Channel 4's Summer of Sport

14 July 2017

-         England face Scotland in Channel 4's live opening match of Women’s EUROs

-         Exclusive interview with Nigel Mansell in build up to Silverstone F1 qualifying

-         Six-times Paralympic Champion joins Channel 4 for World Para Athletics

A sensational summer of sport featuring the 2017 Rolex British Formula 1® Grand Prix, the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017 and the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 football championships gets under way this Friday (14 July) on Channel 4.

Britain’s track and field heroes from the Rio Paralympics are back in action with the start of the World Para Athletics Championship on Friday evening (Channel 4 at 7.30pm) with six-times Paralympic Champion David Weir joining Channel 4’s presenting team.

Friday afternoon sees the start of Channel 4’s build up to live coverage of the British Grand Prix from Silverstone (Channel 4 at 12.55pm second practice session). Lewis Hamilton will be looking to emulate last year’s incredible performance and close the gap on championship leader Sebastian Vettel in the British Grand Prix live on Channel 4 on Sunday 16 July at 12.35pm.

And on 19 July, England and Scotland launch their campaigns for UEFA Women’s EUROs glory when they go head to head live on Channel 4 at 7pm. The championships open with the host nation The Netherlands taking on Norway on 16 July and all games will be available live on All 4.

Channel 4’s Head of Entertainment, Sport and TV Events, Ed Havard said: “We’ve an outstanding selection of sporting action on Channel 4 this summer.

“This weekend sees Paralympic Champions such as Hannah Cockcroft, Jonnie Peacock, Sophie Hahn and Richard Whitehead pick up from where they left off in Rio.

“Lewis Hamilton will be looking to win in front of his home fans at Silverstone and on Wednesday (19 July) England and Scotland go head to head in their opening group game of the Women’s EUROs. It’s set to be a sensational summer of sport on Channel 4.”

 World Para Athletics Championships

Hopes for British stars to replicate and revive the memories of both the London and Rio Paralympics will be high with the return of Superhumans such as double Paralympic gold sprinter Jonnie Peacock, five-times Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft and double Paralympic 200m Champion Richard Whitehead. Other champions returning home from gold-winning performances in Rio include Hollie Arnold, Kadeena Cox, Aled Davies, Sophie Hahn and Georgina Hermitage.

Viewers will be able to enjoy all the best of the action live with more than 40 hours of coverage on Channel 4, More 4 and All 4 throughout the championships from 14-23 July.

Paralympic Champion David Weir joins Channel 4’s Para Athletics presenting team which includes Ade Adepitan, Lee McKenzie, Sophie Morgan and Arthur Williams. They will present the action on Channel 4 for evening events of championships from 14-23 July (with exception of 19 July when the show moves to More 4 for one night).

Danny Crates will present the morning sessions via a live stream on All 4 from 15 to 18 July and on 22 and 23 July. And people will be able to keep across all the best of the action wherever they are via Channel 4’s social media platforms and by visiting the Channel 4 Paralympics website C4/paralympics.com which will host clips and highlights throughout the championships.

Key dates to look out for include: Friday 14 July - Hannah Cockcroft in T34 100m, Jo Butterfield in F51 throw; Saturday 15 July - Hollie Arnold in F46 Javelin, Richard Whitehead in T42 200m, Sophie Hahn in T38 200m, Sammi Kinghorn in T53 200m; Sunday 16 July - Jonnie Peacock in T44 100m; Monday 17 July - Hannah Cockcroft in T34 800m, Richard Whitehead in T42 100m;  Thursday 20 July - Hannah Cockcroft in T34 400m, Georgina Hermitage in T37 400m; Friday 21 July – Paul Blake in T36 400m, Kadeena Cox in T38 400m; Saturday 22 July – Sophie Hahn and Kadeena Cox in T38 100m, Paul Blake in T36 100m; Aled Davies in F42 shot put, Georgina Hermitage in T37 100m; Sunday 23 July - Sammi Kinghorn in the T53 800m.

Formula 1® British Grand Prix

As part of Channel 4’s build up to its live coverage of the British Grand Prix (Sunday, 16 July at 12.45pm) it will air an exclusive interview with Nigel Mansell.

In F1 Meets Nigel Mansell on Saturday (15 July 11.25am), Mansell talks in depth about the highs and lows of his career, his rivalries, the death of Aryton Senna and describes what led to him waking up after one race naked and covered in ice.

Channel 4’s coverage of the British Grand Prix gets under way at 12.45pm on Sunday (16 July) and features presenter Steve Jones who will be joined by David Coulthard, Mark Webber, Eddie Jordan and Susie Wolff. All eyes will be on Hamilton who will want to perform in front of the home crowd and mount a challenge against current championship leader, Sebastian Vettel.

UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 Finals

Channel 4’s EUROs coverage features a first class line-up which includes Clare Balding, Ian Wright, Michael Owen, Jermaine Jenas and three of the women’s games most capped players – Chelsea Ladies’ Eni Aluko, Arsenal Ladies’ Heather O’Reilly and England’s record goal scorer Kelly Smith – and Scotland star Kim Little who agonisingly missed out on these EUROs due to injury.

Clare Balding will be joined pitchside in the Netherlands by Michael Owen, former Lioness Eni Aluko, Kim Little and Heather O’Reilly when Scotland and England play the opening match of their group game on Wednesday, 19 July. Glasgow City FC coach Scott Booth and former professional Lucy Ward will join Steve Bower in the commentary box.

Channel 4 and More4 will air live coverage of England’s and Scotland’s group matches against Portugal and Spain as they bid to qualify for the knock-out phase of the tournament. All knock out games featuring England and Scotland will also be aired live.

Clare said: “As a huge supporter of women’s sport, I believe that football can have a massive impact on the confidence, fitness and well-being of girls and young women, as well as boys and young men. 

“I am so excited to be a part of the Euro 2017 coverage on Channel 4 and I think the tournament can do a huge amount to spread a positive message as well as providing great sport.

“There will much anticipation around Scotland’s debut and an England team that are serious contenders. It would be great if both teams can do well and help the growth of the game so that even more youngsters are inspired to play.” 

On 23 July, Ian Wright joins Clare Balding when England take on Spain live on Channel 4. And on the same day, Scotland face Portugal live on More4 where former Scotland manager Vera Pauw joins presenter Kirsteen O’Sullivan.

Every single tournament match will be available live on All 4 which will also host a daily highlights show of the best of the day’s action.

Of the 16 teams in the tournament, Scotland are currently ranked 11th while England’s Lionesses are ranked third behind the current holders Germany and second placed France.

Channel 4 will also show live coverage of at least one quarter-final and at least one of the semi-final matches which take place on 3 August.

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