It's a Knockout out for the count

It's a Knockout was revived in 1999 after 17 years

Family game show It's a Knockout will not return to Channel 5, sparking doubts that the programme will be seen on British TV again.

Two series of the slapstick gameshow have been shown on the channel over the last 18 months but the broadcasters has said it has no plans for it to return "at the moment".

Contestants dressed up in costumes and competed in a series of challenges

Originally shown on BBC One, it returned to British screens in 1999 after an absence of 17 years.

Keith Chegwin - aided by Frank Bruno - took over as host of the Channel 5 programme, replacing Stuart Hall who had presented the programme for almost 19 years.

Battling publics

It's a Knockout saw members of the public battle it out dressed as giants, penguins and damsels in distress and was based on a French game Jeux San Frontières, which pitched contestants across Europe against each other.

At its peak the programme attracted 19 million viewers on BBC One

A spokesman for Channel 5 told BBC News Online: "We have no immediate plans to bring back It's A Knockout at the moment."

The programme will be replaced by two new challenge game shows, The Desert Forges and Under Pressure, said the spokesman.

"Both shows will capitalise on our success in producing the hour-long family entertainment series," he added.

At the peak of the show's popularity on BBC One the show attracted an audience of 19 million viewers.

The corporation finally pulled the plug on the show in 1982.