Alan Chivers

In August 1970 a spectacular rock climb was televised live on BBC in color. Seven climbers attempted three different routes on the cliffs of Anglesey. The event, presented by Christopher Brasher was transmitted live through 4 connections over the course of 31st of august. The routes climbed were: Spider's Web, by Joe Brown and Ian McNaught-Davis; Wen Slab, by Peter Crew and Don Whillans; and Tyrannosaurus Rex, by Laurie and Les Holliwell, and Janet Rogers. This was the first color live climbing program on BBC, following on from the success of earlier programs such as the ascent of the Old Man of Hoy in 1967.

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In April 1966, the BBC broadcast a live program showing Joe Brown, Tom Patey, Ian McNaught-Davis, Chris Bonington, and the American Royal Robbins climbing of the awesome sea-cliffs of Gogarth on Anglesey. The climb was transmitted live through 3 connections over the course of 9th of April as part of the long-running Saturday afternoon sports strand, Grandstand. The vertical wall, composed of unreliably loose rock and guarded by guillemots and seagulls, proved to be a true test for the climbers. The cliff plunges directly into the sea and to climb up it required descending a rope, finding footholds near the bottom and then locating a viable route up the face.

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A climb to mark the 100th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn, live on TV. The program, a co-production of the Swiss, French, Italian and British televisions, was shown throughout Europe, in the United States and in Japan in a series of 5 broadcasts between 8 and 16h. This film is the re-edited version by the BBC of all the broadcasts in a single program. Ian McNaught-Davis roped with the guide Heinrich Taugwalder and Jean Juge with Robert Bichler narrate the ascent while they climb by the original Whymper route. They follow the progression of Michel Darbellay and Hilti von Allmen who climb the north face by the Schmidt route. All them meet at the summit.

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In September 1963, the BBC broadcast a live program showing four climbers, Ian McNaught-Davis, Peter Crew, Barry Ingle, Paul Nunn attempting the ascent of Britain's most formidable overhang Kilnsey Crag, Grassington 'where the tigers sharpen their claws'. The event, commented by Ian McNaught-Davis on the face and Jeremy James at the foot of the climb, was transmitted live through 3 connections over the course of 28th of September. The transmission was part of the BBC program Time Out.

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