The most refreshing thing about rewatching this, all these years later, is the uniform humility displayed by the competitors from all sports. That’s why we didn’t just admire them - we loved them.
@@simondelarue4849 That's because vast sums of money hadn't polluted sport back then. Today, this concept for any current athlete is a total non-starter. Too much at stake with the risk of injury. Maybe in retirement, but then who wants to watch lots of oldies (like me) trying to re-ignite some sort of flame. It's as bad as watching some of these aging pop groups struggling, but in their case their fans are tone deaf, blinkered or using rose petal glasses. Lol
Now THAT is competition! I remember my mum worked as a barmaid at the hotel the Superstars were staying at near Peterborough. She phoned my dad to bring me down to meet them (I was about 11). I met and got autographs from boxer Dave 'Boy' Green, table tennis player Desmond Douglas and rugby internstional Roger Utley. I was so happy. Even now, as a 55 year old man, it still makes me smile.
I can remember watching this as a schoolboy on TV - very special to see it again 43 years later - it is noticeable as to the lack of arrogance and good spirit between them all
@@geoffpoole483 I have to say I didn't know Brian Jacks was a PE teacher - I tell you one thing - I wouldn't have given him any lip or backchat if I was one of his pupils !!!!- a real man's man !!!
The hilarious thing about that and it's why it was rubbish when they brought it back briefly was that was just 2 years before he won the Ballon D'Or two years running and 1 year before he came runner up. Imagine Messi or Ronaldo being released by their clubs to ruin themselves falling off a bike because they made them ride around a running track and not a velodrome. Better times
I was there at this in 1980 aged 10 when it was actually filmed. Represented my junior school for the cricket ball throwing in the Districts sports on that field and ran on this track many times for my local athletics club then my county of Bucks. Thanks for the upload and memories.
how far could you throw a cricket ball at the age of 10 Scratchy ? probably much further than me but I managed 42 metres in the school sports day at 10 years old :) I was just curious as i deemed myself pretty good . For the record I actually came 2nd as some bugger called Steven Gover beat me by a metre or so (not that I'm still bitter.....grrrrr) lol
What great memories, 8 at the time and 51 now. Proper competition and TV without the scripted fakery to try and buy viewers….loved the simplicity of those days and seeing these names again…thanks for reminding me of this.
Great watch from years back...some wonderful memories of my PE teacher at school Mr Fielding (Marple Hall)..a hard taskmaster & a super role model for me...sadly I didn't have any ability with the mishapen ball despite his encouragement...my younger brother Anthony did though & shone with his help...thank you Sir!!....best teacher in the world...nice bloke too.. Pete Smith
@@markw5420 me and my brother say best show ever and we watched them in the last few weeks, i saw them the first time round, you have not seen the right ones, try superstars 1980, and superstars superteams [geoff capes]
I've just come across this "Superstars" competition from 1981 ..... I was so pleased and surprised to see it!! My family and I used to sit round the telly and watch it all the time back in the day!! It brings backs so many memories!!
An old school and work mate of mine lives out there most of the year. He comes back to England for 3 months to work, and then spends the rest of the year with his Thai family. He drinks with Brian Jacks regularly, says he's a top bloke. They were once pulled by the corrupt police, simply for being drunk. The police know that the westerners have money, and they were simply after bribes........So Jacks, dealt with it himself, and got them all released. Also the guy who played Mickey Pearce from Only Fools drinks with em quite often.
All sport has moved on and become much more professional now. No serious current athlete would risk themselves engaging in such things. Only after retirement ...
I'm amazed how seriously they all took it, if this was remade today it would be full of crappy celebs making light of the whole thing, while getting paid thousands to appear. I imagine the line up being filled by Roman Kemp, Jill Scott, Bobby Brazier, Danny Dyer, Tony Bellew and Lee Mack.
Made now?......Advert breaks every 45 seconds, electronic boards in camera view with 12 adverts per second and all the kit plastered with sponsors, nobody allowed to do anything remotely risky and all manipulated to get a predetermined "winner". No heart no soul and only entertaing for those with brainrot.
Loved watching this when I was a kid ,very inspirational guys . Had the honour of meeting John Conteh several times what a smashing gentleman he is .Would be great to see this back on TV .😁😁👍👍
i would love to see this format of programme brought back with todays stars, sadly with how costly things are now i cannot see it ever happening but it will live on in memory and on the interwebs lol
I agree rurimino. All for a colour telly too. Love the fact he all shared the same weight lifting belt and passed it around. A bygone era. Brian Jacks autobiography out now. I've just started it. All get yourselves a copy.
