Olympic diver Tom Daley is preparing to film a celebrity diving show in Luton’s £26 million state-of-the-art sports centre.
Diving is one of sport’s most difficult disciplines, and Olympic bronze medal winner Tom will have the tough task of teaching celebrities how to do it at Inspire: Luton Sports Centre in Stopsley.
The concept of the brand new series Splash! is similar to popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, with celebrities competing against each other for the perfect leap from the board.
Leader of Luton Borough Council, Councillor Hazel Simmons, said: “We were delighted to be approached by such a reputable production company and then told that our facilities were preferred to any other centre across the country.
“Having the show going out live to millions of British households each Saturday evening would mean unprecedented positive publicity for Luton which is so important as we look to boost the local economy by attracting new businesses and investment in the town.
“Inspire is a venue that everyone, irrespective of their ability or culture, can use to get active and become healthier, and we believe this show would help us attract new users who will see that there are world class facilities on their doorstep. This would be so helpful as we look to increase participation in sport and physical activity in our communities. Before we sign the contract we need to complete a full risk assessment and ensure that any disruptions are kept to an absolute minimum.”
Subject to the contract being signed, the production team will be on site to set up and film a pilot show.
If the pilot show goes ahead, the competition pool will be closed from Tuesday, December 4 to Friday, December 7 inclusive, but the rest of the centre will remain open as usual with additional leisure swim time being made available in the community pool. See www.activeluton.co.uk for updates.