BBC Sport Final Grandstand Ending - January 2007

Grandstand was one of the BBC longest running sports shows but ended on Sunday 28th January 2007. Here is the end of the programme, presented by Clare Balding, with some of the highlights of its 49 year history.

[@mfletch3205]

It’s difficult to explain to anybody under 20 why Grandstand was so great. But I’d start with the second theme tune!

[@mgpowis]

It's pretty easy to explain really, sport used to be sport, but then it became a business and grandstand was all about the sport

[@davebirch1976]

It wasn't officially Saturday afternoon until you heard the Grandstand theme tune.

[@peterwilliamskelhorn6675]

​@@davebirch1976thats true. On KZbin you can listen to the grandstand theme at 12.15 on Saturday

[@Richard-Bullock]

Even after 13 and a half years (writing this in June 2020) it still doesn't seem like a normal Saturday, and sometimes Sunday afternoon without hearing the Grandstand theme on the telly.

[@iangascoigne8231]

Richard Bullock You need to get out more.

[@Richard-Bullock]

@@iangascoigne8231 WTF? Because I enjoy watching sport on TV that I am not talented enough to be involved in at a professional level, I need to get out more?

[@iangascoigne8231]

Richard Bullock WTF? If after 13 and half years, it still doesn’t seem like a normal Saturday and sometimes Sunday afternoon without hearing the Grandstand theme on the telly, then yes you really need to get out more. What’s not been talented enough to play professional sport got to do with anything anyway?

[@Richard-Bullock]

@@iangascoigne8231 have you any concept of nostalgia, and looking back with rose tinted glasses?

[@iangascoigne8231]

Richard Bullock Yes but after 13 and a half years do I miss Grandstand then no. If there’s nothing to watch then there’s nothing to watch. And I don’t miss the BBC presenter smug fest either.

[@johnchapman8180]

Still have not forgiven the BBC for this. For many sports lovers Grandstand was iconic and created many memories when I was growing up

[@RevStickleback]

I think they'd love to have carried on, but they couldn't get any rights to show sports, so it would have been a bit crap. Football fans these days would also prefer to watch Jeff Stelling than get limited score flashes every 10-15 minutes while watching horse racing.

[@tomthomassony8607]

Today people consume sport and no longer feel privileged just being allowed to watch it.

[@mgpowis]

@@tomthomassony8607 Nail on the head!

[@eclectica1]

Not forgiven them for what? They literally didn't have anything of note to show at it's end. Belt up!

[@darren253]

Sadly murdoch Sky bought all the rights to sport. And fans were foolish to pay.

[@seanwood8883]

One of my favourite sports programmes, growing up as a kid. It's theme music was iconic, and the service too. Sad day when that ended 😢

[@Stringbean421]

Grandstand with David Coleman, Frank Bough, World of Sport with Dickie Davies, The Big Match with Brian Moore,..I miss them all.

[@iestyndavies7287]

Stringbean - Don’t forget Saint & Greavsie!

[@rajnirvan3336]

Those were best days of Saturday afternoon sport

[@seanwood8883]

Oh yes, they were the good old days. Happy Times 🙂

[@seanwood8883]

@@rajnirvan3336 I agree totally

[@andyjohnstone5513]

Love the grandstand theme tune love the big match revisited tune watch a few matches on their brilliant show back in the day

[@suffolkpompey]

Oh the excitement watching the tele-printer then the vidi-printer when your teams name started to appear on the screen, and the anticipation of the score.

[@0rbit80y]

you know it!!

[@glenworrell4902]

My childhood ends with this at the age of 34. 13 years on and it still needs to come back

[@TrevorSteven]

Should never have been axed. Bring it back!

[@madabbafan]

But thanks to Sky etc the BBC doesn't have enough live sport anymore to make it worthwhile.

[@adrianosler1682]

bbc only sport priorty is football snd wimbledon

[@ianmore34jokeman56]

mat mells sexiest pig 🐷

[@ianmore34jokeman56]

mat mells big dickhead then

[@iangascoigne8231]

TrevorSteven They would have hardly anything to show.

[@alexandersmith7407]

All those sports "to look forward to" at the end there... What's the difference a few years makes! There's nothing left!

[@stephenduncan3605]

Alexander Smith Sky pinched it all and now BT Sport!

[@helenfox6121]

@@stephenduncan3605 :'D

[@antonydandrea]

And there is literally nothing....

[@Isleofskye]

Yet they did not mention " Wimbledon" which they have always done !

