Back to the future for the superstars

Published on 15/11/2012 02:21

GOLD medal-winning Olympians Mo Farah, Katherine Grainger and Jade Jones are to challenge for sporting glory as contestants in a one-off revival of 1970s television game show Superstars.

Medallists from Team GB are taking part in a BBC1 Christmas special which will see triathlete brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee going head-to-head once more.

They will aim to be crowned the best male and female all-rounders in the Superstars 2012 programme, which will be presented by Gabby Logan.

The 16 competitors – who also include boxers Anthony Joshua and Nicola Adams – will tackle eight events.

The show, recorded in Bath, will feature track races over 100m and 800m, archery, javelin, a 50m swim, a kayak race, a cycling hill climb and the 
challenges in the gym tests. 
Superstars was a huge hit when first broadcast in the 1970s and continued into the next decade with occasional revivals over the years. Viewers best remember when Kevin Keegan had a nasty crash during a cycling heat, hurdler David Hemery injured his ankle during a fall in the steeplechase, and squash player Jonah Barrington stormed out after his squat thrusts failed to meet the judges’ approval.

Logan – whose footballer 
father Terry Yorath took part in the original series – described the programmes as one of her favourite shows as a child.

She said: “I am thrilled to be hosting this special edition of Superstars.”