1985: BBC Sports Review of the Year

This may be my last time, it may be my last time I don't know. Every year I ask myself the same question: should I bother watching the BBC Sports Personality of the Year programme again? Yet every year I give it one last go. But maybe 2025 is the time to say goodbye.

I have been moaning about the demise of a once great show for too long now. Back in 2013, this article had me harking back to the good old days, complaining about an evening that has lost its way. Little has changed in the intervening period to persuade me that the situation is about to change for the good.

Maybe I'm viewing everything through my usual nostalgia-tinted specs, though. Perhaps I have slipped into dangerous territory, an old man shouting at clouds as the world moves on leaving me behind. Just let it go, grandad.

To put my theory to the test, I decided to go back to 1985 and my viewing debut. The BBC Sports Review of the Year - as it was called then - was my first date in a relationship that has lasted 40 years. Luckily, the programme is available on YouTube and I have watched it so you don't have to.

Size matters

Sunday December 15, 7.15pm. As the iconic theme tune kicks in, we see the great and good of sport arrive at the BBC studios. Clips of the sporting year are shown, classic commentators providing the backing track. And then we cut to the studio.

"Welcome to BBC's Sports Review," Des Lynam announces. "Tonight we recall the moments that made the sporting year of 1985." A brief review of the year follows, before we cut back to Des sat in between Henry Cooper and Anita Lonsborough. Today it would probably be a YouTuber/influencer spouting nonsense; I'm shouting at clouds again.

Henry mentions the venue. The intimate setting was a big part of what made the programme so good. The cosy studio is so much better than the larger location we experience now. Bigger is not always better.

Another plus in 1985 was the fact that there were just three main awards, the excellent Harry Carpenter explaining that as well as the big prize there would be overseas and team trophies handed out. Now there are seven awards, and we have the tiresome repeating of voting phone numbers every five minutes. 

Format

My biggest bugbear with the format of the programme in recent years is the actual review element of the sports involved. Take the first sport summarised in 1985. The athletics review was narrated by the superb David Coleman, and simply covered the main events of the year, with original footage shown.

The London Marathon; Steve Cram setting three world records in 20 days; Zola Budd; European Cup final; Mary Decker-Slaney. No funny camera angles, no actors talking seriously into camera, no poetry. Just plain old clips of sport narrated by legendary commentators. Keep it simple. 

A different world

Part of the problem for the current BBC Sports Personality of the Year is the changing landscape in television coverage. Back in 1985, most major sporting events were covered on the BBC or ITV. Therefore, the 1985 programme could review sport that a lot of the viewing public had watched together.

With the growth of satellite television and streaming platforms, there now seem to be fewer events that are shared experiences. So we see the Open golf covered in about 30 seconds, a blink and you'll miss it look back at the cricketing year, with the current show naturally focussing on the few events that the BBC now show.

The next two sports covered in 1985 were both rugby codes. With the BBC covering the Five Nations, and rugby league being a mainstay of Grandstand, the vast majority of us watching were enjoying that experience all over again.

Snooker Loopy

Not everything was perfect in 1985. At the end of the horse racing review there is a slightly eggy interview with a Japanese jockey talking in his own language about John Francome. Cue laughter from the crowd; different times I'm afraid to say.

Different times too for snooker in 1985, Lynam informing us that there was 261 hours 15 minutes and one second of coverage that year. David Vine describing the black ball final and the millions that stayed up to watch that remarkable conclusion highlighted the health of the sport back then.

Taylor - one of the contenders for the main award - is then interviewed by Carpenter, talking about the final black and his move to Barry Hearns Matchroom Mob. We also get some glasses based humour as an added bonus. 

Boxing clever

In my opinion, one sport that has declined in recent years is boxing. Pay-per-view events for those of us that are already paying subscriptions, more fights in Saudi Arabia, bouts involving YouTubers; it's almost as if those involved in promoting the sport are trying to make as much money as possible.

Not all was rosy in the boxing garden in 1985, yet at least we had seen a lot of action that was reviewed by Carpenter. Frank Bruno becoming European champion; the Kaylor/Christie rumpus; Barry McGuigan winning the WBA featherweight title at Loftus Road, a fight shown live on the BBC.

Cut to McGuigan in his robe punching a Speedball in the studio and discussing the year with Lynam. Naturally, the popular Bruno then joins the duo to talk about his hopes for the future, before throwing in a shocking Irish impression and demonstrating his boxing skills.

A balancing act

This was always a tricky part of the programme. As Barry Davies describes the various world champions in darts, bowls, billiards, gliding, rowing, canoeing, powerboating, motor cycling, and motocross, there was always a feeling that these sports were disrespectfully skimmed over.

But if you do attempt to please everyone, then do you end up pleasing no one? By trying to cover every single sport and champion, do you then risk trying to cram everything in and reducing the quality of the reviews involving the perceived popular sports? Personally I prefer the 1985 approach, but that may not be an opinion shared by everyone.

Brilliant Becker

After extensive reviews of motor sport and cricket - the latter including an interview with Ian Botham from Hollywood (yes, that did happen) - the first award of the evening was handed out after the tennis section. Boris Becker's win at Queens and Wimbledon saw him land the Overseas Personality of the Year. 

And then after brief clips of equestrian, skiing, hockey, swimming, the Boat Race, and Richard Branson's attempt at the Blue Riband, came the section of the show that was always a must see. 

Fun and games

It had been a big year for European golf. A three-minute reminder of Sandy Lyle winning the Open led into the champion recreating his fluffed chip shot on the final hole at Sandwich on that joyous Sunday. Sam Torrance also had a go - deliberately overhitting his attempt - as the crowd tittered.

Would there be a place for this section in the current programme? It probably wouldn't hurt, but with so much to show during the evening, unfortunately it probably is not realistic. 

Football in the dock

The majority of Europe's Ryder Cup winning team were present in 1985 to receive the Team of the Year prize from Henry Cotton. A well deserved accolade for Tony Jacklin and his players after ending 28 years of hurt.

Another team that could have pushed Europe close was Everton. Yet these were testing times for the sport. With tragedies at Birmingham, Bradford, and Heysel, football was as far from the shiny product that we witness today.

Even so, the section covering football in 1985 was thorough, including mentions for Norwich, Oxford and Scottish football. But after World Cup draw chat with Pat Jennings, Billy Bingham, Bobby Robson and Alex Ferguson, it was on to the main presentation of the evening.

The end is near

The show concluded with the leading six contenders announced: Cram, Botham, McGuigan, Lyle, David Gower, and Taylor. It was then left to Sir Stanley Rous to step forward to announce the top three. It would prove to be a far from slick end to the evening.

Cram came third, declining the invitation from Rous to make a speech. Lynam quickly ushers Rous to move on the second place, awarded to Ian Botham who raises a can from Hollywood. And then to the main award.

"And in third place, the winner in first place, the winner is Mr Barry McCochrane," Rous states, much to the amusement of Bruno and the winner. After a short speech from McCochrane McGuigan, the credits roll. After just 95 minutes, the brilliant Sports Review of the Year for 1985 is done and dusted.

I have wasted a lot of time in my life watching sport. But reviewing this programme was a pleasure. My only regret is that I didn't choose to watch this during day two of the opening Ashes Test in Perth. So do yourself a favour. Go to YouTube, watch the programme, and see if my judgement is clouded by my love of the 1980s.