[@tinytechs482]

Nothing man... the boat race... 2 boat loads of posh tossers faffing around on the Thames. It's mad as I live in Ireland now y er can ALWAYS see England games (football an rugby) on terrestrial YET would need a subscription to Sky at al back home. Utter Madness

[@oakwood6922]

As a child you always knew 9:30am was Swap Shop followed at 12:15pm by Grandstand on a Saturday.... Great days!

[@Loverboy19691]

This end theme meant one thing for me, sports results, then Dr Who !!

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

It meant a merciless and sustained beating for me😞

[@carolinehirst4921]

And then Generation Game.

[@nigelclats6970]

I felt really nostagic watching this. I didn't realise it had ended so long ago. I have lived in NZ for 20 years,where sports coverage is dire to say the very least. David Coleman and Des Lyneham were bloody gods so long ago.

[@declanthomas1996]

So many great memories on grandstand a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon

[@Synthematix]

Heartbreaking, i have very happy memories of watching this and world of sport with my Uncle who sadly died in 1986

[@jimmyodriscoll9273]

Always reminds me of my Dad when i was a kid watching the horse racing & Dad getting excited in his chair. my dad passed away last year...💔😢 all good things come to an end..☹

[@mercuryvapoury]

Wonder why they didn't play the full theme at the end instead of just looping the same bit over and over....

[@orourkedafootball]

The days before the internet and mobile phones sitting in here at 4.40 for the final scores and the racing results was a highlight or switching on the radio on your way home from the game.

[@Ad-gn8pl]

The fact that this is on BBC 2 says it all. Grandstand had sport for everyone and anyone. The words that set up your Saturday afternoon "And now on BBC 1, Grandstand, with Desmond Lynam"

[@Isleofskye]

Lynam PLEASE !

[@Ad-gn8pl]

@@Isleofskye damn it autocorrect

[@Isleofskye]

Hey ! You can't edit your comment as it makes me look a right plonker :)

[@cookric555]

that was on a sunday at that time

[@miniroll32]

There is an argument that Grandstand became less relevant, but only because the BBC didn't adapt to a change in viewing habits. 24/7 news coverage (mainly Sky) and the internet have, if anything, squashed the creativity of picking the best sporting moments for the week in-hand. Grandstand was an own introduction to many different sports, and nothing has replaced it.

[@andrewforeman2168]

Whether you watched Grandstand on the BBC as a youngster or an older viewer when it was still on TV this theme song ("News Scoop" by Len Stevens if anyone was wondering what it's actually called and who it was composed by) is arguably the most iconic part of the program.

[@mayorip]

The music, the music please send me back in time !!

[@MrStevenastley]

The fact that Clare Balding had the last word says it all really.

[@0rbit80y]

i sort of ..... kind of....... hear what your saying. I love Clare, but I still hear what your saying.

[@thelstanedwardsson4374]

😁😁😂😂🤣🤣👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@empty-ed]

It was only 2 years after that she asked Liam treadwell to show the world his teeth after his triumphant grand national win on mon mome at 100/1 !! RIP Liam -- ❤️

[@Mr___X]

mate, you think that's bad, go and watch mark lawrenson's last football focus presented by...errr, alex scott.

[@bettyswunghole3310]

I *_think_* I know what you're getting at...and I agree.

[@crispendaysh3401]

I miss grandstand I used to love watching grandstand

[@Isleofskye]

I only tuned in now for nostalgia as BBC 1 had no sport on this afternoon at all. Think a Consumer programme was on at 1.00PM !

[@user-no2ic3uy4e]

It makes me want to cry hearing the end credits of Grandstand because it's all about the past and youth

[@MrStevewoods]

Haven’t heard the theme music to Grandstand for years until now . Brought a lump in my throat . Reminds me also of Des running through the league tables after full time at 5pm with Bruce Hornsby’s ‘The Way It Is ‘ playing in the background ‘.

[@lylepeacock2300]

Bring back grandstand what a show of great sport

[@clydelewis13]

BEST SPORT PROGRAM AND GREAT MEMORIES ESPECIALLY THE ICONIC MUSIC

[@tonybennett7681]

Anyone else still miss the videprinter?

[@Don-Carillo]

Sky killed everything

[@willlovesgaz]

3:20 - sweet sweet Murray Walker "oooh i'm sorry!!" classic 😂😂😂

[@raphaelrau1728]

Bring it back! There’s no reason why not to!

[@jonmel]

Raphael Rau becasue 90% of the live sport is owned by satellite tv

[@AhHighlights]

@@jonmel sky tv ruined my Saturdays from 1230

[@pumphol]

48 years then it was gone, even 12 years ago the BBC was losing sports & now its left with virtually nothing, they can never have a programme like this again, not enough content for 30 min let alone a whole afternoon !

