out, please,” he begged. “By the way, Emlyn I’ve got some more news for you,” a delighted Coleman replied. “We have been trying to persuade her to come on the programme.”
Fast forward two weeks and the country sat down at 8.25pm to witness the special occasion. “Hello, welcome to edition number 200 of Question of Sport,” Coleman began. “And we’re pleased to say this a royal occasion because we are joined tonight by her Royal Highness the Princess Anne,” Coleman continued, before listing the Princess’ equestrian credentials.
Appearing relaxed, Princess Anne joined Scotland fly half John Rutherford on Hughes’ team, with Beaumont joined by Nigel Mansell and Linford Christie, both future stars of their sports. Immediately the programme settled into a familiar pattern with the picture board round, as the royal guest instantly made an impression.
With Beaumont’s team unable to identify the showjumper revealed under Mansell’s car number five, her royal highness stepped up. “It’s Windjammer,” she stated, correctly naming the horse. Coleman declared that he needed the name of the jockey too. “You didn’t say you wanted both,” Princess Anne jokingly responded, quick as a flash. “I can see you’re with the right captain,” Coleman laughed.
“Well done, mate,” Hughes said, grinning from ear to ear. “You can come back again.” Again the clearly comfortable royal replied. “It is actually a girl, Emlyn,” referring back to Hughes’ previous faux pas. “Ooh, clever,” Hughes said, pulling a face as the audience lapped it up. It was an appropriate start to a show that still brings a smile to the face.
Taking an early 9-0 lead, Hughes’ team were never likely to be pegged back. But the funny moments kept coming, as always during the Beaumont-Hughes era of the programme. In the Home or Away round, Christie elected to go for an Away question for two points in a vain hope of narrowing the gap.
“Which sport includes an Albion, a New National and a Long Western?” Coleman asked. Mansell’s initial guess at lawn mower racing brought more chuckles, before Beaumont opted for greyhound racing. “We’ve discounted yachting,” Hughes stated as the question was passed across. “Because I’ve spelt it wrong,” he wryly smiled, indicating that the Princess Royal had pointed this out to him.
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Hughes was in his element, taking another opportunity to take centre stage during what happened next. After Beaumont’s team failed to guess what happened next to a cross country horse and jockey, Hughes cleared the way for his royal friend. “Tell ‘em, pal,” he cheekily said, as royal protocol seemingly flew out of the studio.
Reaching for her handbag, the Princess Royal threatened to clump her captain on the head. She then repeated the move during the final picture board round, after letting out a shriek of laughter at Hughes’ scribbled suggestion on his notepad that the jockey on screen was Princess John Reid.
There was time for Mansell, who was surprisingly entertaining throughout, to declare that the final picture was in fact David Essex – it was Mark Hughes – with Emlyn Hughes’ team winning 31-22 as he took a 3-2 lead in the series.
The response to the show was unanimously positive. Princess Anne’s easy going nature was commended and it was clear for all to see just how much fun she had. A lot of critics noted the role Hughes played in making the Princess Royal feel at home, even if he did struggle with etiquette.
“The exuberant Hughes found it a little difficult to keep his hands to himself, but the royal guest took his proddings, pattings and arm flinging very sportingly,” Jeannette Kupfermann wrote in the Daily Mail. It was a PR triumph for both the programme and the Princess.
In truth it was peak Question of Sport. Watched by over 19m viewers, inevitably things would never be quite this good again. Hughes left a year later, making the unthinkable move to the ITV rival show Sporting Triangles. The show remained popular with Ian Botham replacing Hughes, but as the 90s progressed, the magic wore off.
Sometimes you wonder if your mind plays tricks. Are your memories of something from your childhood quite as good as you remember? Does nostalgia bias cloud your judgment, and once you revisit the event in question then you will be disappointed when viewed through your cynical adult eyes.
But watching the Princess Anne Question of Sport episode on YouTube was reassuring. The general warmth of the programme, the relative qualities of Coleman, Beaumont and Hughes, and the role played by the Princess Royal produced a show that has aged well. It was an important television event of the 1980s that should be remembered fondly. As for It’s A Royal Knockout …
This is an article by That 1980s Sports Blog
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