BBC Factual today announces that Sue Perkins will present Chess Masters (w/t) for BBC Two and iPlayer.

Sue said: “I’m really excited to host Chess Masters, where twelve talented amateurs from across Britain compete in the world’s oldest game.

“It’s all about psychology, strategy, smart thinking and nerves of steel. Chess is not my job (which usually implies the opposite). I’m here to help us understand what’s going on in the players’ heads and make sense of what’s happening on the board. We have been waiting for more than 30 years for the return of chess to our television screens. Chess Masters will make this wait worth it.

Additionally, three-time British chess champion and grandmaster David Howell will keep an eye on the proceedings and provide expert commentary; and expert chess coach and former Traitors competitor Anthony Mathurin.

David said: “I am extremely excited to be part of Chess Masters. Chess has been a big part of my life and I look forward to inviting viewers to discover the intricacies and intrigues of the game, as well as introducing them to the chess community. We have a perfect selection of participants, reflecting the fact that chess is a game for everyone.

“It will be an honor to work alongside Sue, Anthony, Curve Media and the BBC to bring chess to British screens for the first time in decades!”

Anthony says: “I am exhilarated and incredibly excited to present and delve deep into the intense inner psychological battle of competitive chess with a twist of the unexpected. Let the games begin! »

Chess Masters (working title) is an all-new, exciting factual entertainment competition format, in which, over the course of eight episodes, 12 passionate, highly skilled players will compete through a series of rounds and eliminate rooks before the one of them is crowned the winner.

Chess is the fastest growing sport in the world, with chess app the most downloaded app on the iPhone Store as of February 2023.

It is estimated that around six million regular chess players in the UK, and with famous fans such as Will Smith, Madonna, Leonardo de Caprio and Lily Cole talking about it, chess is arguably becoming a phenomenon global.

Chess Masters (w/t), an 8×30′ series for BBC Two and iPlayer, is made by Curve Media and will be filmed in Cardiff. It was commissioned by Catherine Catton, head of commissioning, factual entertainment and events, and executive producers are Camilla Lewis, Charlie Bunce and Katy Fryer. The editor-in-chief is Cal Turner. The series will air in Texas next year.

AJ2

Notes/Sources

• “Chess is the fastest growing sport in the world.” – English Chess Federation
• “Chess was the most watched game on Twitch in 2021.” – “Chess.com has announced PogChamps 3. It now runs from February 14 to February 28. The first two days have already achieved record viewership, making chess the most watched game on Twitch for a short period of time.”
• “Chess, the most downloaded app on the iPhone store in February 2023.” – According to Chess.com, on February 2, 2023, the chess.com app became the most popular free game on the iOS App Store, reaching number one in 28 countries.
• “With six million regular players in the UK.” – FIDE published a YouGov survey conducted in 2012. – “More than 6 million, 35 million, 16 million, 50 million and 85 million people in the UK, USA, Germany, Russia and India (ABC1), respectively, play chess regularly.”
• “605 million adults play regularly around the world. » – FIDE published a YouGov survey carried out in 2012 – chess players today constitute one of the largest communities in the world: 605 million adults play chess regularly.