Sue Perkins has landed herself a new BBC hosting job, fronting a chess competition series.
Chess Masters (a working title at this stage) is set to come to BBC Two and the iPlayer streaming service, with eight 30-minute episodes.
In the announcement, former Bake Off host and 2023 Taskmaster contestant Sue said: “I’m so excited to be hosting Chess Masters, where 12 talented amateurs from across Britain are pitted against one another in the world’s oldest game.
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“It’s all about psychology, strategy, smart thinking, and nerves of steel. Chess that is, not my job (which usually involves the opposite). I’m there to help us understand what’s going on in the players’ heads and make sense of what’s happening on the board.
“We’ve been waiting over 30 years to see chess back on our TV screens. Chess Masters will make that wait worth while.”
Sue will be joined by two big names in the world of chess, who will be providing their expert commentary. They are three-time British chess champion and grandmaster David Howell, and chess coach Anthony Mathurin, who you might remember as a contestant on this year’s season of The Traitors.
“I’m extremely excited to be part of Chess Masters. Chess has been a huge part of my life, and I cannot wait to invite viewers into the subtleties and intrigues of the game, as well as introducing them to the chess community,” David teased.
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“We have the perfect selection of contestants, reflecting the fact that chess is a game for everyone.”
Anthony added: “I am exhilarated and incredibly excited to showcase and deep dive into the intense inner psychological battle of competitive chess with a twist of the unexpected. Let the games begin!”
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