BBC branded 'crazy' as former captain Ally McCoist vents fury over A Question of Sport axing
Ally McCoist and Sue Barker fronted A Question of Sport for a decade
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Ally McCoist has branded the BBC "crazy" for deciding to axe long-running quiz show A Question of Sport.
McCoist was a huge part of A Question of Sport during its heyday, spending 11 years working as a team captain between 1996 and 2007.
The show first aired in 1970 and became a popular quiz among viewers with high-profile sports guests over the years.
But the BBC announced at the weekend the long-running show would be shelved with 'inflation and funding' issues blamed.
Ally McCoist is sad to see the show will end
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A spokesman said: “Due to inflation and funding challenges difficult decisions have to be made, therefore Question of Sport is currently not in production at the moment.”
McCoist felt the decision was "crazy" and he was confused by the BBC's reasoning.
"I was really, really surprised when I heard the news and equally disappointed," McCoist said.
"I grew up watching it and it's one of the longest-running shows on television so I was extremely disappointed. It's crazy.
"That was a strange description of why it's ending."
He added: "It used to be the programme we all watched.
"I can remember sitting down with my mum and dad and my big sister and we would look forward to it, it was compulsive, great viewing.
"For me it was the greatest time and the greatest memories."
McCoist spent most of his time on the iconic show working with legendary host Sue Barker.
Sue Barker hosted A Question of Sport for over 20 years
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The former British tennis star hosted the show for 24 years before being replaced in 2021 by Paddy McGuiness.
And speaking after the BBC's announcement that A Question of Sport would be axed, Barker admitted she struggled to watch the show after her dismissal two years ago.
She said: “It was too painful to really watch it and understand what they were doing but I remember saying to Tuffers [Phil Tuffnell] and Daws [Matt Dawson] after they brought in this creative director when they were revamping shows and we saw him sitting in our green room and I said, ‘that’s it, we’re toast’.
“I knew that it was going to be time to revamp it but some shows don’t need too much.
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“The familiar rounds, although we updated them and evolved it, we never changed the core of the show right the way from David Coleman.
“When he wanted me to take over he brought me into his office and told me what to do.
"He told me to write for it, ‘don’t let them change it or bring in celebrities, keep it sporty’ because he was so determined to keep it the same.
“We had our fights over the years because he wanted to change it but we kept it true to itself.”