First Class (game show)

First Class is a British game show that originally aired as a regional programme for BBC Wales from 3 October to 19 December 1984 with Louise Bachelor as host. It was then networked on BBC1[1] and recorded in the BBC's Scotland studios in Glasgow, with broadcasts from 8 January 1986 to 21 August 1988 with Debbie Greenwood as host. Series 1 was shown on Wednesdays, Series 2 & 3 on Wednesday & Thursday evenings, and series 4 was moved to Saturday evenings in 1988.

First Class
GenreGame show
Presented byLouise Bachelor (1984)
Debbie Greenwood (1986–88)
Theme music composer"Platinum Part One: Airborne" by Mike Oldfield
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes66 (inc. 3 specials)
Production
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkBBC Wales (1984)
BBC1 (1986–88)
Original release3 October 1984 (1984-10-03) –
21 August 1988 (1988-08-21)

Format

The show was two teams of three students (each team representing a particular school) would take part in a multi-format quiz featuring questions on both general knowledge and popular culture, as well as innovative video game rounds. Rounds such as the "Spinning Gold Disc" made use of a simulated computer display similar to other game shows of the same era, such as Blockbusters and Catchphrase. Other rounds such as "Word of Mouth" used a real computer display from a BBC Micro.[2] This computer also provided the on-screen captions and scores and was nicknamed Eugene, after the show's original programmer Eugene Crozier.[1]

The competition was a knockout tournament; the eventual winners of the series would be presented with a computer (usually a BBC Master) for their school. Celebrity episodes of the show were also aired, featuring cast members from Grange Hill and EastEnders.[2]

First Class was notable for its use of video games;[3][4] such footage (of arcade games in particular) was a rarely seen on UK television at the time and the show aired several years before GamesMaster. The designated contestant from each team would earn points by beating the other player's score; rounds would be either turn-based and head-to-head depending on the game / event. The games were often referred to by their events as opposed to their titles, for example the "spring and vault" round or the "clay pigeon shooting".

The music used for the programme's titles was "Airborn" by Mike Oldfield, from his 1979 album Platinum.[2]

Transmissions

Series
SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
13 October 198419 December 198412
28 January 1986[5]5 March 1986[6]15
37 January 1987[7]25 February 1987[8]15
46 February 1988[9]20 August 1988[10]24

Specials
DateEntitle
6 March 1986[11]Celebrity Special
26 February 1987[12]Celebrity Special
21 August 1988[13]Celebrity Special

References
  1. First Class Quiz Book by Donald W. Stewart, Philip Whitfield Aikman. ISBN 0-563-20664-0
  2. "First Class". UKGameshows. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. "First Class". TV Cream. May 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  4. Weaver, Iain. "Weaver's Week 2012-08-12: First Class". UK Gameshows.com. Labyrinth Games. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  5. "First Class – BBC One London – 8 January 1986". BBC Genome Project. 8 January 1986. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  6. "First Class – BBC One London – 5 March 1986". BBC Genome Project. 5 March 1986. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  7. "First Class – BBC One London – 7 January 1987". BBC Genome Project. 7 January 1987. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  8. "First Class – BBC One London – 25 February 1987". BBC Genome Project. 25 February 1987. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. "First Class – BBC One London – 6 February 1988". BBC Genome Project. 6 February 1988. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  10. "First Class – BBC One London – 20 August 1988". BBC Genome Project. 20 August 1988. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  11. "Celebrity First Class – BBC One London – 6 March 1986". BBC Genome Project. 6 March 1986. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  12. "Celebrity First Class – BBC One London – 26 February 1987". BBC Genome Project. 26 February 1987. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  13. "First Class – BBC One London – 21 August 1988". BBC Genome Project. 21 August 1988. Retrieved 9 June 2020.


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