South Yorkshire Times, January 17th, 1970

School “Top of the Form” Quiz Team Will Pit Their Wits on Colour Television.

Six Mexborough Grammar School pupils are preparing to pit their wits against pupils from a Cheshire Grammar School, in B.B.C. television’s “Top of the Form.”

Their screen debut is to be in colour and will be filmed on February 4th in the school’s Main Hall.

But despite the glamour of appearing in colour in front of millions of viewers, they are taking the competition “in their stride,”

Reserves

All sixth formers at the school, the pupils were selected to stand on the panel, representing the school, by the B.B.C. About 25 pupils volunteered or were nominated to stand for selection. Four were chosen and a further two have been selected as reserves.

They are Gillian Nock (17) Christine Chaplin (18), David Harmer (17) and Mick Tierney (17). Reserves are Jayne Lilburn (17) and Trevor Allen (18).

As they prepared for the competition. Trevor said, “We are watching ’24 Hours’ and reading all the Sunday papers. We haven’t bothered to read encyclopedias or anything like that.”

For Gillian it, will not be her first TV appearance. She was a member of one of the teams on another B.B.C. programme, “Sixth Sense”, three years ago.

Not nervous

She said, “We are not really nervous but on the night probably will be. I don’t think it will be because of the cameras, but because an audience is watching us.”

There will be several hundred people in the audience, including members of their own school and sixth form college, Lymn Grammar School (the opponents), and, of course, parents.

Their main fear is that they might “fold up” when asked a question in front of such a large audience. They will be given time to grow accustomed to the cameras before they are “put on the air” as there is to be a period before filming begins when they are asked questions similar to those in the competition.

The B.B.C. did come to the school late last term to test the school hall for lighting arrangements, and this gave the competitors a chance to see the cameras working.

Pleased

When asked of their own feelings about the competition, David said, “Our parents seem (to be pleased we have been I selected to be in the team, but if  I had almost forgotten about it as it is so long since we were first picked.”

Gillian, who is one of the most outspoken members of the team, said, “I think it might help us with University entrance –it will give something for ‘us to talk about at interviews.”

If And with only a few weeks left for them to prepare for the filming day, they are continuing with their normal school work.

Filming will take place in the school at 4.30 p.m. and should last about two hours. It has not been decided when the programme will be televised, but when it is the team will be able to proudly watch  themselves — in full colour — at Gillian’s home. Her parents were lucky enough to win a colour television some months ago.

If successful the team will go to Wales for the second round.