Reaching its dramatic conclusion 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. The show is hosted by Jim Rosenthal and Sharron Davies. This week’s action sees Steve Redgrave lead his White team against Kelly Holmes’s Reds to fight for the 2008 Superstars title. After eight exciting events, will it be the knight or the Dame to take the crown?

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 series has seen athletes split into four teams of four – each containing three men and one woman.

Throughout the series, the teams have competed against each other in a mini-league – with the top two teams making it through to this week’s grand final. The venue for the competition is the prodigiously equipped K2 Arena in Crawley, which boasts professional facilities and a superb 50- metre swimming pool.

Over this series, the four teams have been 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 of 2003. Officiating over events has been 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 that have appeared throughout 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’ – have remained, this revived format has also included a range of new challenges, all designed to push the athletes to their limits. New to the competition for 2008 have been indoor speed climbing, pool kayaking and diving.

After a battle royal in the heats over the last seven weeks, this week sees Steve Redgrave’s Whites take on Kelly Holmes’s Reds in what promises to be a fiercely fought battle for the 2008 Superstars title. The eight events making up the final include the long jump, climbing, swimming, kayaking and archery, before the competition culminates in nailbiting style with one last round of gym tests. “We’re going to go in there and do our best,” promises underdog Kelly. “We’ll fight right until the end.”

The action begins on the athletics field, where British 400-metre record holder Iwan Thomas is the clear favourite to win the 100-metre sprint. In the event, Iwan strides ahead to claim first place as expected, but there is drama elsewhere. Teammate Graham Thorpe comes in last having suffered a torn hamstring – an injury that threatens to end his involvement in the final.

Over at the long-jump pit, meanwhile, Steve Redgrave also encounters some problems when he appears to pull up before a practice jump. Could this spell the end for the White team’s talismanic captain?