[@jinglis07]

You knew it was time to start getting ready to go to the game when you heard this music. Get a bite of lunch while watching Football Focus. Then go and get the scarf out, make sure you’ve got money for the bus, a program, sweeties, money to get in and Chippy on the way home. Who remembers waiting to see if your game was on or not due to weather? This was not a tv show, it was a lifestyle.

[@grahamd5418]

Rushing back home after the game for final score. I was lucky enough to live only a twenty minute walk away from my local teams ground.

[@WorldCupWillie]

I wouldn't get in time for final score because I was too busy chasing the away supporters in my flares so, I could kick em up the arse with my platform shoes.

[@calebmumby5803]

Grandstand has the best theme tune ever can't believe it's not on tv anymore

[@thehorror7135]

Grandstand and Top of the Pops leaving the air was the true sign of the end of the British Empire.

[@user-gi5nh6ng7g]

Which sports/bands did Grandstand/Top of the Pops show that involved us taking over other countries and shafting them for everything we could get out of them?

[@thehorror7135]

@@user-gi5nh6ng7g get a sense of humour moron.

[@dmaxho]

Top quality comment haha

[@evertonporter7887]

The end of TOTP with Jimmy Savile closing the hanger doors leaves a sour note now...what a horrible man he turned out to be!

[@AlcatelMobile-th6zd]

I did the BBC Grandstand theme tune in band on a Friday afternoon in APU at Burton South Derbyshire College in 2021-22.

[@mrhammadmossop1988ul-haq]

Thanks for this upload

[@MultiVince95]

Sunday 28th January 2007

[@aerialexplorer772]

Love the fight in the background at 5:00

[@ianpemberton89]

Their days were numbered when they started showing bowls

[@raphaelrau1728]

I will never ever get tired of the theme music! The theme tune inspired the Motors great track “Forget About You” and Teach In’s Eurovision winning song Ding-A-Dong.

[@colinryan315]

Really miss BBC coverage of horse racing especially royal ascot the Cheltenham festival 😢

[@ballysboots6937]

When the BBC was worth watching.

[@joosiej85]

they don't make theme tunes like that any more!

[@Ad-gn8pl]

You need to find the full length version with guitar solo 🤯

[@Craig.E]

The 1997 Grand National, where people of Liverpool opened up their homes for all the race goers who were evacuated with no where to go. 👏

[@loonylaura85]

What happened?

[@tomthomassony8607]

Yes, my invalid grandfather went to stay with a Liverpool family. Let’s just say his rectum was absolutely destroyed that night.

[@imgoingtocountdownfromthir4580]

I ended up sharing a taxi back to Manchester, I think it was about £35 between 4 of us.

[@sidneygreen9120]

Apparently they were other people's homes 😉👍

[@lbukem4259]

I honestly thought Grandstand ended in about 2000. Genuinely surprised it was as late as 2007. I was maybe at too many Saturday football matches at the time, to be around to actually watch Grandstand.

[@TherymasterWidnes]

This should be brought back to 2024 for the intro alone!

[@leeroybrown5762]

Happy childhood memories of Saturday afternoon watching Grandstand 👍

[@mattinfullvision9598]

Bloody hell I miss Grand Stand. If you like sport it was the place to be of a Saturday afternoon

[@newstarcadefan]

The BBC's Grandstand is up there with ABC's Wide World of Sports. Both are gone, yes, but not forgotten.

[@Sjmby95]

This brings back memories of my childhood

[@darrenjohnbryant51]

Grandstand please return

[@iainclark5964]

Cup Final Grandstand, the icing on the cake! Osborne 1 nil!

[@mattmid7012]

A great childhood memory that one and the Man Utd v Arsenal final a couple of years later too with all the late drama. Fulham v West Ham was the first one I remember watching. What a great day of tv the Cup Final day used to be. Now they can't even stick to the 3pm kick off.

[@alienxna6511]

Cup Final '78! Now a Tractor Boy of over 50 years standing, remember so well walking into school on the Monday after the Cup Final with my blue & white Ipswich Town scarf on (was the only Town fan in a school of 1200!), and the Teachers letting me wear it in lesson under my jumper as they knew what it meant to me being in a school full of kids supporting the London Clubs, Liverpool or Man Utd!

[@philipmason3218]

Sky has destroyed everything we held dear.

