ITV RETURN TO THE REAL GAMES FOR 2022

Holly Willoughby and Freddie Flintoff set to host new big event show on ITV.

Celebrities will go head to head in a range of sporting challenges for new 2022 event, The Real Games, on ITV.

The series sees a dozen familiar faces pulled out of their comfort zones to be coached, trained and then to compete in the hope of coming top of the medals table and being crowned winner of the competition.

The six male and six female competitors will battle it out in the athletics arena, the swimming pool and gymnasium. Each will put their sporting prowess to the test in events, from the 100-meter sprint to doubles diving, racking up points on the medals table.

As well as live coverage of the events, each episode will feature the celebrities' preparation, their gruelling training programme leading up to the competition as they aim to reach their peak physical condition. As the medals table takes shape with each episode, the series will culminate in an exhilarating final show in which the overall winner will be crowned.

The series was originally commissioned for 2020, and then for 2021, but both times were delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions and concerns. New reports suggest ITV returning to the format for 2022.

A source told The Sun: "The Real Games is steaming ahead and, should all go well, will air next year. It’s been a nightmare for those working on it because it was pushed back from 2020, then last year it was shelved. ITV is confident it will get off the ground and the stars are being booked now."

ITV declined to comment.