In 1993 a pilot episode of Shooting Stars was screened on BBC2 as part of the 'At Home with Vic and Bob' evening of programming.

The pilot show differed in several ways. The team captains were Jonathan Ross and Danny Baker; the Dove from Above was a blue suitcase (referred to as the Bleu Valise); the contestants' names on the desks were their forenames not surnames; and the teams weren't called A and B, instead they were the Starbirds (with a plane logo) and the Helicopters (with a... you can guess). Guests were Wendy Richard, Martin Clunes, Ulrika Jonsson and Noddy Holder.