The World Disco Dancin’ Championships first featured on an ITV show called Bruce Forsyth’s Big Night. It became a standalone programme in 1979 and was produced by Thames Television.

The series ran till 1984, with the 1983 and 1984 championships televised on Channel Four.

Before the main competition, ITV would air regional UK heats to decide their representative. The national UK final would take place in the Empire Ballroom in Leicester Square, London. This tradition has outlived the competition, and is now known as the Empire Casino.

The winner of the national final represented their country in the global competition, featuring 32 participating countries. The finals were judged in accordance to the International Skating Rules and judged by a panel, which included the former winner, and radio & TV personalities.

The prizes given to each winner included a mixture of cash prizes and electrical goods. In the 1978 competition, Tadaaki Dan (Japan) left the Empire Ballroom with a new car, a trophy, and £2,000.

Sadly Amanda Gibson missed out on the 1979 prize of £6,000, which was awarded to the UK entry Julie Brown (6:57). She still did us proud!