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BRIDGE: CELEBRITY GRAND SLAM

Celebrities battle for a £20,000 charity pot

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam
Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

PLAYERS>> EPISODE GUIDE>> ABOUT BRIDGE>>

VIDEO: WATCH PREVIEW CLIP OF BRIDGE: CELEBRITY GRAND SLAM >>

What do the following individuals have in common? Broadcasting icon Sue Lawley; actress Susan Hampshire; former England cricket captain Mike Gatting; photographer and model Pattie Boyd; Britpop band Blur drummer Dave Rowntree; crime writer Val McDermid; ITN correspondent James Mates; and Sky news anchor Kay Burley.

They may be an eclectic bunch, but they are just eight of the estimated 20 million people worldwide who love playing the complex and (when it goes well), rewarding game of Bridge, and we’re pitting them against each other for a share in a £20,000 prize pot, to be donated to a charity of their choice.

They’ll be holed up for two days in the Tudor splendour of St Michael’s Manor, a country house hotel in Hertfordshire, to battle it out in our exclusive Sky Arts tournament with just their skill and mental dexterity to assist them. All are experienced players, except one: Sky News anchor Kay Burley began learning just over three weeks ago, but she’s not going to let a little detail like that get in her way...

Also on hand to bridge the gaps in the celebrities’ knowledge are master of ceremonies and Bridge enthusiast Clive Anderson, plus English Bridge internationals Andrew McIntosh and Glyn Liggins. And to add a couple of further twists to a game that’s all about communication, the players draw for a new partner each round, while Clive, the experts and each player’s partner scrutinise and dissect all the play on monitors in a separate viewing room...

And don’t forget, you can join in too: as well as studying the deals in advance and playing along, you can tell us what you think of the moves, what the players did wrong, what the experts said and discuss them with other viewers via our viewer comments facility below.

Want to let everyone at your Bridge club know about the show? You can print our downloadable Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam poster here!

What they're saying about this Sky Arts 2 series in the media >>

PLAYERS>> EPISODE GUIDE>> ABOUT BRIDGE>>

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Latest comments

Jacky Bennett

Thu 26 March 2009, 12:29

sounds great

Susan Graber

Thu 26 March 2009, 20:16

Soooo looking forward to watching this on TV - anything to help me with my bridge is a bonus!!!

Mark Davies

Fri 27 March 2009, 15:46

this needs to be promoted through the Bridge community (EBU?) and local clubs - not just bridge clubs. good luck

David Waldman

Sat 28 March 2009, 10:58

I’m really looking forward to this. Bridge is perfect for television. Do you remember the epic match on the Canberra, which Zia Mahmood won on the last hand? He needed to make a slam and although he had a massive hand he passed because his partner had already passed. Following a redeal, he and his partner were able to make the slam and Zia won the prize.

Rich Bradshaw

Sun 29 March 2009, 11:17

I have passed these details around my fellow bridge players. Looking forward to watching and gaining a few tips.

r. green

Mon 30 March 2009, 17:24

would like to see the hands to print out

Peter Rosenberg

Tue 31 March 2009, 13:05

still cannot print out the hands as advised by English Bridge

Pat Rushton

Tue 31 March 2009, 16:47

When will we get the hands to print?

Simon Cochemé

Tue 31 March 2009, 17:42

Mark - re your comment on Friday 27th. There have been big articles in English Bridge, Bridge Magazine, Bridge and EBU Club Focus. All bridge columnists in UK and Ireland have been given details and a deal to analyse and speculate on (they know who played it but not the result). Most of those columns will come out the week before the programmes air. And if you tell all your friends, that will help too!

amanda norton

Tue 31 March 2009, 23:40

i really look forward to watching and learning!! i will tell everyone i know who plays bridge to watch the programme!!

Alex Coogan

Wed 1 April 2009, 09:52

You can see all the hands in the FREE bridge magazine from Mr Bridge that came out this week.

Linda Cole

Wed 1 April 2009, 16:46

Looking forward to this - should make for excellent viewing

Fiona

Wed 1 April 2009, 16:49

really looking forward to it, will be different

Nicola Hawke

Wed 1 April 2009, 17:54

Look forward to improving my bridge skills...Would make a good winter program.

Graham Dumville

Wed 1 April 2009, 20:15

Let the games begin!!!

Lucy

Thu 2 April 2009, 12:16

Fantastic idea! Will spread the word!

mike curious

Thu 2 April 2009, 15:30

not got sky, cannot afford it, how else can we see the bridge program?

Jane Simmons

Thu 2 April 2009, 17:06

Can’t wait. Its about time!

Noorul Malik

Thu 2 April 2009, 20:59

I love the game and can’t wait to see how different brain’s respondto the same hand of 13 cards. It would be absolutelly fascinating to watch.. “well done and GOOD LUCK SKY ARTS”

Gavin Payne

Thu 2 April 2009, 21:30

I saw Clive Anderson talking about this and it sounds very interesting. So we’ll be able to play these hands before the programme, and then see how the celebrities do and there’ll be expert crit and autopsy? Presumably there’ll be more than one hand per night?

