Kick Start (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Kick Start


caption =
show_name_2 =
genre =
format = Sport
creator =
director =
creative_director =
developer =
presenter = Peter Purves (presenter)
John Lampkin (commentator)
Dave Lee Travis
starring =
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Renate Vaplus
opentheme = Be My Boogie Woogie Baby by Mr. Walkie-Talkie
endtheme =
composer =
country = UK
language =
num_seasons = 13
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
executive_producer =
co_exec =
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
production company(s) = White Rabbit Productions
camera =
runtime = 25min
network = BBC One
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = 6 August 1979
last_aired = 1 June 1988
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
production_website =
imdb_id = 0454724
tv_com_id = 74762

Infobox Television
show_name = Junior Kick Start


caption =
show_name_2 =
genre =
format =
creator =
director =
creative_director =
developer =
presenter = Peter Purves (presenter)
John Lampkin (commentator)

starring =
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country =
language =
num_seasons =
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
executive_producer =
co_exec =
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
production company(s) =
camera =
runtime =
network =
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = 1980
last_aired = 17 August 1992
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
production_website =
imdb_id =
tv_com_id = 74680

"Kickstart" was a popular series on BBC television screened between 1979 to 1988. The show began originally as a summer replacement to fill in the slot vacated by another BBC1 show Nationwide for the summer, hosted by Dave Lee Travis. [ [http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/index.php/Kick_Start UKGameshow.com] ]

For the following series, DLT was replaced by Peter Purves of Blue Peter fame, the show was the first (and most popular) television series to feature the sport of motorcycle trials. In later years, a similar programme - Junior Kickstart - was also screened. Of a similar theme, this programme was for younger contestants, notably Dougie Lampkin. Perhaps the best remembered incident from both versions of the programme was when a 10-year old competitor in Junior Kick Start (Mark Scofield) fell from an obstacle into a ditch. Two volunteers from the St John Ambulance attempted to help but themselves fell into the ditch in comical fashion; commentator Peter Purves had to apologize as he struggled to hold back laughing at the incident [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y4OosFHsjjo] .

In both programmes, contestants on a trials bike would attempt to complete a course against the clock featuring a variety of obstacles to be overcome. Typical obstacles included riding over a VW Beetle or ascending a steep banking or cliff-face. Penalties, in the form of time in seconds being added to their round time, would be given for putting a foot on the ground whilst tackling an obstacle or touching/knocking over specified parts of an obstacle (such as the "bunny hop"). The courses and obstacles were designed to be slightly easier for the younger contestants in Junior Kickstart.

The other notable contestants to appear on the show is Jean-Pierre Goy, who later became a stunt motorcyclist, most notable for his stunt sequence for the James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies" [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J9uOmWuKr0 YouTube - Kick Start ] ] [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0333008/ Jean-Pierre Goy ] ]

References