The Games is a British reality sports game show that ran on Channel 4 for four series, in which 10 celebrities competed against each other, by doing Olympic-style events, such as weight lifting, gymnastics and diving. At the end of the series, the contestants with the most points from each round were awarded either a gold, silver or bronze medal. The show was mainly filmed in Sheffield, at the Sheffield Arena, Don Valley Stadium and Ponds Forge. In later series, the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield, iceSheffield and in series 4 the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham were used for the first time.
The Games was presented by Jamie Theakston for the entirety of its run, with track-side reports from Jayne Middlemiss in series 1-3 and Kirsty Gallacher in series 4.
The Games also had an after-show called The Games: Live at Trackside, aired on Channel 4's sister channel E4. The first series was presented by Dougie Anderson, whilst the second was hosted by Gamezville presenters Darren Malcolm and Jamie Atiko. Justin Lee Collins and Caroline Flack took over as presenters for the third and fourth series. For the final series an extra one-hour show was added on E4 in the afternoon called The Games: Live at the Heats, and the evening show changed title to become The Games: Inside Track.
Video The Games (UK TV series)
Series 1 (2003)
The first series aired in 2003 and the celebrities that took part were:
- Azra Ak?n (former Miss World) - gold medalist (jointly with Terri Dwyer)
- Melanie Chisholm (singer, former member of the Spice Girls - "Sporty Spice")
- Josie D'Arby (presenter and actress) - bronze medalist
- Bobby Davro (comedian)
- Terri Dwyer (actress) - gold medalist (jointly with Azra Akin)
- MC Harvey (member of the So Solid Crew) - gold medalist
- James Hewitt (former lover of Diana, Princess of Wales) - silver medalist
- Lee Latchford-Evans (former member of Steps) - bronze medalist
- Jean-Christophe Novelli (chef)
- Gail Porter (presenter)
Porter pulled out part-way through the run. A serious knee injury sustained in the judo competition against Ak?n also forced Chisholm to withdraw.
Maps The Games (UK TV series)
Series 2 (2004)
The second series aired in 2004 and the celebrities that took part were:
- Jarrod Batchelor (former Mr Gay UK) - joint gold medalist
- Charlie Dimmock (gardener - Ground Force) - bronze medalist
- Lady Isabella Hervey (sister of Lady Victoria Hervey) - gold medalist
- Katy Hill (presenter) - silver medalist
- Charles Ingram (cheated on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?)
- Linda Lusardi (former model and actress)
- Shane Lynch (member of Boyzone) - joint gold medalist
- Jodie Marsh (model)
- MC Romeo (member of the So Solid Crew) - bronze medalist
- Pat Sharp (radio DJ)
Team 2003 vs Team 2004 - Champion of Champions 2004
After the second series a special champion of champions edition, took place in which the top two male and female competitors from series one and two went head to head to compete for the title, The Games Champion of Champions. Eventually the team from 2003 won. They comprised MC Harvey, James Hewitt, Terri Dwyer and Josie D'Arby (Azra Ak?n was unavailable to take part).
Series 3 (2005)
The third series commenced on 25 March 2005 and the celebrities that took part were:
- Craig Charles (comedian/actor/presenter)
- Princess Tamara Czartoryski-Borbon (model) - silver medalist
- Danny Foster (former member of Hear'Say)
- Kirsty Gallacher (presenter) - gold medalist
- Mel Giedroyc (comedian)
- Chesney Hawkes (singer) - bronze medalist
- Lisa Maffia (singer) - bronze medalist
- Jonathon Morris (actor)
- Philip Olivier (actor) - gold medalist
- Kevin Simm (member of Liberty X) - silver medalist
- Anna Walker (presenter)
Morris pulled out half-way through the run, and was replaced by Foster.
Injuries also forced Kevin Simm out of the Sumo competition, and Craig Charles out of the speed skating and vaulting competitions.
Team 2003 vs Team 2004 vs Team 2005 - Champion of Champions 2005
After the third series, another special champion of champions edition took place in which the top two male and female competitors from Team 2003, Team 2004 and Team 2005 competed against each other in weightlifting, hammer throwing and finally the relay race. From Team 2003, James Hewitt, Harvey, Terri Dwyer and Josie D'Arby competed. From Team 2004, Romeo, Jarrod Batchelor, Katy Hill and Lady Isabella Hervey competed. From Team 2005, Kevin Simm, Philip Olivier, Lisa Maffia and Kirsty Gallacher, competed. Team 2005 narrowly beat the team from the first series overall.
Series 4 - 2006
The fourth series commenced on 17 March 2006, and was presented as usual by Jamie Theakston, and track-side coverage was taken over by Series Three contestant Kirsty Gallacher. There was a total of 18 different sporting events to test their skills and abilities. The men competed in water ski jump, weights, Kendo, vault, diving, speed skating, cycling, javelin and 100m sprint. The women competed in whitewater kayak, hurdles, cycling, gym floor, swimming, curling, archery, hammer and 100m sprint.
Contestants that took part in the show were:
Contestants
- Peter Duncan (ex Blue Peter presenter and Chief Scout)
- Michelle Gayle (singer and actress) - bronze medalist
- Julia Goldsworthy (Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne) - silver medalist
- Javine Hylton (singer, represented United Kingdom in Eurovision Song Contest) - Gold Medalist
- Jade Jones (former member of boy band Damage, now a member of Cherry Blackstone; longtime boyfriend of Spice Girl Emma Bunton) - gold medalist
- JK (BBC Radio 1 DJ; presenter of The Official Chart) - bronze medalist
- Amanda Lamb (television presenter of A Place in the Sun)
- Bernie Nolan (singer and actress)
- Adam Rickitt (actor and former singer)
- MC Plat'num B (aka Marcel Sommerville from Blazin' Squad) - silver medalist
Darren Day was among the original line-up, but after consistently failing to take part in training, he was replaced by eventual winner Jones. DJ Goldie was originally a competitor, but was forced to pull out due to an injury sustained in the training sessions for the water-ski event. He was replaced by Rickitt.
Scores
Team 2004 vs Team 2005 vs Team 2006 - Champion of Champions 2006
After the fourth series another special champion of champions edition took place in which the top two male and female competitors from series two, three and four competed against each other in a 50 m freestyle swim, diving and a 4 x 50 m freestyle relay at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.
Javine Hylton, Julia Goldsworthy MP, Jade Jones and MC Plat'num represented Team 2006, Kirsty Gallacher, Chesney Hawkes, Kevin Simm and HRH Princess Tamara represented Team 2005, and Lady Isabella Hervey, Linda Lusardi, Shane Lynch and Romeo represented Team 2004.
Team 2006 won the champion of champions 2006, scoring 29 points. The team of 2005 came second with 23. Finally team 2004 with 20. This Champion of Champions saw Shane Lynch achieve a dive which had never been performed on The Games before - a somersault. The trophy for the winners was presented by represented Team 2004, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield.
References
External links
- The Games on IMDb
- The Games at UKGameshows.com
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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