[@alexandermcguire3695]

Should never have got rid of grandstand. Wish they'd bring it back 🙁

[@sanchoodell6789]

*Very sad day* indeed for sport when they decided to stop this iconic show. The theme tune alone had become an institution. Sports coverage would never be the same again and you clearly see the emotion in Clare Balding's voice at the end. It was reported that she burst out crying and almost broke up with her girlfriend after that.

[@malcs0]

The Good Old Days. I actually miss them.

[@jaguar3248]

Agreed. No Sky TV, no Mobile phones, but we managed without them.

[@martinpugh1008]

Why oh why oh why did they have to take grandstand and World of sport off the air it has left a big hole in my Saturday afternoons there will never again be sports programs like them the memories of those wonderful Saturdays will live on forever in my mind thank god for the theme music of both I often sit down and pour myself a drink and spend hours getting lost down memory lane and reminisce about those brilliant and wonderfully happy days

[@darren253]

Murdoch Sky was the reason he was able to pay the sports bosses more. And bribry maybe

[@martinpugh1008]

@@darren253 I wouldn't be a bit surprised at all if they were the reasons why Grandstand and World of Sport were taken off air unfortunately money talks

[@SouthCoast457]

Back when the BBC broadcast for the people. Sad to see it the way it is today.

[@GroverTmuldoon]

7:30- you’ve seen the last ever Grandstand and just when you think things can’t get any more depressing ......

[@explorer806]

I can just imagine Alan Partridge narrating that montage of sports people falling over

[@AndyB1286]

Haha, that'd be epic 😁

[@cjsnowdon]

The fact this show ended at the Great Yarmouth festival of bowls tells its own story sadly! I mean it’s hardly riveting live sport for the box is it! What a show though - loved it! And the theme tune music, I still play it as an upbeat tune! It’s on all major music services! Footy Focus to - loved it!

[@chrisbennett8734]

Saturday afternoons: Grandstand Big Break Gladiators Blind Date The Generation Game Memories

[@mattmid7012]

Now inane rinse and repeat singing/talent/skating/dancing shows is all you get on a saturday

[@HisrealnameisLukeFury]

You forget Baywatch! 😂

[@Karmoon7]

Ignorant question, but what is the name of the piece of music from 5:55 onwards? Cheers.

[@Karmoon7]

***** It was an honest question. I feel terribly stupid now, but at least I know :) It's just that often these pieces of music are written independantly. Like Jessica by the Allman brothers for Top Gear or what not. Thanks for your answer. :)

[@JadMock]

I am Karmoon don't worry F1 is the funniest of tunes, Fleetwood Mac - The Chain great tune very Fleetwood (80's) then silence then roughly 3mins20secs rolls in the epic F1 sound! Classic Mick Fleetwood sound!

[@Stevieboy74]

I am Karmoon You probably know by now, but the music is called Grandstand and it's by Keith Mansfield on the legendary KPM music library. /watch?v=5TMZivxjj34

[@shafty37]

the day man tv died

[@pp37903]

What a relief! Middle-aged men got their own way all the time for far too long. I say that as a middle-aged man.

[@felix2672]

Don’t talk tripe!

[@leebeardshall2888]

@@pp37903 shup up you dingo.

[@gerald1108]

​@@pp37903hope you are enjoying watching bargain hunt on Saturday afternoons now lol .

[@zacheryalderton9747]

62 years of memories

[@AndyB1286]

Remembered the theme tune and that's how I found this video. Remember it from back in the day when I was growin' up 👍

[@pagrant]

end of another era.

[@topmantony2456]

Bring it back .

[@davidspear9790]

There was time to play the full unedited theme tune in that last segment. Would have been far more fitting.

[@mkbuddy]

Why oh why did they let Balding do the last Grandstand should have been Des Lynam or Steve Ryder

[@CelticSaint]

PC

[@markelsey5489]

Disgraceful....

[@MrPeterpiper1969]

Lynam worked for ITV and Steve Ryder wasn't around (not sure where he was but he didn't work for the Beeb then)

[@CarlileStanton]

MrPeterpiper1969 Steve Rider had gone to ITV by that point to anchor their Formula One coverage, as well as doing some of their live Champions League matches. He's still there as host of their British Touring Car Championship coverage.

[@THELEICESTERFOX]

Des Lynam has retired after ITV and Steve Rider went to ITV in 2007 after the BBC said he wasnt doing the Olympics in 2008

[@paulyflyer8154]

Another masterpiece theme tune from Keith Mansfield!

