'Big accidents can happen!' warns Tumble judge and Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci

Fingers crossed the celebrities taking part in BBC1's show Tumble have taken their six-weeks of intensive training seriously.

Legendary gymnast and Tumble judge Nadia Comaneci believes the new Saturday night show that puts celebrities through the rigours of gymnastics routines is one of the toughest competitions on TV.

With Mr Motivator already needing surgery after dislocating his knee in rehearsals, Tumble looks set to live up to its name...

"We've already seen a lot of bruises and injuries in training!" says Nadia, who won five Olympic golds in 1976 and 1980 and scored the very first perfect 10 score at the Montreal Olympics. "It's very challenging because all the celebrities are going to be doing some very difficult, complex routines."

In the first week, they're attempting either an acrobatic floor routine or the 'aerial hoop', suspended high up the studio floor. But it's the beam exercise coming in later weeks that may prove toughest...

"When they first walked on the beam they all said, 'that's so narrow'! They couldn't imagine how we gymnasts could ever do it," says Nadia. "But when your body's fit it's easier to attempt gymnastic skills. Big accidents can happen in gymnastics, especially when you're not fit physically, so the celebrities are all feeling excited, but intimidated at the same time!"

Tumble starts this Saturday on BBC1 at 6.30pm

 

Nicholas Cannon
TV Content Director on TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week

I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.