Knockout memories from Marine Park

One of television’s best known programmes came to South Shields for a seafront edition 56 years ago this month.

Contestants getting tangled in a net while filming an episode of the television show 'Its A Knockout' in the 1970s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images

placeholder image — Contestants getting tangled in a net while filming an episode of the television show 'Its A Knockout' in the 1970s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images

And we want to know ‘ were you there when the cameras rolled for It’s A Knockout at Marine Park’?

In April 1970, South Shields took on Tynemouth with teams of men and women representing each community. The prize was a trip to Como in Italy to take part in the international Jeux Sans Frontieres tournament.

The beautiful Villa Olmo in Como, Italy, was the setting for the Jeux Sans Frontiers heat involving the team from South Shields. | Google Maps

We would love to hear from people who represented South Shields and here’s what we know already of the memorable occasion.

The BBC had put out an appeal for people to take part and South Tynesiders practised for the big day with training sessions at Bolingbroke Hall. A team of 18 to 20 people - with reserves - was picked and they overcame their local Tynemouth rivals to win the trip to Italy, by emerging victorious in games which included pillow fighting.

Bolingbroke Hall was one of the venues which welcomed the South Shields It’s A Knockout team through the doors for training. | Local Library

The show was filmed on the BBC on the last day of April that year. After the victory, the team spent the next few weeks holding fundraising events in the borough so they could buy tracksuits to represent South Shields in style in Italy.

The Shields team didn’t win the international tournament but they had a great time and apparently even taught their rivals from other countries the words to some rugby songs.

It sounds like they had a great time and we want you to relive the memories by emailing [email protected]