The BBC has confirmed that Ski Sunday will no longer be produced after nearly five decades on air, citing changing audience behaviours and budget cuts. The beloved programme, which delivered the latest alpine skiing coverage alongside features showcasing a diverse range of winter sports, has been a fixture in the broadcaster's winter programming since its debut in 1978.
Why the show has been discontinued
Various alterations to sports broadcasting and budget reductions mean Ski Sunday has been discontinued. Philip Bernie, head of BBC Sport events, described Ski Sunday as "a truly iconic programme. Generations of viewers have enjoyed its coverage of the best in winter sports."
He added: "We are enormously proud of the role it has played in bringing these moments to audiences across the UK, and extremely grateful to the brilliant people who have delivered them, not least the current outstanding team. These decisions are never easy, but as audience viewing habits evolve and we work to deliver value for licence fee payers, we have to make tough choices. We remain committed to bringing audiences the very best of winter sport, above all at the Winter Olympics, across BBC Sport's platforms."
Official statement and fan reaction
A BBC Sport statement confirmed: "Changing audience behaviours and the tough financial decisions needed to meet savings requirements mean BBC Sport must continually review how it delivers value for licence fee payers and serves audiences across all platforms. This decision forms part of that process."
Fans have taken to social media to express their dismay following the announcement shared by the BBC on Tuesday (September 1). One wrote: "Absolutely not. Games completely gone." Another added: "That's so sad, I'm not into skiing but as a kid used to watch that with my dad with David Vine on comms."
A third person quipped: "Had been going downhill for a while to be fair." A fourth user jibed: "It was on a slippery slope to be fair." While another commented: "One of the great theme songs."
History of the programme
Ski Sunday launched on 15 January 1978 and is currently fronted by Ed Leigh and Chemmy Alcott, with reporters Graham Bell, Tim Warwood, Jenny Jones, Aimee Fuller and Phil Young contributing to coverage. The programme was originally established in the wake of the 1976 Winter Olympics, later becoming part of Sunday Grandstand and fronted by renowned British broadcasters including Ron Pickering and David Vine, who helmed the show for 20 years before stepping back into semi-retirement in 1996.
The programme centred predominantly on the blue riband events of downhill skiing and slalom skiing. Following Grandstand's final broadcast in early 2007, Ski Sunday cemented its place as one of the BBC's longest-running sports television programmes. The programme's celebrated theme tune, Pop Looks Bach by Sam Fonteyn, also served as the soundtrack for the BBC's Winter Olympics coverage through to the 2006 Games, and featured in Sainsbury's Christmas advertisement in 2023.
