Kick Start (TV series)
| Kick Start | |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Nick Brittan |
| Presented by |
Peter Purves |
| Theme music composer | Renate Vaplus |
| Opening theme | Be My Boogie Woogie Baby by Mr. Walkie-Talkie |
| Country of origin | UK |
| No. of seasons | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Derek Smith |
| Running time | 25min |
| Production company(s) | White Rabbit Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 6 August 1979 – 1 June 1988 |
| Junior Kick Start | |
|---|---|
| Presented by |
Peter Purves (presenter) John Lampkin (commentator) |
| Release | |
| Original release | 1980 – 17 August 1992 |
Peter Purves
John Lampkin (commentator) Mick Andrews (commentator)
Kick Start was a popular series on BBC television inspired by motorcycle trials riding, a sport akin to horse show jumping, but on motorbikes. The programme was first aired in August 1979 and ran until 1988.
The programme was devised by Nick Brittan and produced by BBC Pebble Mill producer Derek Smith, who also created Top Gear.
The idea for Kick Start originated when the 1978 Lombard RAC Rally organiser, Nick Brittan, realised that top trials motorcyclists, competing over a hazardous track and obstacles, might make exciting television
Run against the clock, the show illustrated some of the skills needed in normal trials riding. In the Kick Start format, the riders went over obstacles such as piles of logs, oil drums, rockeries, water troughs, up a wall, up steep banking or a cliff-face and over a car (VW Beetle). Penalties, in the form of time added to their round time, would be given for putting a foot on the ground while tackling an obstacle or touching or knocking over specified parts of an obstacle (such as the "bunny hop").
The show aired originally during the summer, filling the slot vacated by Nationwide. It was hosted by Dave Lee Travis. who deserted his own sport of drag racing to take part in the series.
The course for the three-part series was devised by trials rider Sammy Miller and constructed within the Donington Park Race Circuit. Later series filmed at Easton Neston near Towcester.
The knock-out competition had a modest first prize of £500.
For the following series, Travis was replaced by Peter Purves of Blue Peter fame. In later years, an offshoot programme, Junior Kick Start, 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 ten-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 apologise as he struggled to hold back laughing at the incident.
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Wikipedia