Sky lands rights to celebrity golfing show

Sky One has snapped up the rights to a new celebrity golfing show boasting an A-list cast.

The programme is the first major production from presenting duo Ant & Dec's new company, Gallowgate Productions. The pair had originally pitched the show to ITV but the network eventually decided not to commission it because of its heavy scheduling demands.

The three day event, due to air over an August Bank Holiday weekend, would have required ITV to effectively abandon its primetime schedules to accomodate the show. Instead Sky One, who enjoyed success with celebrity football show The Match earlier this year, were more than happy to oblige.

"This was never a commission from ITV," said an ITV spokeswoman. "It is a fantastic idea and it is something we were looking at, but it is not something ITV will be pursuing."

The programme will follow a Ryder Cup-style contest between two celebrity teams; one representing Europe, and the other the USA. On the American team are Sylvester Stallone, Samuel L Jackson, Kyle MacLachlan, Kenny G and Haley Joel Osment. Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas, Donald Trump and Andy Garcia are expected to join them. Confirmed for the European team are Hugh Grant, Boris Becker, Sir Steve Redgrave, Ronan Keating and Chris Evans. Potentials include James Nesbitt, Ian Wright and Jodie Kidd.

"We are absolutely delighted that we have managed to secure one of the biggest TV events of the year," Sky One controller James Baker told the Media Guardian. "It's a fantastic idea."

Ant and Dec had originally planned to host the show themselves but are now prevented from doing so because of their golden handcuffs deal with ITV.