A BELOVED BBC daytime series has been given a huge format shake-up for this year’s Olympics.
Bosses at the broadcaster have commissioned a special one-off episode of Bargain Hunt for the sporting event.
Viewers will watch as two teams of well-known Olympians and Paralympians will go head-to-head at the antiques fair.
Bargain Hunt stalwart Natasha Raskin Sharp will host the 45-minute episode, airing this Friday at 12:15 on BBC One.
Competing on the red team are Olympic 400m hurdler Sally Gunnell OBE and swimmer Mark Foster, who will take on Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey and runner Richard Whitehead MBE for the blue team.
Both teams of sporting legends will be coached by Danny Sebastian and Kate Bliss as they dash around Newark antiques fair in Nottinghamshire.
As usual they’ll have to snap up three items they think will make a tidy profit at auction – but one must meet a special sporting challenge as set down by show bosses.
The sporting icons won’t get to keep the winnings as they’ll be donated to charity.
Speaking about the special, Natasha said: “This was such a brilliant episode of Bargain Hunt to be part of, absolutely chock full of incredible sports people.
“We knew of course that our teams of athletes had the mental fortitude and skill to compete at the Olympics and Paralympics, but we wanted to see how they’d fare.. at the fair!
“We upped the ante at the Bargain Hunt Games and the athletes took it as seriously as we hoped they would. There was drama, there was competitiveness, there were profits and losses. It’s a classic!”
It comes after it was revealed BBC viewers will soon be treated to a crossover between three daytime shows to raise money for charity.
A celebrity special of Bargain Hunt will see the team from property show Homes Under The Hammer go head to head with presenters from Escape To The Country, all for Children in Need.
