MIKE DICKSON: A Question of Sport's end after more than half a century on our screens represents a merciful release for the once-great titan of British TV and serves as a frank reminder of the BBC's d

So Question of Sport has gone, mourned like a much-loved old friend who has lately been in in desperately poor health. The diagnosis always looked terminal once Sue Barker was abruptly dropped as presenter three years ago, her captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell ushered out at the same time. The BBC has announced the end of A Question of Sport after more than 50 years on British TV Barker’s loss was also felt this summer in the coverage of the Beeb’s now flagship sports event, Wimbledon, which sometimes seemed to be flailing in her absence. The guests were Britain’s most charismatic footballer, George Best, England cricket captain Ray Illingworth, a true legend in Tom Finney and the enormously well-liked athlete Lillian Board. With more than 1300 episodes the show was a cultural institution in its heyday, counting the likes of Princess Anne as guests A staggering 19 million people tuned in to see how they would get along, and were rewarded by the royal joining in the spirit and winding him up about whether he could deduce the correct gender of those on the picture board.