It’s coming… just like I told you last week. It’s A Knockout will return to Australian TV screens over summer on Ch10, hosted by HG Nelson with added Charli Robinson & Brad McEwan. I think you can see from the picture supplied what role Charli will take on in the event… yes, the referee. “He’s fallen over!” takes on a brand new life. From the press release:

Network Ten and Spring, with thanks to McDonald’s, announce the return of one of Australia’s all-time family favourite shows. It’s A Knockout will be fronted by HG Nelson, Brad McEwan, and Charli Robinson and is set to screen over summer of 2011 on TEN. Big, colourful and plenty of fun, It’s a Knockout is an iconic Australian TV series that has been revamped for the 21st century with bigger, more visual, and more outrageous games.

Hosting this modern take on a classic will be renowned sporting guru HG Nelson. His original and hilarious take on the rough and tumble action of the competitors will bring a whole new dimension to the program. In his first prime time entertainment program, Network Ten sports personality, Brad McEwan, will provide the anchor role from which HG will launch his magic, while Southern Cross Austereo on-air personality and former Hi-5 member, Charli Robinson, will be in amongst the games action.

David Mott, Ten’s chief programming officer said: “Summer is a time for light, fun, family viewing and It’s A Knockout is the perfect show to offer all that and more. Our line up of HG, Brad and Charli is sure to bring the right mix of social commentary, humour and dare I say sporting acumen…to this contemporary take on TV’s ultimate arena showdown.”

Heading up Spring, Tony Skinner said: “Spring is delighted to be producing one of Australia’s most
remembered and loved game shows. HG, Brad and Charli will undoubtedly give It’s A Knockout a whole new level of entertainment. This summer will be a whole lot brighter thanks to the foresight of TEN and ingenuity of the production team at Spring.”

Host, H. G. Nelson said: “It’s a Knockout is The People’s Olympics. This hour of fun features contestants with no real athletic abilities having a crack at events that should be starters on London’s gold medal agenda. ‘Knockout’ fills the yawning hole in TEN’s sports schedule now that it has moved on from its top rating AFL coverage. Personally it is a dream come true to be packing down with Brad and Charli trackside calling the fund raising mayhem.”

Four teams of 15 members each will compete in the eight one-hour episodes to be screened over the coming summer. Each team will have a distinctive summer theme in what will play out as a state v’s state smackdown.

It’s A Knockout is a global franchise based on the French format Intercities, which has been broadcast
around the world for over 50 years. It’s A Knockout is the first commission for the recently announced production company Spring, a division of FremantleMedia Australia.