This edition was originally due to be broadcast on 11th October 2000, but was replaced with a repeat of Episode #5.35 (1998).
The change to the scheduled programming wasn't referenced until the end of the following episode, with the BBC continuity announcer stating: "Now, because yesterday's Wipeout wasn't the scheduled edition of the programme, you may just have been a little confused by the answer we just gave to the viewers' question. We will, however, be showing yesterday's programme at a later date."
No explanation for the reason behind the sudden withdrawal from the schedule was given.
The change to the scheduled programming wasn't referenced until the end of the following episode, with the BBC continuity announcer stating: "Now, because yesterday's Wipeout wasn't the scheduled edition of the programme, you may just have been a little confused by the answer we just gave to the viewers' question. We will, however, be showing yesterday's programme at a later date."
No explanation for the reason behind the sudden withdrawal from the schedule was given.
With no official explanation given for the initial postponement of this episode, any attempt to determine the reason behind it must be speculation.
On 10th October 2000, William Hague was on front page headlines in the UK press as he had proposed a "zero tolerance" policy for cannabis use, only for eight members of his shadow cabinet to publicly state that they had used the drug in the past. This edition, due to air the following day, featured Hague as a possible answer on the final grid - people with the name John as a middle name.
Although William Hague appearing as an answer on a grid may seem a very tenuous reason to postpone the broadcast of the episode, it would tie in with the BBC's attempts at political impartiality.
On 10th October 2000, William Hague was on front page headlines in the UK press as he had proposed a "zero tolerance" policy for cannabis use, only for eight members of his shadow cabinet to publicly state that they had used the drug in the past. This edition, due to air the following day, featured Hague as a possible answer on the final grid - people with the name John as a middle name.
Although William Hague appearing as an answer on a grid may seem a very tenuous reason to postpone the broadcast of the episode, it would tie in with the BBC's attempts at political impartiality.
The viewers' question for this edition was "Sark is a Scottish Island - True or Wipeout?".
With the episode postponed, the recap of the previous edition's "Viewers' Question" was amended to reflect the question asked in Episode #8.60 (2001): "The Grand National is a race in the flat racing calendar - True or Wipeout?"
