We recently had the chance to interview Eddie Houghton, who for many years worked on It's a Knockout and Jeux sans Frontieres.
Enjoy reminiscing with Eddie as he reveals what really went on.
www.its-a-knockout.co.uk asking the questions:
How did you end up working for the BBC?
Eddie: I started working for the BBC in 1974 as a rigger driver for the Outside Broadcast Engineering Division in Manchester .
I initially saw the job advertised in the local paper and thought it sounded interesting, applied and was eventually selected for interview with a number of other candidates, and got the job.
The job entailed driving HGV Class 1 vehicles, assembling cameras and operating them on tracks while filmed took place, installation of cables and putting the rigs in and operating while the recordings were taking place, derigging etc.
www.its-a-knockout.co.uk: What other things were you involved in with the BBC?
Eddie: The types of jobs we covered were literally everything by the BBC outside broadcasting unit in Manchester . For example, all sports, variety shows, concerts, interviews, programmes such as ‘One Man and His Dog' ‘Good Old Days', Pro Celebrity Golf, political conferences, Snooker, It's a Knockout and Jeux san Frontiers etc.
www.its-a-knockout.co.uk:What was it like working with Stuart / Edddie Wearing?
Eddie: My memories of IAK and JSF are that we all had good fun though worked very hard and lots of times in adverse weather conditions. Stuart Hall was always very pleasant to work with and very professional.
www.its-a-knockout.co.uk:How long did the show take to make as it was highlights in the hour for the viewer?
Eddie: The show very often was spread over a whole week which involved setting up the games, cameras, cables etc., then rehearsals, then the show followed by the de-rig.
www.its-a-knockout.co.uk:Were there any little stories or mishaps you can relate?
Eddie: Memories of certain shows. The Aviemore Christmas show, there was no real snowfall for the recording of the show. The Fire Brigade supplied foam to look like the real thing. The show was recorded with the foam then the weather changed after the show and we all got snowed in for 3 days. Photos of the JSF at Sherbourne show that good fun with the crew getting dressed up for the actual recording in pirates gear. To my knowledge this was the last show.
www.its-a-knockout.co.uk:Do you remember the time when Stuart Hall wet himself watching Dougie the penguin fall over, were there any other moments when Stuart Hall lost it?
Eddie: My only connection with Stuart Hall was purely professional at the recordings, and I have no contact with him now. I wasn't on the show when he ‘lost it' re the penguin.
www.its-a-knockout.co.uk:Did you see the Channel 5 effort a few years ago, why didn't it work?
Eddie: The Channel Five effort I saw a few of the programmes with Frank Bruno and Cheggers. My personal opinion was that the show was a little stale by now and we had seen much better productions on the original series.
See more pictures from Eddie on his album page
Well we would like to thank Eddie and his wife for all the work spent in providing us with this insight into the nostalgic world of IAK and JSF.
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