Fans of A Question of Sport remembered one of the “greatest answers in quiz history” after the show was dramatically axed.
BBC bosses announced the hit show would be coming to an end after more than 50 years.
Viewers were devastated by the announcement and soon took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to discuss the show's best moments.
Many remembered Paul O'Connell's answer to a hangman two-word puzzle, which earned the former rugby player a standing ovation from his opposing team.
One fan wrote: “A Question of Sport has been canceled after 53 years.” We will always live with this moment when Paul O'Connell gave one of the greatest answers in quiz show history. So good.'
Fans of A Question of Sport remembered one of the “greatest answers in quiz history” after the show was dramatically axed
Many fans remembered Paul O'Connell's answer to a hangman two-word puzzle, which earned the former rugby player a standing ovation from his opposing team
The clip showed Sue Barker hosting a quick question and answer session when AP McCoy's correct answer meant Phil Tufnell's team was awarded two missing letters from a Hangman-style two-word puzzle.
Sue clarified that the words they were trying to guess had “something to do with sports” before asking, “Do you want to continue?”
After Phil asked his teammates, “Shall we continue?”, Paul O'Connell, who had been studying the board intently, nudged the team heading to indicate he wanted to make a guess.
Since only two of the 23 spots were filled, Phil continued, “Do you have it?” Are you sure? It's a really long second word!'
Paul then said: “Borussia Mönchengladbach, no?” the name of a soccer team in the German Bundesliga.
“Let's see if you're right…” Sue replied before the letters lit up, revealing that he had guessed the correct answer. The crowd was shocked while his teammates erupted in cheers.
Even the opposing team's captain, Matt Dawson, stood and gave a standing ovation as cheers rang out in the television studio.
This came after the BBC announced it had decided to ax A Question of Sport.
In making the shocking announcement, the company blamed inflation and falling ratings for canceling the long-running sports quiz show with more than 1,300 episodes.
The decision to halt production came after long-time presenter Sue Barker was fired, sparking outrage among viewers.
The clip showed Sue Barker moderating a question and answer session when AP McCoy's correct answer meant Phil Tufnell's team was awarded two missing letters from a hangman-style two-word puzzle
Since only two of the 23 fields were filled in, Paul correctly guessed “Borussia Mönchengladbach,” the name of a soccer team in the German Bundesliga
His teammates erupted in cheers while the opposing team's captain, Matt Dawson, stood and gave a standing ovation as cheers rang out in the television studio
This comes after A Question of Sport was canceled by the BBC on Friday evening
Since the departure of popular presenter Sue Barker in 2020, the sports show's numbers have declined
Paddy McGuinness was signed as Barker's successor in 2021, along with two new team captains
The show first aired in 1970 and was initially hosted by former Match of the Day reporter David Vine. However, it became known primarily through its moderation by Barker, who served as captain of the show for 24 years.
The Wimbledon semi-finalist joined the program in 1997 and quickly became the face of the show.
The former tennis star was dropped from the program along with captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell so bosses could recruit new talent to revamp the long-running sports quiz.
Ex-tennis player Barker as a BBC presenter in 1996
Paddy McGuinness was signed to replace Barker in 2021. Olympian Sam Quek and former rugby star Ugo Monye replaced Dawson and Tufnell as team captains.
A BBC spokesman told Web this evening: “Due to inflation and funding issues, difficult decisions need to be made, so Question of Sport is not currently in production.”
When McGuiness was chosen to replace Barker, he said: “I love the fiercely competitive nature of sports stars, coupled with the fun of laughing.”
“That's why 'A Question of Sport' has always been one of my favorite shows and having been exposed to it from a young age, this is an honor and opportunity that I certainly won't take lightly.”
McGuiness said he would try to put his own stamp on the show, which was previously hosted by David Coleman and David Vine.
He added: “I grew up with both Davids as presenters but it is Sue who has made this show her own. “She will always be an icon of A Question of Sport but I will do my best to her to put my own stamp on it.”
The show, which first aired in 1970, always had a loyal viewership of around three to four million per episode, but was unable to attract young viewers. Ms Barker is pictured here in 1998 with the then team captains – footballer Ally McCoist (left) and snooker star John Parrott
Barker (centre), 64, was ousted as host of BBC's A Question Of Sport alongside team captains Matt Dawson (left) and Phil Tufnell (right) to give bosses the opportunity to recruit new faces
Barker admitted she was “slightly damaged” after being axed from the show after 24 years
But earlier this year he revealed that his Top Gear co-star and pal Freddie Flintoff had warned him about presenting BBC panel show A Question Of Sport.
“For me personally, the pressure I felt was more responsible for 'A Question of Sport' than 'Top Gear,'” he said.
“I remember Freddie [Flintoff] When I got the job, he called me and said, “Oh God, be careful because this can be talked about online and so on,” he added.
The show peaked in the 1980s and broke records in 1987 when 19 million viewers tuned in to watch Princess Anne take part.
At the time, David Coleman was running the show alongside team captains Bill Beaumont, Gareth Edwards and Emlyn Hughes.
Beaumont was one of the longest-serving captains with 319 appearances, beaten by footballer Ally McCoist, who appeared in 363 episodes.
The BBC quiz show was hosted by Barker from 1997 until she was replaced by McGuinness
Viewership fell to an average of 850,000 in this series (Paddy (centre) pictured with new team captains Sam Quek (left) and Ugo Monye (right))
While Barker was still hosting, 4 million people still tuned in to watch the show, and the number almost halved to 2.2 million when Mr. McGuiness took over. Soon fewer than a million viewers were tuning in.
In 2022, ratings for “Question of Sport” fell to an all-time low, dropping to an average of 850,000.
An episode on August 19 reached a peak of 750,000 viewers, with the show being beaten by a Channel 5 program about Britain's poshest farm shops.
Between four and five million viewers tuned in regularly when Sue was presenter, before she was sacked in 2020 when bosses decided to renew the show.
Insiders working on the show said the presenters and captains were informed of the show's end and were “gutted”, the Mirror reported.
It is a particular blow for McGuiness, 50, who lost his presenting show on Top Gear earlier this year when the BBC announced it would be axed for the “foreseeable future”.
Princess Anne starred in 1987's “A Question of Sport” to a whopping 19 million viewers
David Coleman, Emlyn Hughes, Princess Anne and Bill Beaumont
Last week BBC bosses complained that the recently announced £10.50 increase in the license fee is not enough and will result in shows “that audiences love” being axed.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer revealed the budget payment would rise to a total of £169.50 as she announced a review of the broadcaster's funding model.
However, the broadcaster's governing body said the below-inflation rise will have an impact on its content budgets and, as a result, will have a “significant impact on the wider creative sector in the UK”.
In a statement, the board said the increase “will mean further changes on top of the big savings we are already making.”