Full Swing (game show)
Full Swing was a short-lived game show that combined general knowledge questions and the game of golf which aired on BBC1 for one series from 25 May to 27 July 1996. The programme was hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck with voiceovers by Rosemarie Ford. The show was inspired by (and produced by the team behind) the BBC's popular Big Break, which featured snooker (and in turn, was influenced by ITV's long-running darts quiz, Bullseye). However, unlike the long-running Big Break and Bullseye, Full Swing did not catch on and only ran for one series.
| Full Swing | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Presented by | Jimmy Tarbuck |
| Narrated by | Rosemarie Ford |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original release | 25 May – 27 July 1996 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Bullseye Big Break |
Round 1
Three for the tee:
Three contestants and golf celebrities are using a golf simulator of any hole courses. The celeb swings – the ball landing on the green or a hazard. The contestant asks questions by cards. A correct answer gives a boost toward the pin.
Whoever gets closest to the pin goes through; the one who gets the least is eliminated and has a consolation prize.
Round 2
Fairway or fowl:
In this round, the contestant asks a question to make the celeb hit the ball to the green, however, there are hazards.
• bunkers or deep bunkers
• river and waterfalls
• rabbits digging holes
And a special golf hole that only goes in the hole if it is lit up; if it is not lit, it ejects the golf ball.
If it lands on any hazard, the contestant asks a hazard question – get it right Tarbuck places it on the green, get it wrong get another chance.
The winner who putts the ball in the remaining time or nearest to the pin.
Round 3
The final green:
The contestant gives 4 general knowledge questions, getting it right adds 10 seconds to time, and a Bonus Ball from a golf ball machine numbers 10 to 60 (similar to lottery machine), then adds the time.
The celeb then, with the remaining seconds, had to putt 10 golf balls from £100 to £1,000. Sinking all the balls in the hole wins the money, a holiday, and the celebs charity, if not they go away with the money.
Ratings
The programme was launched on Saturdays in an early evening slot (similar to the Big Break slot) but was axed after just one series due to extremely poor ratings. A Christmas Special was recorded but never broadcast, due to the disappointing reception of the first series – a move that angered Tarbuck, who believed a slot over the festive period would have helped boost the show's reception by the public, and which saw him refuse to work for the BBC for several years after.