A League Of Their Own, Sky One:

★★★★

Anyone who had been wondering why the BBC wanted to revamp A Question Of Sport only had to watch Sky One last night.

Now into its 15th series, A League Of Their Own, was still missing its regular host James Corden and still being filmed under Covid-19 restrictions. Yet it still manage to provide an hour of sports-themed laughter and entertainment.

And it included two or three physical challenges which would have been just as impressive had they taken place under normal circumstances.

I accept it’s probably a little unfair to compare the Beeb’s glorified pub quiz from a waiting room in Salford to a big-budget number from Elstree’s George Lucas Stage 2. However, having re-watched last Friday’s of AQOS I can’t blame the BBC for wanting to at least try to bridge the gap. The most energetic thing that happened was Phil Tufnell flicking his new fringe out of the way.

I’m not suggesting that having dispensed with Tuffers, Matt Dawson and Sue Barker the BBC should simply try to copy ALOTO.

It does, though, need to find cleverer ways of disguising its lack of access these days to top class sports footage.

Mocking up newspaper back pages about legendary sporting moments (that were broadcast on other channels) and asking the teams to find three deliberate mistakes is just embarrassing.

Plus, I bet Sue Barker is now regretting asking the question: “What three things would you like to change?” so many times.

Talk about putting ideas in people’s heads, Sue.

It needs to find cleverer ways of disguising its lack of access to top class sports footage

CHALLENGES It was an hour of sport-themed laughter and entertainment