Question of Sport factfile DOB: 5/1/70 Number of show to date: 822 Most guest appearances: Steve Davis (18)

On the first show, hosted by David Vine, team captains Henry Cooper and Cliff Morgan were joined by George Best, Ray Illingworth, Lillian Board and Tom Finney.

More than 1,000 sporting personalities have appeared on the programme in its 35-year history lead by 13 resident captains.

In four decades the show has only had three presenters.

Three with all the answers: Vine, Coleman, Barker.

David Vine hosted for five years before securing a niche on late-night snooker and Ski Sunday.

Throughout the Eighties and Nineties the quite remarkable David Coleman defined the show with his variety of cardigans and myriad of facts. When he took his leave in May 1997 he had presented 376 shows.

Sue Barker has been in charge since although with Ally "in charge" is a loose use of language.

A Question of Sport celebrated its 200th edition in 1987 with a programme that included Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal. 18 million watched.

In 1999 and 2001 the show won the prestigious Royal Television Society Sports Entertainment Programme of the Year Award.

On Friday 9th November 2007, A Question of Sport reached another landmark when its 800th show was transmitted. Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell were captains and the guests were Gary Speed, Carl Fogarty, Ken Doherty and Gregor Townsend.

Clockwise from top left: Cliff Morgan and Henry Cooper, Henry Cooper and Brendan Foster.

A Question of Sport first broadcast in January 1970 when British heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper began trading verbal blows with former Wales and British Lions rugby union international Cliff Morgan.

In 1977 our Henry ran with middle distance runner and 1976 Olympic bronze medallist Brendan Foster.

Clockwise from top left: Gareth Edwards and Emlyn Hughes, Bill Beaumont and Willie Carson.

In 1979 the former Liverpool captain, the late Emlyn Hughes took over alongside the Wales and British Lions scrum half Gareth Edwards and the pair saw in the Eighties together. Sadly Emlyn Hughes died from a brain tumour in November 2004 aged 57.

In 1982 the former England captain and Grand Slam winner Bill Beaumont teamed up with four-time Derby winner Willie Carson.

Two years later Bill was paired with a returning Emlyn Hughes. They remained together for five series. They were famously together when Princess Anne appeared on the show in 1987 and was appalled at Emlyn's spelling. Emlyn died in 2004.

Clockwise from top left: Bill Beaumont and Ian Botham, John Parrott and Ally McCoist.

In 1989 one former England captain was paired with another when Bill was joined by cricketing icon Ian Botham.

Bill and Beefy became a staple throughout the Nineties running in tandem for eight series.

When the pair finally left Bill had clocked up a then record 319 appearances on the show.

In 1996 it was all change when the Rangers striker Ally McCoist cued up with 1991 snooker world champion John Parrott and the pair saw in the millennium.

Clockwise from top left: Frankie Dettori, John Parrott, Ally McCoist and Matt Dawson.

While Ally continued into the new century, in 2002 John vacated his seat to two-time champion jockey and the winner of nine English classics Frankie Dettori.

With Frankie's continuing success in the saddle, the England scrum half Matt Dawson took his place in September 2004, becoming the 13th captain on the show.

On 18th May 2007 Ally, due to his committments at Rangers, made his last appearance as a team captain on the show. He had clocked up a record busting 363 appearances.