Tom Daley to star in ITV1 celebrity diving series

Critics of ITV may ask if there are any depths the channel won’t sink to in the creation of celebrity formats. Well they may have just hit the bottom of the swimming pool with a new celebrity ‘entertainment series’ with Tom Daley.

Entitled currently Splash!, the show, which we reported on earlier this month, will pitch famous faces against each other learning to dive. Featuring Olympic Bronze medal and British and European Championship winner Tom Daley, Splash! challenges stars to learn one of sport’s most difficult disciplines on primetime ITV1.

Splash! is based on the Dutch format Sterren Springen – internationally known as Celebrity Splash! – where it rated as Holland’s number one entertainment show last season.

ATV Today TV Critic Queenie says, “That says a lot about Dutch television doesn’t it?”

The format is owned by Eyeworks and will be produced for ITV by Two Four Television.  It was commissioned by ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell and Commissioning Editor Asif Zubairy and will be executive produced for Two Four by Shirley Jones.

“We were thrilled about the success of our family-fun entertainment format, Celebrity Splash, in Holland and more so when it was the hottest format of this years television market (MIPCOM) selling in the world’s biggest television markets.  We look forward to now bringing it to UK, and especially with ITV and Tom where we think it is the best home for audiences to  enjoy its mix of fun, suspense, dare devil stunts and touch of humour all centred around the beauty of diving and inevitably making Splash! a hit in the UK.” Co-MD of Eyeworks Distribution, Jeff Goldman says.

Tom adds, “2012 has been a wonderful year for me – an Olympic medal and Double Gold at the Junior World Champs!  What better way to round it off by becoming involved in this great new show; a dream come true for me – an entertainment show all about diving!  I’ll be helping the celebrities as they master a dangerous and exciting sport and I can’t wait to get started.”

ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Comedy, Elaine Bedell said of the show that it will bring viewers thrills, spills and a touch of comedy. The calibre of the celebs has yet to be announced by ITV.

“ITV are going to bring us something that is intentionally funny. It’s been such a long time since they last managed that, I can’t wait. The last time I laughed at an ITV programme was the launch of Daybreak .” Queenie adds.

In 1956 ITV presented a celebrity ‘how to skin dive series’ with presenter Noele Gordon.