Top of the Form
Contents |
Host
Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, Lionel Gamlin, Richard Dimbleby (early hosts)
John Ellison and Robert MacDermot
Later hosted or co-hosted by: Kenneth Horne, John Edmunds, John Dunn, Tim Gudgin (1965-86), Bob Holness (1974-6), Paddy Feeny (1976-86)
Broadcast
BBC Light Programme, 1 May 1948 to 1967
BBC Television, 25 April 1953 (special)
BBC Radio 2, 1967-70 (sometimes simulcast on Radio 1)
BBC Radio 4, 1970-86
Synopsis
Contest between two secondary (read: grammar) schools. Each series was run in a knockout format. It also transferred to television as, logically enough, Television Top of the Form.
Theme music
Traditionally, "Marching Strings" by Marshall Ross, performed by Ray Martin and His Concert Orchestra.
For the last few series, Emerson Lake and Palmer's recording of Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare For The Common Man" was used.
Long-serving co-host Tim Gudgin was best known as the bloke that read out the Full Time scores on Grandstand.
