´óÏó´«Ã½

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ today announced the return of celebrity packed dance extravaganza Let's Dance For Sport Relief.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones, the popular primetime entertainment show, will return to ´óÏó´«Ã½ One, with a host of stars eager to step in to their sparkly pumps in aid of Sport Relief.

The four x 60 minute series will see famous faces from comedy, sport and television dance their version of famous dances from the world of films, pop promos and stage shows in a bid to be crowned champion of the dance-floor by viewers.

Last series, comedian Robert Webb's unforgettable rendition of What A Feeling from Flashdance won over viewers who voted him the overall champion of the competition. So, who will compel with their classic dance moves? Whose hip moves will be hilarious? And most importantly, who will win this year's momentous battle?

The series will run over four Saturday nights, comprising three heats and culminate in a spectacular final dance-off ahead of 2010's big night of Sport Relief.

The celebrities will work with a team of top choreographers to master their dance moves and then take to the floor to give the performance of their lives in front of a live studio audience and a panel of fellow celebrities. Who gets through to the final and who wins is up to the viewers and the panel. Proceeds from the voting will go to Sport Relief.

Jo Wallace, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Executive for Entertainment, said: "Saturday nights on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ are all about eventful, big, fun, family entertainment and Let's Dance For Sport Relief absolutely fits that bill. Following on from the last series, the celebrity packed show aims to have audiences singing and dancing along in their living rooms and no doubt in fits of laughter, as the stars of the show try to impress them and the judges with their dance moves, all in the name of charity."

Malcolm Gerrie, Chief Executive of Whizzkid, said: "We are delighted that Let's Dance For Sport Relief is back on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One. The last series surpassed all expectations drawing in weekly audiences of almost eight million. We plan to make this series even bigger and better."

Kevin Cahill, CEO, Comic Relief, added: "Let's Dance For Comic Relief was undoubtedly one of the highlights of Red Nose Day 09 and I'm delighted that it's back again, this time for Sport Relief. We are confident the artists taking part will inspire viewers to rise to the challenge for Sport Relief. The campaign gets bigger each time we do it. Let's Dance For Sport Relief will help secure its place in the hearts of the nation."

Claudia Winkleman said: "I have always said I would do anything Sport Relief ask me to do. I would eat tangerines for a month and I would live in a kayak. The fact they ask me to stand next to a tall handsome Welsh boy and introduce comics and actors re-creating famous dances is extremely lucky. Working on Let's Dance is the most fun a presenter can have. And that's a fact."

Steve Jones added: "Last years' Let's Dance was probably the most fun I've ever had working on a show."

The show will be produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment for the ´óÏó´«Ã½. Jo Wallace is the executive producer for the ´óÏó´«Ã½. The series was commissioned by Jo Wallace and Jay Hunt, Controller of ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Notes to Editors

About Sport Relief

As one of the UK's biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The Sport Relief Weekend takes place from Friday 19 March to Sunday 21 March 2010 including a night of Sport Relief telly on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile events across the UK on Sunday 21 March.

Since its launch in 2002 over 1.25 million people have taken part in Sport Relief, helping to raise over £75 million. Sport Relief has a unique history of dedicated people doing extraordinary things to rise to the challenge, from David Walliam's astonishing swim across the English Channel to Eddie Izzard's truly amazing marathon a day around the UK. All the cash raised will help transform the lives of those in desperate need across the UK and the world's poorest countries.

Further information is available at www.sportrelief.com

Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).

NA