Lord Coe to compete on Millionaire

Olympic boss Lord Coe is to be a contestant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - teaming up with former middle distance running rival Steve Cram.

The pair will take part in a 'best of friends' special of the ITV quiz to be screened this month, which will also feature Olympic star Louis Smith, the victor in last year's Strictly Come Dancing. Louis is to play alongside his gymnastics coach Paul Hall.

Lord Coe, who has been a friend of BBC commentator Steve since their competitive days on the track, said: "It is terrifying, but at the same time I know it will be great fun."

Actress and presenter Sally Lindsay is also taking part alongside her partner, the rock drummer Steve White.

Each of the contestants will be raising cash for charity when they face question master Chris Tarrant.

Louis said: "It's always a scary feeling when you're playing with what could be someone else's money. For that reason I am grateful to be playing with my coach Paul.

"We've always spoken about how good he'd be on the show so it's great to have the opportunity to put that into practice and I can be there for moral support if nothing else."

The programme is to be screened on March 17.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.