Tim Vine to host ITV comedy quiz series Football Genius
- Tim Vine is to host new ITV comedy quiz show series Football Genius
- Stand-up comedian Paul Sinha and hockey play Sam Quek will be the team captains
- The series is due to be filmed this August
Following the success of a pilot episode, ITV has now ordered a full series of a comedy quiz format hosted by Tim Vine.
The producers explain: "Football Genius will see two teams of football loving fans compete against each other across a virtual pitch, proving what they do and do not know about the beautiful game in the hope of taking home the trophy!"
ITV has been looking to find a new sports-based comedy format, following the early retirement of panel show Play To The Whistle last year after just three series. Football Genius is due to be recorded in early August and follows on from the renewed interest in football following England's success in the World Cup.
Football Genius was first piloted in June. As BCG reported in April, the format is being developed by Hat Trick, the production company that also makes formats including Have I Got News For You. The producers also recently piloted Have I Got Sport For You with Gary Lineker as host.
Tim Vine is a known football fan and dedicated supporter of Sutton United. He was last seen on ITV as a regular panellist on Celebrity Squares. He appears on sports networks from time to time talking about football, and will front Prostate Cancer UK's Sutton Football March For Men charity event on 22nd July.
The oneliner comedian, who recently appeared on Taskmaster, will be joined on the new ITV show by team captains Paul Sinha and Sam Quek.
Stand-up comedian Paul Sinha, who supports Liverpool FC, is probably best known to ITV audiences as The Sinnerman in quiz show The Chase.
Meanwhile Sam Quek is a Olympic Gold winning hockey player. She rose to fame via I'm A Celebrity, and is also a fan of Liverpool football club. In an interview she revealed that striker Ian Rush is one of her sporting heroes.
Five episodes of Football Genius will be recorded across Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th August at Sky Studios. Free tickets
The series will be shown on ITV later in the summer.