Omg I just loved this programme. Legend commentator David Coleman and Ron Pickering. I think they did a kids version which was also great fun to watch.
We are the champions was the kids version, loved this show it inspired me to become an athlete, every time I hear the tune just like the rocky tune I'm inspired to get up and exercise even now at nearly 60
I would have been eleven back then and moving from junior to senior school that year! Remember the programme and the theme tune well (which is in C major).
I don't think that's the round that would cause problems. That's very closely supervised with the competitors being presented with pre-cocked bows and then loading the bolt in. Cycling on a cinder track rather than a velodrome with minimal safety equipment might give them more to think about.
I noticed that Brian Jacks wasn't wearing the Adidas gear supplied to the other competitors. I wonder if this was because he had a sponsorship deal with Puma? In those days Puma were very strict on their big signings not showing the logo or branding of Adidas on any official kit they wore. There is a picture of Pele with Bobby Moore in the 70s both playing for Team USA who were playing in Adidas kit. Pele who was one of Puma's biggest stars has the three stripes on his shirt and shorts taped over. Similarly Johan Cruyff another big Puma name famously wore only two stripes on his Dutch 'Adidas' kit in the 1974 World Cup.
1500 pounds and a colour tv for the winner and looks like the public just wandered in for free, brilliant. These days it'd be multi-million sponsorship, $100 for public tickets and you could only watch it if you'd paid for a subscription or ppv.
Loved this show as a kid. I think they tried to bring it back recently but it didn't work(?). I wonder what killed it off originally? Money? Health & Safety? Got to say the parallel bar dips favoured the shorter man with shorter arms. He had less distance to dip down to the judge's fist.
I loved watching this when I was growing up, it only seems like yesterday hearing that iconic theme again, then I realise I'm 60 lol
Same here
It was brilliant times
Same here. Fantastic theme tune.
like us all sheesch soon be dead
@@SistorCarrera I hope not lol
Jesus me too now I’m 62 😩😩😩where did the decades go .
The most refreshing thing about rewatching this, all these years later, is the uniform humility displayed by the competitors from all sports. That’s why we didn’t just admire them - we loved them.
@@simondelarue4849 That's because vast sums of money hadn't polluted sport back then. Today, this concept for any current athlete is a total non-starter. Too much at stake with the risk of injury. Maybe in retirement, but then who wants to watch lots of oldies (like me) trying to re-ignite some sort of flame. It's as bad as watching some of these aging pop groups struggling, but in their case their fans are tone deaf, blinkered or using rose petal glasses. Lol
Now THAT is competition!
I remember my mum worked as a barmaid at the hotel the Superstars were staying at near Peterborough. She phoned my dad to bring me down to meet them (I was about 11).
I met and got autographs from boxer Dave 'Boy' Green, table tennis player Desmond Douglas and rugby internstional Roger Utley.
I was so happy.
Even now, as a 55 year old man, it still makes me smile.
Nice comment Kev made me smile too, I can remember all those guys on Superstars. I can imagine you joy at the time 😊
You won’t find anyone above 55 who doesn’t love this show and ears will prick up on hearing the theme tune😊
What a theme tune whenever I hear it I still believe that I can do the things I did as a young man.
It's in the key of C major, Neil. I have a very good memory for tunes and possess perfect pitch!
magnificent
Who wrote the theme tune
@@whentokoloshsays1142 Johnny Pearson it is called Heavy Action and was also used ABC's Monday Night Football in the United States for decades.
Best theme tune of any TV programme ever
I can remember watching this as a schoolboy on TV - very special to see it again 43 years later - it is noticeable as to the lack of arrogance and good spirit between them all
I know...Amazing to see it again even the words Brian Jacks...Wow.
Most of these competitors were amateur, with the exception of MacDonald, Fielding and Conteh. Brian Jacks was a PE teacher.
@@geoffpoole483 I have to say I didn't know Brian Jacks was a PE teacher - I tell you one thing - I wouldn't have given him any lip or backchat if I was one of his pupils !!!!- a real man's man !!!
1981….43 years ago…and all these fine gentlemen are all alive ❤
David Vine isn't.