[@shafty37]

i miss this

[@stevedom1]

Wonder if/when someone has a recording to post of the video printer coming up with Scunthorpe result - missing the "S" - obviously a sacking for a backroom staff member! I watched it live! Think he said oh there appears to be a problem with the printer!

[@vickysmith3425]

classic grand stand best sports and theme tunes of the 80s sad missed well poplar tv show sadly miss R.I.P

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Goodbye grandstand

[@davidkerr66]

Still sore to this day that this theme will never again grace Saturday or Sunday Tv as a closing theme

[@theshrew8853]

Erm why did Craig Doyle jump into what looks like the river Thames????

[@user-hh8tf4tb9q]

This was a sad day, shame the BBC couldn't revise it, instead we have repeats of Bargain Hunt, Money for nothing. Why not bring it back for big events, cup final day, Wimbledon, challenge Cup, Olympics etc. Miss the theme tune.

[@dvidclapperton]

Des fiddling about with his earpiece when he was hearing of a scoreflash on Final Score was the earpiece of doom.

[@spanishpeaches2930]

This was the pivotal moment for the BBC. After this went it was on the road to ruin. Now, it is an utter disgrace of a broadcaster. I would doubt I've seen more than five hours of their output in the last two years.

[@Xxwicksy2217xX]

And now we have Love Island 😤🍻

[@mattinfullvision9598]

Which is the biggest load of shite going, Grand Stand was the place to be of a Saturday (and occasionally Sunday) afternoon

[@googleyoutube3443]

NOT LOVE ISLAND, I WANT GRANDSTAND BACK.

[@julianbland2262]

Very very happy memories thankyou the BBC x 😀

[@toastedroast]

Oh that is slap in the face to this iconic sports show the fact it went out on BBC2 judging by this

[@JasonCliftJones]

+toastedroast This was a Sunday Grandstand, which was usually on BBC2 anyway.

[@michaelcole8761]

The end of an era. So sad.

[@georgemacpherson1992]

They could have at least ended it after the end of the 06/07 football season. Nowadays you have a lot of tv filler. Sundays were never the same after Grandstand finished.

[@paulclarkson9343]

Why did they end it? Look at the 'plenty still to come...' and count haw many of those sports BBC still show. It's less than half of them.

[@19Link86]

what is the song at 0:49?

[@Mishima505]

3.19 RIP Murray

[@empty-ed]

balding taking the pi55 out of liam treadwell after his national win will live with me forever rip legend

[@emilianoisaiahlennet1992]

Still miss Grandstand.

[@Hddnnsj]

You can hear in her voice that no one thinks BBC Sport can carry the can. Indeed it couldn't. How on earth cancellation of the oldest sports programme could compete with Sky

[@katherinejenkinsfans]

Yes bring it back.the good old days.

[@peterramsden3134]

bring it back, and show what?

[@googleyoutube3443]

Grandstand is better than match of the day

[@nicknick4156]

Why did they axe it???

[@marknewcombe2488]

Where was des ?

[@MrTUCTUC1]

It says everything abut why Grandstand had to end that for their last shot on their final show they were covering Bowling-and no disrespect to those who love Bowling but it had represents the kind of sport that would bring in mass audiences.

[@iestyndavies7287]

Dark Light - It certainly runs Last of the Summer Wine a close second!

[@SuperJoseph1961]

bring it back

[@eclectica1]

And what exactly would they put on it?

[@kevinstephenson4674]

@@eclectica1 What they would show os what they originally showed. Some racing, the rugby, athletics motocross golf and the football results.....i.e cut out all the waffle and experts and show the sport.

[@robfinlay8058]

Bring back Grandstand and Ski Sunday.

[@evertonporter7887]

Is Ski Sunday dead?

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Are you will to pay a higher tv license so they can compete with Sky? And then convince everyone else to pay more?

[@OldSchoolRasslin]

@@Jabber-ig3iw do sky even show skiing?

[@tlw2209]

A sad day for sport was this

[@garrysimpson1395]

You have to pay for everything today,but you can see nearly ALL SPORTS from around the world now! 50 year old Disabled UK carrer. GOD BLESS!

[@michaelsmith8107]

garry simpson " 50 year old Disabled UK carrer." Come again???

[@garrysimpson1395]

Michael Smith I am 50 years old,[Cerbral Palsy] siince birth. Living in the UK. Used to care for my 86 year old mother [who is now in a Local Care home] Am now caring for my 60 year old brother who has a non-cancerious tumour. Hence the phrase 50 year old disabled carer. GOD BLESS!

[@garrysimpson1395]

@george Like the Pandemic They will. But six months late and with 40.000 died no doubt.