Sky 1 has today announced that Sue Perkins, Joe Lycett and Moira Stuart are to host The Big Spell (previously Spelling Star),  a spectacular new family entertainment series that will uncover the nation’s best young speller. 

A smash hit in Australia, the nail-biting series will see twenty children aged nine to thirteen go word to word in the ultimate spelling showdown.

Much more than a traditional spelling bee, The Big Spell is packed with jaw-dropping drama and incredible emotion as these brilliant young spellers compete in a range of challenges based around spelling, words and meanings. 

Across the eight-part series, audiences will get to know all about these super-smart, funny and adorable young spellers as they experience the highs and lows of the competition with their parents looking on from backstage.

Sue Perkins will host proceedings as the children show off their impressive spelling and language prowess; Comedian Joe Lycett will be backstage with the parents balancing the tension of the competition with his own inimitable humour; whilst broadcasting legend Moira Stuart will be officiating as the show’s pronouncer.

Sue Perkins says “I've love being intellectually owned by eight year olds, so this is the perfect show for me.”

Richard Ackerman, Commissioning Editor at Sky says: “We absolutely love this show, it’s full of nail biting tension and tremendous warmth. Furthermore the show has taught me two things; firstly the old adage isn’t true, you can work with children and these kids are extraordinarily talented and fantastically charming. The second thing I learned is that my own spelling is awful.”

The series will culminate in an amazing finale where just one of the youngsters will be crowned the UK’s Champion Speller. Who will prove they can spell just about anything from A-Z? Find out in The Big Spell and get ready for spelling fever to grip the nation!

For further information, please contact: 

Michele Marsland, Endemol Shine UK, Michele.marsland@endemoluk.com 020 8222 4322

Rae Langford, Endemol Shine UK, rae.langford@endemoluk.com 020 8222 4176

The Big Spell is produced by Remarkable Television, the team behind Pointless, Deal or No Deal and The Million Pound Drop. 

About Sky 

Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 21 million customers across five countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.

Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of £4.9 billion. The group employs 30,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).

For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate