The BBC Story

The first television sports event in Britain to feature a live commentary – a boxing match between England and Ireland – was broadcast.

 

Outside broadcasts were in their infancy, and it was easier to bring the action into the studio, so the concert hall at Alexandra Palace was turned over to the Alexandra Amateur Boxing Club for the occasion. The commentator was Harry Mallin, a former middleweight champion and Olympic gold medallist.

 

There were two matches in the 25-minute programme. The first was a welterweight bout between WS Pack and T Byrne; this was followed by lightweights FJ Simpson versus Corporal T Bonham. The results are not recorded.

 

Other sports were broadcast from Alexandra Palace in the following weeks, including table tennis and golf.