BBC Factual announces Sue Perkins to present Chess Masters (w/t) for BBC Two and iPlayer

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

Sue said: “I am so excited to be hosting Chess Masters, where twelve talented amateurs from across Great Britain will compete in the oldest game in the world.

“It’s all about psychology, strategy, smart thinking and nerves of steel. So chess is not my job (which usually means the opposite). I’m there to help us understand what’s going on in the players’ minds and give meaning to what’s happening on the board. We have been waiting for more than 30 years to see chess back on our TV screens. Chess Masters will make that wait worth it.”

In addition, three-time British chess champion and grandmaster David Howell will monitor the proceedings and provide expert commentary; and expert chess coach and former Traitors participant Anthony Mathurin.

David says: “I’m extremely excited to be part of Chess Masters. Chess has been a big part of my life and I can’t wait to invite viewers to the subtleties and intrigue of the game, and introduce them to the chess community. We have the perfect selection of participants, which reflects that chess is a game for everyone.

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

Anthony says: “I am thrilled and incredibly excited to show and dive deep into the intense inner psychological battle of competitive chess, with an unexpected twist. Let the games begin!”

Chess Masters (working title) is an exciting, brand new Factual Entertainment competition format, pitting twelve passionate and highly skilled players against each other across eight episodes in a series of heats and knockout rounds before one is crowned the winner.

Chess is the fastest growing sport in the world, with a chess app the most downloaded app from the iPhone store in February 2023.

It is estimated that around six million people play chess regularly in Britain, and with famous fans such as Will Smith, Madonna, Leonardo de Caprio and Lily Cole all talking about it, chess is arguably becoming a global phenomenon.

Chess Masters (w/t), an 8×30′ series for BBC Two and iPlayer, is made by Curve Media and will be filmed in Cardiff. The production was commissioned by Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events, and the executive producers are Camilla Lewis, Charlie Bunce and Katy Fryer. The commissioning editor is Cal Turner. The series will be released in Texas next year.

AJ2

Notes/Resources

• ‘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 happens from February 14 to 28. The first two days already reached a record number of viewers, making chess the most watched game on Twitch for a short time.’
• ‘Chess the most downloaded app from 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 the number one spot in 28 countries.
• ‘With six million regular players in Great Britain.’ – FIDE published a 2012 YouGov survey. – ‘More than 6 million, 35 million, 16 million, 50 million and 85 million people in Britain, the US, Germany, Russia and India respectively (ABC1) play chess regularly’ .
• ‘605 million adults play regularly around the world.’ – FIDE published a 2012 YouGov survey – chess players now form one of the largest communities in the world: 605 million adults play chess regularly’.