‘The Jump’ is back on Channel 4, with a new weekly show rather than the nightly format of the first two series.
The 12 contenders include three athletes: Linford Christie, the Olympic gold medal winning 100m runner as well as more recent bronze medalist gymnast Beth Tweddle and Rebecca Adlington, the gold medal winning swimmer – although she has unfortunately been injured in training, highlighting the risks competitors take, and looks to be out for the rest of the series.
There are also musicians Sarah Harding, the Girls Aloud star, and Irish pop star Brian McFadden.
Actors Sid Owen and Louisa Litton from Eastenders, Mark-Francis Vandelli from Made in Chelsea , Tina Hobley from Holby City , James ‘Arg’ Argent from TOWIE and Dean Cain join original ‘It Girl’ and ‘Girl About Town’ Tamara Beckwith to make up the starting list.
The show is again “almost entirely live” from the Austrian Alps though, with bigger events to compete in than previous series (we’re promised) and an all new ski jump.
The team of trainers including Graham Bell and Warren Smith are back, with current Winter Olympic, World and European Skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold also on the team.
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards is also back to offer advice and Davina McCall is once more host, but from her all new Alpine Ski Lodge.
This series the athletes live together between episodes in a luxury Austrian Mountain Schloss and episodes will show how they all get on. The aim is to win the Cowbell Trophy, won last year by Joey Essex.
Prior to the launch of the first series, The Jump was greeted with scepticism by many in the ski industry, but the show has overcome the doubts of many, by highlighting the challenge, fear and fun of winter sports to a mass audience, hopefully therefore being good news for the British ski trade.