Superstars Returns to Five

LONDON, April 30: This
summer, Five will bring back the classic British series Superstars, which pits top athletes from different sports
against each other.

Produced by TWI, a
division of IMG Media, Superstars
is set to return as an 8×1-hour program that will feature a new twist on the
original ‘70s series; instead of competing as individuals, leading athletes
will be split into four teams. Serving as captains of the four teams are
five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave; double-Olympic gold medalist Dame
Kelly Holmes; Olympic silver medalist Roger Black MBE; and Olympic gold
medalist Darren Campbell. Former Premier League referee Graham Poll will be in charge
of officiating the various events.

Each team will comprise of
three men and one woman. The teams will include footballers Lee Sharpe and
Roberto Di Matteo; cricketer Graham Thorpe; athlete Iwan Thomas; swimmers Mark
Foster and Karen Pickering; boxer Jane Couch; rugby stars Mike Catt and Austin
Healey; cyclist Chris Boardman; skier Alain Baxter and bob skeleton Olympic
medalist Shelley Rudman. The four teams will compete in a round robin or
mini-league format. Many of the original disciplines will be part of the new Superstars series, along with some new events like indoor
speed climbing, pool kayak and diving. The executive producers of the updated
series are Lawrence Duffy and Rick Thomas. The series producer is Jim Reilly.

Superstars originally aired in the U.K. in 1973 and had a
12-year run on BBC One. The show was presented by David Vine and saw nearly 200
of the most famous male and female athletes take part in the competition over
the years.

Robert Charles, Five’s
controller of sport, said: “Superstars has a unique place in TV history and we are delighted to be able to
being the concept back to the screens, albeit as a team event which we think
will make great viewing as the different personalities come to life over the
eight programs.” He continued: “The athletes that we’ve managed to attract are
from the very top of their respective sports so you can bet on it being
compelling television and very, very competitive.”

Lawrence Duffy, the head
of development at TWI, added, “We are thrilled to be producing this new series
for Five. Superstars is one of
the original sports entertainment formats, and we expect this series to deliver
lively stories and great action.”

—By Irene Lew