@@jasonchambers4495 Ron Pickering's been worm food since 1991.
great news merci mon amie
@@baroncorvo3813 He was cremated.
@@jasonchambers4495 I meant the competitors
My enduring memory of Superstars is Kevin Keegan falling of his bike! Great show
Pickering & Vine the best sports presenters anyone could wish for!
I agree.Both great blokes.
We are the Champions!
shit commentary today
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😌😌😌
Pure class.
I'll always remember the keegan fall on the bike, ouch !! Now I'm 58 , it bring back memories
The hilarious thing about that and it's why it was rubbish when they brought it back briefly was that was just 2 years before he won the Ballon D'Or two years running and 1 year before he came runner up.
Imagine Messi or Ronaldo being released by their clubs to ruin themselves falling off a bike because they made them ride around a running track and not a velodrome.
Better times
I was there at this in 1980 aged 10 when it was actually filmed. Represented my junior school for the cricket ball throwing in the Districts sports on that field and ran on this track many times for my local athletics club then my county of Bucks. Thanks for the upload and memories.
how far could you throw a cricket ball at the age of 10 Scratchy ? probably much further than me but I managed 42 metres in the school sports day at 10 years old :) I was just curious as i deemed myself pretty good . For the record I actually came 2nd as some bugger called Steven Gover beat me by a metre or so (not that I'm still bitter.....grrrrr) lol
Yeah, Handy Cross Sports Centre, High Wycombe 😊
And Brian Jacks wins yet another Colour Television Set. 🎉 brilliant ❤ I really miss this kind of TV
I always imagined Brian watching all 3 channels at the same time
What great memories, 8 at the time and 51 now. Proper competition and TV without the scripted fakery to try and buy viewers….loved the simplicity of those days and seeing these names again…thanks for reminding me of this.
I ain't even watched it all yet, but I am loving it! I loved watching Superstars. Great memories.
All the competitors are still alive and kicking today. "Superstars" must have kept them extra fit!
Brilliant nostalgia and I'm still wearing Adidas now at 59! Funny how things stay with us ❤
Wearing an Adidas sweatshirt while watching!😂
I used to love watching this ! Can't beieve how long ago it was ! 😲
What a show this was..and that theme tune
40 years on... and I still know who Brian Jacks is. That's some pretty impressive celebrity.
So do I (eleven at the time of this footage). I moved from junior to senior school then!
If you were in a fight and Brian jack trained you then you’re lucky…very lucky
Great watch from years back...some wonderful memories of my PE teacher at school Mr Fielding (Marple Hall)..a hard taskmaster & a super role model for me...sadly I didn't have any ability with the mishapen ball despite his encouragement...my younger brother Anthony did though & shone with his help...thank you Sir!!....best teacher in the world...nice bloke too..
Pete Smith
I was at Marple Hall too - 1972 to 1979. When were you there?
These men were Gods of their time unlike the primadonas of today. And they seemed to love doing it without the snare of big money contracts.
rurimino yawn... this is awful tat . Nobody would watch this muck today
Mark W - you’re watching it aren’t you?
In addition, get your fancy shoes offa my lawn!
I like how the most important thing to them was the new friendships they made
@@markw5420 me and my brother say best show ever and we watched them in the last few weeks, i saw them the first time round, you have not seen the right ones, try superstars 1980, and superstars superteams [geoff capes]
Used to love this. Why aren’t programmes like this made any more?
Apparently health and safety.
money money money
They would need a huge budget to pay enough to get a decent field of contenders.
A field of, primarily, white men wouldn't be allowed by the Woke Left
Insurance, there's no way any club would allow an athlete to do this in case of injury
I've just come across this "Superstars" competition from 1981 ..... I was so pleased
and surprised to see it!!
My family and I used to sit round the telly and watch it all the time back in the day!!
It brings backs so many memories!!
Brilliant! Great theme tune, great Adidas Gazelles n great, humble champions!
I met Brian Jacks a few years ago . Saw him in Pattaya in Thailand where he lives . Hes about 80 now but still looks fit .
An old school and work mate of mine lives out there most of the year. He comes back to England for 3 months to work, and then spends the rest of the year with his Thai family. He drinks with Brian Jacks regularly, says he's a top bloke.
They were once pulled by the corrupt police, simply for being drunk. The police know that the westerners have money, and they were simply after bribes........So Jacks, dealt with it himself, and got them all released.
