Breaker 88

On Friday 29th January 1988 YSTV started a programme that attempted to break the world record for the "longest continuous TV transmission under a single director".

Producer Lawrence De'Ath was quoted as saying "a million things could go wrong so it is highly likely that a few hundred will!" days before the programme started and, sure enough, the programme started 2 hours and 25 minutes late due to a "COMS" failure (some things never change).

28 hours and 2 minutes later, the programme entered the record books despite a deliberate attempt to sabotage the programme - two students allegedly set off a fire alarm. Director Keith Hide-Smith was evidently willing to die rather than give up.

Programme Schedule

The following schedule was taken from the original A4 Programme Schedule.

Friday

• 1600 Introduction with John Cornley, Steve Marinker and Kath Grinsted
• 1620 Mature Students interview by Kath Grinsted
• 1640 Adverts
• 1650 Cancer Research Rebecca Simpson talks to Dr Crumplin
• 1700 Granny Gruesome Gang Ceri Sheppard on the Friargate Wax Museum
• 1720 The Pepsi Challenge quiz show (2 rounds)
• 1755 Adverts
• 1805 RNLI Emma Aidred talks to Brian Stevenson about the RNLI
• 1820 RAG Paul Sykes interviews Simon Benbow, RAG chaiman (news follows)
• 1830 Media Review Emma Aldred talks to Paul Napier (Nouse) and Kate Smyth (Vision)
• 1845 Adverts
• 1855 The University Chamber Orchestra plays a variety of classical music (Adverts at 1942)
• 2020 News and adverts
• 2045 Five Minutes play rock music in Central Hall
• 2130* Adverts
• 2140* Rock Review with Karen Aveyard
• 2155* Adverts
• 2255* The Bogus Brothers play Central Hall
• 2340* The Ruffian On The Stair drama from Vanbrugh

Saturday

• 0020 Pool Competition complete competition followed by prizegiving; adverts at 0050, 0150, 0250, 0350
• 0400 Darts Competition complete competition with adverts at 0450, 0550, 0650
• 0700 Breaker Breakfast featuring Ben Rich (SU president), Nick Clark (Lesbian & Gay soc), and the team! Hosts John Cornley, Steve Marinker, Kath Grinsted; adverts at 0750, 0850, 0930
• 0940 The Pepsi Challenge with Geoff Franks
• 1000 News
• 1005* The Pepsi Challenge with Geoff Franks
• 1020 Adverts
• 1030 The Ruffian on the Stair drama
• 1110 The Pepsi Challenge two rounds, adverts at 1130
• 1200 News
• 1205 Lunchtime Show with Emma Aldred and guests from NSPCC, York Dungeon, Friends of the Earth, Christian Union; adverts at 1220, 1325
• 1335 The Pepsi Challenge six rounds with adverts at 1420, 4510, 1600; news at 1355, 1450, 1540
• 1610* University Session Band plays in Vanbrugh
• 1710 Adverts
• 1720 Teatime Show with Ceri Sheppard and guests from Anarchy Soc. Conservation Volunteers, Amnesty International, CAP, CND; adverts at 1810, News at 1730
• 1820 The Pepsi Challenge final three rounds; adverts at 1915, 1955; News and interviews at 1845, 1910
• 2000 The Bully Boys in Central Hall
• 2025 Ron and Nancy Spencer magic duo in Central Hall
• 2050 Adverts
• 2105 Magic with Geoff Franks in Central Hall
• 2200* Credits and closedown

_* denotes approximate times