A CHAMPION It’s A Knockout team which blazed a trail through Europe in 1976 will relive their laughter, fun and crazy capers on primetime TV.

The victorious Kirklees team is appearing in a BBC1 documentary on Monday at 7.30pm.

And as well as highlights from 1976, the show will be featuring new footage of some of the contestants who were recently reunited for a wacky replay.

The team – all considerably older this time – recreated their heroics in front of more than 100 spectators at Spenborough Pool in Liversedge with legendary presenter Stuart Hall, 81, commentating.

Sadly Golcar man Jonathan Crossland, 58, who took part in the recent It’s A Knockout has since died.

Back in 1976 he took part when he was a PE teacher at Earlsheaton High School in Dewsbury.

His wife, Carol, said Jonathan had been looking forward to watching the show.

“He really enjoyed taking part again and it brought back a lot of happy memories,’’ she said..

“He always just liked a lot of fun and laughs.

“I went to watch it and everybody was laughing a lot – it was great fun.

“He was really looking forward to seeing it on TV.”

Back in 1976, the team had a historic triumph at Princess Mary Playing Fields in Cleckheaton.

After winning in Cleckheaton, the team went on to an international heat at Roundhay Park in Leeds two months later where they took on sides from France, Germany, Holland, Italy and Switzerland.

Dave Millman secured victory for Kirklees by winning the In For A Duck game where he was dressed in tights, flippers and a huge duck costume.

But despite winning in Leeds, the Kirklees team did not get through to the grand final in Blackpool.

The female members of the team were Lynette Thompson, of Mirfield; Julie Athey, Gillian Caskin, Karen Athey, Janet Williams and Lesley Rowell, all of Dewsbury; Julie Mallalieu and Janet Fidler, of Huddersfield; and Eileen Marchant of Skelmanthorpe.

The male members were Kim Booth and Graham Overhead, of Dewsbury; Barry Kenny, Alan Conroy, Brian Hayhurst, David Laverick, Ian Jowett, Eddie Berry, Barry Hodgson, Jonathan Crossland and Dave Millam, all of Huddersfield; Paul Dallas, of Cleckheaton and Tony Lees of Liversedge.

They were led by captain Rob Blackshaw.