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FOOTBALL manager Harry Redknapp has a new challenge fresh from being crowned King Of The Jungle in I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! He’s returning to his football roots in a two part T V special to get legendary soccer stars in shape for a match against Germany.
David Seaman, Robbie Fowler, Mark Wright, Matthew Le Tissier, Chris Waddle, Rob Lee, Ray Parlour, Lee Sharpe, Mark Chamberlain, Paul Merson and Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock are the participants in this fascinating as well as amusing show.
All of them retired a while ago and, as any ex-professional player will tell you, maintaining fitness levels after hanging up your boots is far from easy.
Certainly the majority of those featured here have put on some extra upholstery since their playing days, but they’re going to attempt to get back into shape... under the watchful gaze of Harry, 72, and his assistant John Barnes, 55.
The team of legends made their names in an era when a few pints, a big fry up and kebabs were all part of their normal working week... and their habits have continued long after they said goodbye to the Beautiful Game.
But Harry means business and says of the challenge: “I loved it, it’s been great, I’ve really enjoyed being around good footballers for the weeks we had together. They’re all such good lads, every single one of them. Really smashing.”
What were his highlights during filming? “Loads of stuff really, Razor’s been splitting his shorts and the whole group going on the training camp in Spain, we had a great couple of days and had a good time there with all the boys, I’ve just enjoyed it all, being around the lads has been good fun.
“Some of them really bought into it, and Matt Le Tissier is amazing really, and has lost around 10 kilos, his body fat has come down unbelievably, but they all have, Paul Mersons is going well and only Razor I think has put on weight.”
Do you think they could cope in this era of football? “I think they’d win the premier league, this group, a for ward line of Waddle, LeTissier, Fowler and Merson.
“I mean what would Man United or anyone else give you for that forward line?” Harry adds.
THE JONATHAN ROSS SHOW
THE host is joined by comedian Jack Whitehall, fresh from hosting this year’s Brit awards and about to embark on his biggest ever stand-up tour of the UK and Ireland. Also appearing are Countdown’s Rachel Riley and movie star Ralph Fiennes, soon to be making his third appearance alongside Daniel Craig in the next James Bond movie. Completing the guest list is American rapper Lizzo, whose third studio album is released next month, and who will also be performing live in the studio.
ALL STAR MUSICALS
the London Palladium and perform a much-loved showtune, while being watched by a live audience and a panel of esteemed theatre veterans? Broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, Emmerdale’s Amy Walsh, money expert Martin Lewis, Corrie’s Daniel Brocklebank, Grantchester’s Tessa Peake-Jones and comedians Joel Dommett and London Hughes find out. Elaine Paige is their mentor.
FOOD UNWRAPPED
THE team returns to explore the secrets behind mass-produced food, meeting technicians, scientists, factory owners, growers and producers, finding out what goes into our groceries. Jimmy Doherty finds out how Sri Lanka is coping with a looming coconut shortage, Kate Quilton discovers whether compostables could be the answer to the worldwide plastic pollution problem, and Matt Tebbutt is in Paris to learn why the macaron has such a hefty price tag.
SAVE MONEY: LOSE WEIGHT
CHRIS WADDLE – 58
The munch bunch: Can these former top flight footballers get fit for one international outing?
Pictured: (back row l-r) Manager Harry Redknapp, Lee Sharpe, Steve Howey, Mark Wright, David Seaman, Chris Waddle, Neil Ruddock, Mark Chamberlain, John Barnes. (Front row l-r) Paul Merson, Robbie Fowler, Matt Le Tissier, Rob Lee and Ray Parlour
fantastic at the end of last year in Strictly Come Dancing. Now he’s back on more familiar ground when he returns for a new run of the show that aims to help the public get in shape without busting the bank. He and Sian Williams will be looking at five of the most popular new diet regimes in a bid to find out which is the most effective. Valiant volunteers will roadtest the eating plans for 28 days. Ranj and Sian also get stuck in – he tries out freezing fat cells, while she tastes low calorie wines and beers.
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