Superstars 2012 BBC1, Saturday 29th Dec 6:45pm - 8:15pm
Repeat: BBC Mon 31 Dec 7pm All right, so they’ve won medals. They’re national heroes. But how many squat thrusts can our Olympic champions do in a minute, eh? What’s their technique like at dips on parallel bars? If they fall off a bike on a cinder track, will they pick themselves up and soldier on regardless?
These are the tests of sporting pluck that count, as anyone who watched the fondly remembered Superstars of the 1970s and 80s will know. Tonight’s one-off revival looks sure to tie a cheery ribbon on a fabulous year of sport, and with luck will throw up unlikely new rivalries.
Our host is Gabby Logan, whose father (Terry Yorath) competed on the show back in the days of sliding graphics, mustard tracksuits and men called Brian. Today we have instead Mo Farah, Nicola Adams and a brace of Brownlee brothers. As world-conquering triathletes, the latter surely start
as favourites. But in this contest, anything can happen.
Gabby Logan hosts a one-off revival of the sporting challenge which sees 16 medal-winning athletes from Team GB competing over several different disciplines. They may all have what it takes to win Olympic medals, but taking part in Superstars is a different matter altogether. How will Mo Farah cope with a bow and arrow in the archery contest? Can the Brownlee brothers prove as tough in the gym as they were on the triathlon course? Nicola Adams can punch but can she ride a bicycle? And how will tae kwan do gold medallist Jade Jones cope on the 100m track? The others taking part are Robbie Grabarz, Michael Jamieson, Anthony Joshua, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Peter Wilson, Lizzie Armitstead, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Gemma Gibbons, Helen Glover, Katherine Grainger and Christine Ohuruogu, with the 800m running, javelin, swimming and kayaking making up the events - and that's before they even get to the grand finale, the notorious gym tests. Former Olympians Denise Lewis and Iwan Thomas monitor the stars' progress, while Rebecca Adlington helps them in the pool.
CastPresenter Gabby Logan
Contestant Alistair Brownlee
Contestant Jonathan Brownlee
Contestant Mo Farah
Contestant Robbie Grabarz
Contestant Michael Jamieson
Contestant Anthony Joshua
Contestant Andrew Triggs Hodge
Contestant Peter Wilson
Contestant Nicola Adams
Contestant Lizzie Armitstead
Contestant Laura Bechtolsheimer
Contestant Gemma Gibbons
Contestant Helen Glover
Contestant Katherine Grainger
Contestant Jade Jones
Contestant Christine Ohuruogu
Commentator Denise Lewis
Commentator Iwan Thomas
Coach Rebecca AdlingtonCrew
Radiotimes