Also the guy who played Mickey Pearce from Only Fools drinks with em quite often.
All gentlemen and no forced 'bantz'. A different world really...
As others have said, what a tremendous iconic theme tune.
Proper TV. When you think of the shite we are subjected to these days.
It should be brought back today, it was without a doubt one of the best programmes on TV when I was a kid in the seventies.!!
All sport has moved on and become much more professional now. No serious current athlete would risk themselves engaging in such things. Only after retirement ...
Loving this, memories of childhood particularly the Brian Jacks dips, thank you so much for posting this.
So good to hear that music again ❤
Seems like yesterday Keegan came off his bike and hurt his shoulder. Why do we have to get old😢
Fantastic. Occasionally I actually like the internet, for giving me the opportunity to watch TV programs like this again.
It's a programme but I get what you are saying.
Watched it as a teenager
Great, great memories. Pity but it would NEVER happen today. Never realised it was going for so many years. .
I absolutely loved this show. So many reasons why it would never happen now. Shame but that’s the way things are
Such perfect gentlemen, what a treat to remember those days.
I'm amazed how seriously they all took it, if this was remade today it would be full of crappy celebs making light of the whole thing, while getting paid thousands to appear. I imagine the line up being filled by Roman Kemp, Jill Scott, Bobby Brazier, Danny Dyer, Tony Bellew and Lee Mack.
Made now?......Advert breaks every 45 seconds, electronic boards in camera view with 12 adverts per second and all the kit plastered with sponsors, nobody allowed to do anything remotely risky and all manipulated to get a predetermined "winner". No heart no soul and only entertaing for those with brainrot.
Loved superstars and Malcolm Macdonald was one of the best centre forwards ever to grace English football, but had he EVER swam before? omg
Yep loved watching the show, now 57 in a blink of an eye!
Brian Jacks always had a very suspect technique on the dips and the squat thrusts. Never fully extends. Maybe I should let it go after 40 years....
Agree - suspect techniques. Like I could do better mind......
the really dodgy one in the squat thrusts was Jonah Barrington.
I seem to remember Jody Scheckter using vegetable oil for the squat thrusts or something, maybe I just dreamt it
@@jj9749 yeah I seem to remember something like that.
@@jj9749 it was suntan lotion I think. It was banned shortly afterwards.
Life will never be like that again!! What a pity. Forgot what appreciative crowds looked and sounded like!!
No phones no distractions just pure sporting entertainment. Brilliant.
Des Drummond, greatest Superstar of all.RIP Des.Legend.
I loved this programme and watched every episode. Brian Jacks was amazing.
Jesus. Brian Jacks' squat thrusts. Had me knackered just watching those back
Proper television! This was among my favourite programmes.
David vine, Brian jacks,Supermac and the fantastic theme tune. Great memories I was 14 then.
What a great trip down memory lane that was . . . . . Thank you
Only starting to watch unbelievable seeing all these athletes again brings back great memories
My mate was in Thailand last week…Pattaya..& met Brian Jacks..still getting about in more ways than one..😋
Loved watching this when I was a kid ,very inspirational guys . Had the honour of meeting John Conteh several times what a smashing gentleman he is .Would be great to see this back on TV .😁😁👍👍
This was much watch telly when I was wee.
The kind of Reality TV I would actually love to watch!
Brian Jack's century of dips legend
i would love to see this format of programme brought back with todays stars, sadly with how costly things are now i cannot see it ever happening but it will live on in memory and on the interwebs lol
I agree rurimino. All for a colour telly too. Love the fact he all shared the same weight lifting belt and passed it around. A bygone era. Brian Jacks autobiography out now. I've just started it. All get yourselves a copy.
Love that it's in your school gym!
Omg I just loved this programme. Legend commentator David Coleman and Ron Pickering. I think they did a kids version which was also great fun to watch.
David vine
@ Of course, my mistake, thanks for the prod. He was also the voice of Ski Sunday if I recall. Cheers.
We are the champions was the kids version, loved this show it inspired me to become an athlete, every time I hear the tune just like the rocky tune I'm inspired to get up and exercise even now at nearly 60
Pickering would say, "Goodbye, and away you go!". And all the kids would jump in the pool.
Blast from the past. Loved this show ✊
Thoroughly enjoyed that.
