‘Beat the Best’ is a brand new sports show being made by Brilliant TV. In ‘Beat the Best’ we meet the stars of the world’s greatest sports, find out what it takes to become a star, and then give you the chance to BEAT THEM at their own game! Is it possible? Anything’s possible on ‘Beat the Best’…
A pilot show has been filmed and finds keen skateboarders from the all over the country taking on top UK pro skateboarder and ‘Byker Grove’ TV stunt star Neil Urwin at The Matrix skateboarding park in Maidenhead.
The programme is presented by experienced children’s TV stars Timmy Mallett and Kate Russell and is made by ‘Brilliant TV‘ – the production company owned by Timmy Mallett who’s also Executive Producer on the show!
Not only does Timmy Mallett present ‘Beat the Best’, he also produces it! In 1992 he set up his own production company, ‘Brilliant TV’, that makes loads of great telly! Timmy’s career in television spans back to the 1980s when he was plucked from the radio to present ‘The Wide Awake Club’ and spin-off series ‘Wacaday’ for ‘TV-am’. Both lasted ages and made Timmy a massive superstar! Since then he’s presented loads of other programmes like ‘Utterly Brilliant’, ‘Way to Go’ and ‘Timmy Towers’.
We filmed the pilot a few weeks ago and took some photos while we were there! Why not take a look and meet the production team! Click here!
The stage is set...All of the competitors (and quite a few spectators) gather at The Matrix as we prepare to start filming - can you spot Shaun the cameraman getting ready?
Dan the Director (he's the one with the hat on) talks over the next shot with Timmy and the kids.
Dan has worked on loads of TV programmes in the past - like 'Newsround', 'Short Change', 'Get Your Own Back' and 'Take Two' for CBBC and 'Massive', 'Gamers' and 'Bad Influence' for ITV. As well as being a successful TV producer, Dan also runs a successful career in computer games. His computing career has led him to develop some of the most popular games and has taken him as far afield as China!
Here's Neil Urwin - our sporting star - having a sit down while he waits until he's next needed on camera. Also having a sit down is a knee - that has been working hard all day!
It's time for Kate's big running scene - where she has to show the viewers and competitors around the course...The camera crew can hardly keep up!
Here are the crew again - that's cameraman Shaun Goddard on the right, cameraman Graham Berry in the middle and sound man Andy Bell on the left. And look - Dan the Director has crept into the picture!
Timmy is amazed when, all kitted up, Neil shows off his skateboarding talents! He really is the best!
Kate and Neil prepare to commentate on the kids' attempts at qualifying for the final round - and look at the brilliant banner they are sitting above!
Chris the designer marks out the course which our competitors will have to skate on. Chris is from America and this is the first TV show he has worked on. Previously, though, he worked on the film Titanic! Wow!
Here’s a few more pictures of just some of the behind the scenes crew who made the programme possible.
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
Timmy has also made other notable appearances on and lent his infectious personality to a number of programmes and events. Find out more by clicking here.
