Going for GOLD!

FREDDIE FLINTOFF and HOLLY WILLOUGHBY on their live sporting game show

THE GAMES

NEW MON-FRI, 9 PM, ITV ENTERTAINMENT

A dozen super-fit celebrities will be pulling on their trainers this week as they prepare to go head-to-head in a range of Olympic-themed challenges for ITV's sporting spectacular The Games.

A revival of the popular C4 show of the same name that ran between 2003 and 2006, the series, hosted by Freddie Flintoff and Holly Willoughby, will follow the contestants as they undertake gruelling training programmes devised by top coaches before competing live in 10 different events across five consecutive nights, starting on Monday.

With a male and a female winner set to be crowned on Friday, Alex Scott will be keeping an eye on the medal table and reporting on all the action from trackside, while Chris Kamara - who recently revealed he's suffering from apraxia of speech - will be joining Simon Brotherton in the commentary box.

TV Times caught up with Freddie, 44, and Holly, 41, to get the inside track on what to expect when sport meets showbiz...

What more can you tell us about this new series?

HOLLY We have six male and six female celebrities, and there are 10 events from track, field, pool, and velodrome.

To take on a challenge like this, you need to have real commitment and drive. They really are a fantastic bunch, and some people are stronger at certain things, so it's going to be interesting!

Freddie, as a former sportsman yourself, did you have any advice for the competitors?

FREDDIE You assume I was fitter than a normal person, but remember I was a cricketer! I've spent time with the lads recently and watched them do the hammer and the hurdles. It was great to see everyone encouraging each other, but there's definitely that underlying competition where everybody wants to win.