Mel C to star in reality sport show

Royal love rat James Hewitt and former Spice Girl Mel C are the stars of a new Olympics-style reality TV show, it was announced today.

Channel 4’s The Games, dubbed Celebrity Sport Idol, features an assortment of C-list celebrities.

Five men and five women will take part in events such as swimming, weightlifting and hammer throwing.

Viewers will be treated to the sight of Hewitt taking on Bobby Davro in a high dive, plus Mel C speed skating against Gail Porter.

The male competitors are Hewitt, So Solid Crew’s Harvey, ex-Steps star Lee Latchford-Evans, comic Bobby Davro and chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The women’s side consists of Porter, Mel C, former Hollyoaks star Terri Dwyer, Merseybeat actress Josie D’Arby and current Miss World Azra Akin.

The two teams will compete separately in six sports during a week-long series of live shows to be screened in September.

Cameras will follow the training and there will be fly-on-the-wall coverage as the contestants live together in an ‘athletes’ village’ in Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium.

All the celebrities involved reckon they have good levels of physical fitness.

Mel C was a school athletics star and is still a fitness fanatic, while Porter is a karate black belt.

All the celebrities are currently in the midst of an eight-week training and diet programme with leading Olympic coaches.

Channel 4 have billed the show as “reality TV’s toughest test of physical and mental strength”.

A spokesman said: “We will be showing the trials, tribulations and tears and you can expect competitive tensions as the athletes live together.”

Viewers will be asked to back their favourite in each event with all profits going to charities nominated by the celebrities.