Top of the Form

"Top of the Form" was a BBC radio and television quiz show for teams from secondary schools, which ran for a remarkable 38 years.

Description

It was hosted by Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, Lionel Gamlin, Richard Dimbleby, David Dimbleby, John Ellison, Robert MacDermot, Kenneth Horne, John Edmunds, John Dunn, Tim Gudgin (1965-86), Bob Holness (1974-76), Paddy Feeny (1976-86) and Geoffrey Wheeler (1962-75).

It was broadcast on the BBC Light Programme 1948-67, then BBC Radio 2 (sometimes simulcast on BBC Radio 1) 1967-70, and BBC Radio 4 1970-86. The programme migrated to TV, where it ran from 1962-75, and was called "Television Top of the Form". The tune "Marching Strings" by Marshall Ross was the theme for many years, though for the last few series, Emerson Lake and Palmer's recording of Aaron Copland's "Fanfare For The Common Man" was used.

Contestants

The series tended to feature grammar schools; in later years, as these schools declined, comprehensive schools sometimes featured, but less often, and there was an increasing dominance by independent schools.

Notable former contestants include film star Hugh Grant, who represented Latymer Upper School;cite episode |title=Inside the Actors Studio: Hugh Grant |series=Inside the Actors Studio |url=http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio|serieslink=Inside the Actors Studio |credits= Presenter: James Lipton |network=Bravo |airdate=2002-05-12 |season=8 |number=813 |transcripturl=http://youtube.com/watch?v=5p4KP212qo0] and actor Darien Angadi , whose story was told during a BBC Four documentary about the quiz programme.

Top of The Form was also satirised in the pre-Python series At Last The 1948 Show.

References