Kick Start

Contents

Host

Dave Lee Travis (original host)

Peter Purves

Co-host

John Lambkin (commentary)

Broadcast

White Rabbit Productions for BBC1, 1979-91

Synopsis

Young kids churning up the South Downs on motorbikes during the half-term holidays. It could only be Kick Start, the programme that must have been the precursor to other shows like You've Been Framed in using human suffering for entertainment.

Jimmy, aged 12, from Coventry would drive his mini Yamaha 50cc lurve cycle around an intricate obstacle course of slalom poles, see-saws, ramps and trouser-fillingly steep hills.

While everyone remembers Junior Kick Start, there was just Kick Start too - the main adult version. In fact, there were 13 series in all! Does the BBC own shares in Peter Purves or something?

Originally presented by Dave Lee Travis as a summer replacement while Nationwide was off our screens.

Key moments

The oft-repeated clip of half the St. John Ambulance falling down a hill to rescue a hurt competitor.

Theme tune

Its infinitely hummable showdy-de-dow theme tune was called Be My Boogie Woogie Baby by Mr. Walkie-Talkie, composed by Renate Vaplus.

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