CBBC Commissions Kids’ Sports Series

LONDON: CBBC has commissioned Zodiak Kids’ production company The Foundation Scotland to produce Ultimate Sports Day, a new children’s sports series to air in 2012.

The 11-episode half-hour series hosted by Ore Oduba (BBC Sport presenter, CBBC’s Newsround) features four regional teams of four athletes from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competing to become the Ultimate Sports Day champions. Each team will be mentored by some of the biggest names in sports such as decathlete Dean Macey for the England team; seven-time British Champion Ice Dancer Sinead Kerr for Scotland; Team GB sprinter Christian Malcolm for Wales; and Northern Ireland will be led by former World Featherweight Boxing Champion Barry McGuigan. Ultimate Sports Day is currently in production in Scotland, at the Ravenscraig sports center and will premiere on CBBC early 2012 to coincide with the Olympics.

Steven Andrew, the creative director of The Foundation, said, “Ultimate Sports Day is a new kind of sports-themed event for today’s digital kids. The series will break the mould in the way that sport has been traditionally portrayed on kids’ TV. With the upcoming 2012 Olympics Ultimate Sports Day is relevant to budding young athletes who aspire to be the next crop of Olympic stars.”

CBBC’s controller, Damian Kavanagh, added, “Here at CBBC one of our ambitions is to inspire children to get involved and be active. Ultimate Sports Day will tap into our audience’s anticipation and excitement in advance of the forthcoming Olympic Games, they will follow the trials and tribulations of some of the finest young athletes in the U.K. and see if they have what it takes as individuals and as a team to succeed.”