With the Olympic torch still smouldering in Stratford, every brand exec, politician and TV channel and their dog are trying to bask in the reflected glory of Team GB.
There are strong rumours that Victoria Pendleton will be unveiled as a Strictly Come Dancing contestant later this week, but the BBC aren’t satisfied with the cycling gold medallist, they want to resurrect iconic celebrity-based sporting series Superstars.
“The BBC want to harness the appeal of Team GB and has agreed Superstars is the best way to do it,” an insider told The Sun. “The programme will showcase their skills, but will be a bit quirky. How will Mo Farah get on in Chris Hoy’s cycling shoes? Can Jessica Ennis add another skill to the seven she already has?”
The BBC are thought to want to launch a new series next spring in conjunction with Comic Relief and are currently negotiating with IMG, who own the rights to the format, yet Sky are also thought to be interested in the show and would probably be able to outbid the Beeb.
After originating in the US, Superstars pitted athletes against each other in a range of athletic challenges and ran in Britain between 1973 and 1985, It enjoyed a brief return in the early noughties. Check out this video of Kevin Keegan coming a cropper in 1976..
