Continuing this week is the new version of one of British television’s most iconic sport shows.

Based on the popular series of the 1970s and 80s, Superstars pits a new batch of athletes from a range of disciplines against each other in a series of sporting challenges. This week’s show sees Mike Catt’s Blue team go head-to-head with Roger Black’s Yellows as the first round of the Superstars mini-league comes to an end.

Launched in 1973, the original Superstars fast became a family favourite as fans tuned in to see top sporting stars compete in a variety of disciplines, including the 100-metre sprint, football, archery and tennis. During its 12-year run, Superstars was presented by David Vine and saw nearly 200 of the most famous sports men and women in Britain take part.

The first line-up included England’s World Cupwinning skipper Sir Bobby Moore and former F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart. Other sporting heroes who queued up to appear included Geoff Hurst, Daley Thompson and Kevin Keegan, who memorably fell off his bike during the cycling trial, only to pick himself up and win the show. In a change to the original format, this new series sees athletes split into four teams of four – each containing three men and one woman.

Throughout the series, the teams will compete against each other in a mini-league – with the top two teams contesting the grand final at the end of the series. The venue for this year’s competition is the prodigiously equipped K2 Arena in Crawley, which boasts professional facilities and a superb 50-metre swimming pool.

The four teams are to be led by five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave, double- Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, Olympic silver medallist Roger Black, MBE and rugby star Mike Catt, MBE – a member of England’s World Cup-winning side in 2003. Officiating over events will be former Premier League referee Graham Poll, whose 26 years of experience include two football World Cups and a number of high-profile finals.

Big sporting names appearing throughout the series include footballers Lee Sharpe and Roberto Di Matteo, cricketer Graham Thorpe, Olympic athlete Iwan Thomas, swimmers Mark Foster and Karen Pickering, boxer Jane Couch, rugby star Austin Healey, cyclist Chris Boardman, skier Alain Baxter and bob-skeleton Olympic medallist Shelley Rudman.

While many of the disciplines made famous in the original Superstars – including ‘beat the keeper’ and the dreaded ‘gym tests’ – will remain, this revived format also includes a range of new challenges, all designed to push the athletes to their limits. New to the competition for 2008 are indoor speed climbing, pool kayaking and diving.

This week’s programme sees the end of round one as Mike Catt’s Blues take on Roger Black’s Yellow team. After all four teams have competed, the skippers have the chance to analyse their performances so far. What will the standings be in the Superstars mini-league?