BBC axes beloved sports show after nearly 50 years on air

The BBC has announced that popular winter sports programme Ski Sunday will no longer be produced after nearly 50 years on the air.

The show, which rounds up the latest alpine skiing action alongside features exploring a wide array of snow sports, has been a staple of the broadcaster’s output since first airing in 1978.

But while the channel will continue to show parts of the Winter Olympics, the seasonal weekly programme has been axed as the BBC continues to evolve its sport output.

Ski Sunday’s demise follows that of Football Focus, which came to an end after 52 years on air earlier in 2026.

“Ski Sunday has been a truly iconic programme and a much-loved part of BBC Sport‘s output for many years,” Philip Bernie, head of events at BBC Sport, said. “Generations of viewers have enjoyed its coverage of the best in winter sports. 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.”

Originally launched in 1978 to follow on from the 1976 Games in Innsbruck, the programme later formed part of Sunday Grandstand. It was fronted for many years by David Vine, with former skier Graham Bell and snowboarder Ed Leigh later forming a popular presenting partnership.

Four-time Olympian Chemmy Alcott joined the programme alongside Leigh in 2021.