And the crowd love it. Jacks dead lifting above and beyond. Oh such innocent times.
Keith Fielding was my Highschool PE Teacher!
That 9ld chestnut
Saw Geoff Capes compete in this as a kid very sad to hear of his passing.
As of November 2024, they are all still alive. Must be all that exercise!
Dips lol 😂 great memories. Loved it back then!
These guys were sporting gods, can you even imagine today’s multi millionaire pampered premadonnas putting it on the line like this ?
Wonderful sportsmanship
I would have been eleven back then and moving from junior to senior school that year! Remember the programme and the theme tune well (which is in C major).
This takes you back! In a certain light, Lynn the Leap looks a bit like Clint Eastwood.
I thought he was Trevor Francis
Superb athletes. Great entertainment!
Loved this growing up
Wow,wow,wow was it really 1981?doesn’t get better than this😁😁😁
Loved the Superstars (and Superteams) competitions in the US in the 70s!
Such a great show.
Amazing times!
43 years ago unbelievable where that times gone year I got married lol
The health and safety people would shit themselves with the crossbow round
I don't think that's the round that would cause problems. That's very closely supervised with the competitors being presented with pre-cocked bows and then loading the bolt in. Cycling on a cinder track rather than a velodrome with minimal safety equipment might give them more to think about.
One of the greatest projects invented for sports TV
Very good viewing
I always remember snooker player Tony Knowles doing the 100m in one episode. wonder if he's finished yet he was that slow
Noway! gotta find that, also want the episode with Keegan, does not exist, can you sort that GBGameshows
Used to being back of the ‘cue’
He had a good long break at halfway.
Did the programme provide a potted history of Tony Knowles?
so tony was even slower as supermac in the swimming then
They should bring this back. Guess athletes, especially football players would controvene their contracts in doing so though
Brian Jacks’ dips, Brian Budd’s slide squat thrusts is what I remember.
Brian Jacks would have still won the dips but the judge's arm was the same height for everyone and BJ hardly had to dip compared to others
I noticed that Brian Jacks wasn't wearing the Adidas gear supplied to the other competitors. I wonder if this was because he had a sponsorship deal with Puma? In those days Puma were very strict on their big signings not showing the logo or branding of Adidas on any official kit they wore. There is a picture of Pele with Bobby Moore in the 70s both playing for Team USA who were playing in Adidas kit. Pele who was one of Puma's biggest stars has the three stripes on his shirt and shorts taped over. Similarly Johan Cruyff another big Puma name famously wore only two stripes on his Dutch 'Adidas' kit in the 1974 World Cup.
There must have been hatred between the two companies since the original creators of both companies were brothers that fell out.
Can you imagine todays footballers doing this pep would have a heart attack and the iconic theme tune is awesome
That was the original Ron(nie) Pickering by the way
And loving David Vine's flares!!
How many of these greats are still alive?
Some of these men are in their 30's yet look much older...lol
Great show mate
Daley Thompson should have been in this... but I guess he was still at the top and didn’t want to get injured.
He's in other ones! when he was champion! try 1980 superstars th-cam.com/video/gpWk_vWqhAc/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=gbgameshows
Couldn’t bear losing to a jacks again!!!
Brian Jacks Superstar Challenge on 80s computers. Remember that 😆
I seen a Superstars in Pontypool and Cwmbran in the early 80s
top sports stars doing a school sports day
rugby league great.Keith fielding
This use to be prime time watching. As a kid, I thought they look so old - now Im older than them
Real men. True sportsmen.
Loved superstars always looked out for the rugby 🏉 league guys
who was judging the canoeing ray charles ?
Clive Thomas- arguably the worst football ref of his era
For once, we need VAR.....
@@donroberts2126 they had OAR
Stevie Wonder
Proper men
Good times
1500 pounds and a colour tv for the winner and looks like the public just wandered in for free, brilliant. These days it'd be multi-million sponsorship, $100 for public tickets and you could only watch it if you'd paid for a subscription or ppv.
Much preferred the Superstars version of Heavy Action to the version used for Monday night Football in the US. One of the theme tunes of my childhood
Loved this show as a kid. I think they tried to bring it back recently but it didn't work(?). I wonder what killed it off originally? Money? Health & Safety? Got to say the parallel bar dips favoured the shorter man with shorter arms. He had less distance to dip down to the judge's fist.