Jennifer Saunders and Oti Mabuse to lead all star Sport Relief netball match
Jennifer Saunders and Oti Mabuse will lead two teams of celebrities in an All Star netball match for Sport Relief.
Clare Balding will present a tense celebrity and legends netball match during the weekend of the Netball World Cup final on July 20.
Hoping to carry out a childhood dream of lifting a sporting trophy, huge netball fan and comedy legend Jennifer Saunders will captain one of the all-star teams.
She will face tough competition from a team led by Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse. Oti, who grew up playing netball in South Africa, will be hoping her years of dance training pay off as she hot-foots it around the court at the Liverpool Arena.
Eager to make their captains proud are team players:
Montana Brown, Love Island
Denise Lewis, ex-heptathlete and former Olympic champion
Sarah Hadland, actress and comedian, Miranda
Sally Phillips, actress and comedian, Smack The Pony
Sue Smith, commentator and ex-England footballer
Ellie Taylor, presenter and comedian, The Mash Report
Vick Hope, Capital FM Breakfast presenter
Luisa Omielan, comedian
Adele Roberts, BBC Radio 1 DJ
Dame Katherine Grainger, ex-rower and former Olympic champion
Lindsey Russell, presenter, Blue Peter
Jade Jones, Taekwondo athlete and Olympic gold medallist
Katherine Merry, ex-sprinter and former Olympian medallist
Jennifer Saunders commented: “I never thought I’d be leading a team out on to a netball court but I’m definitely up for the challenge. I would say I’m confident, but I haven’t picked up a netball since school so who knows what kind of moves I’ll be making out there in the arena.
“I wouldn’t be getting this active for anything other than Sport Relief so I’m hoping loads of people tune in to the programme and donate.
“This might be my only chance to hold up a sporting trophy and I’m not letting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away from me, so when I pull on that netball bib I’ll be taking my role as team captain very seriously. My team is going to be unstoppable and there certainly won’t be any cheating going on…”
Oti Mabuse added: “I’ve always played sports, all different types, and netball has always been something I have really enjoyed. Netball was a part of my upbringing, I grew up playing it in South Africa, so the game is close to my heart.
“I like playing GA because I love shooting, whenever we go out to a game arcade I play my husband and we’re always competing against each other on who can score the most goals!
“As a team captain, I’ll be whipping my team in to shape to keep Jennifer on her toes and make sure we bring that trophy home. I’ll be pushing the team and I’m going to do a massive pep talk about self-belief and encouragement – my plan is to make the team believe they are the best netball players in the country.
“I’m going to have to keep my cool during Sport Relief’s All-Star Netball because I’ve never played in such a big arena before, the pressure is on! Despite the size of the arena, I’m excited to get out on that court and give it my all for Sport Relief to help raise vital funds.”
The programme will showcase the game, follow the ups and downs of team training and show how the money raised by Sport Relief is used to make a real difference to ordinary people living incredibly tough lives.
Tune in to the one-off special at 7pm on Saturday 20 July on BBC Two.