Claudia Eusebio

Fri 3 April 2009, 11:58

A friend told me about this programme. It was about time bridge made it onto TV!
Is it true the players will give all proceeds to charity? What a great idea.

S. Macleod

Fri 3 April 2009, 16:29

About time we had some bridge on TV!

Ekaterina Bobrova

Fri 3 April 2009, 16:30

Could we see it in Russian too please?

bob pearce

Fri 3 April 2009, 18:08

still can not print hand copies?when

Beverley Morgans

Sun 5 April 2009, 03:46

Is the programme comming to Australia. It would be very popular here.

Patricia Newton

Sun 5 April 2009, 08:14

See the Bernard Magee article in April’s copy of the free magazine “Bridge” showing all the hands.

Helena

Tue 7 April 2009, 13:03

Great pictures - looking forward to the show!

ratnaverl murugesu

Wed 8 April 2009, 14:05

waiting to watch

S. Frost

Wed 8 April 2009, 17:31

What a refreshing and original idea. Looking forward to it.

Dermot Jones

Thu 9 April 2009, 20:23

Hi, I worked freelance on the shoot for this show and (not being a bridge player myself) did not have high expectations, but can report that there was a terrific buzz amongst the contestants and crew, and (though still a non player!) I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished results.

Dermot Jones

Thu 9 April 2009, 20:29

Is this working? Been trying to post a message for a couple of days now!

Carol Mac

Fri 10 April 2009, 11:04

Looking forward to it.

Joan Edwards

Fri 10 April 2009, 21:42

Novel idea - hope it’s successful on TV - Bridge is wonderful..

Mary Anne Pitcher

Sat 11 April 2009, 17:06

Will we be able to view this programme in South Africa?

saleem sachak

Mon 13 April 2009, 00:51

looking forward to it it sounds great

Chris Duckworth

Mon 13 April 2009, 22:17

I wish I had Sky - do hope this programme will make it to other channels. Looking forward to hearing more about it anyway.

John Wall

Tue 14 April 2009, 10:44

I haven’t played bridge in years, looking forward to the first episode!

Helena

Wed 15 April 2009, 09:03

Great pictures! Looking forward to the programmes

jas

Wed 15 April 2009, 11:25

i love this. thanks for writing this

Tim Gauld

Wed 15 April 2009, 14:05

Looking forward to seeing how all the celebs get on ...

Tom

Fri 17 April 2009, 15:01

Great idea and about time bridge featured on tv. It’s a far better game than poker which is on all the time!

Gilly Marshall-Lee

Fri 17 April 2009, 16:21

This could be JUST the encouragement I need to learn to play Bridge!

Gilly Marshall-Lee

Fri 17 April 2009, 16:24

This could be JUST the programme I need to encourage me to learn Bridge!

Jessica

Fri 17 April 2009, 18:29

I’m really looking forward to seeing the programmes...I’ve always been curious about bridge!!

Sarah

Sat 18 April 2009, 17:15

Can’t wait to see this. Much more interesting than poker, so it is about time something like this was made…

Mark

Sun 19 April 2009, 11:14

Since when has a card game been art? This is terrible, this is not art. While I think there is a place for this type of programme on TV, Sky Arts is not the place for it.

Dorothy C-W

Mon 20 April 2009, 13:41

What a clever concept. Bridge could definitely be the new poker. Well done Sky Arts for spotting this opportunity. I hope it will be available to download so the many bridge players around the world can see this. the press comments are enticing..

Linda MacFarlane

Mon 20 April 2009, 20:04

Great idea - let’s hope it takes off on TV. A lot will ride on how popular the first few episodes are.

Clive Anderson is even more attractive now I know he’s a bridge player.

Robin

Mon 20 April 2009, 20:17

Just heard about this programme, but unfortunately I don’t have Sky. Is there any chance of getting this on Sky Three (Freeview), or available as a download?

John L

Mon 20 April 2009, 22:03

Have watched first programme, but in the last “slam”. where did the ace of diamonds come from?
It was not in Pattie Boyd’s hand to start with, and then by magic, she played it!
Have I missed a trick?

Ian Dalziel

Mon 20 April 2009, 22:34

If you missed the programme, it’s shown again every night at 12.30am

Nicole

Tue 21 April 2009, 10:56

I think in terms of energy and fun at the game it was absolutely brilliant. It captured the excitement we all feel but rarely express. I thought it was wonderful!

John L

Tue 21 April 2009, 11:49

It may be worth checking your recording times!
On this website, it says every day at 7 p.m., BUT the SKY listings say 5 p.m for the rest of the week and my sky-box planner says the same!
Has anyone else seen my previous post?
On the last slam of the programme, declarer did not have Ace of diamonds in her hand at the start, but she played it at the end!
Or is it me?

Simon C

Tue 21 April 2009, 12:01

To John L - according to the hand records on this site, Pattie was North in the grand slam hand, and she did hold the ace of diamonds.

Sari from Sky Arts

Tue 21 April 2009, 12:15

To John L and anyone else wondering about the broadcast times, the new episodes are shown all week at 7pm. The episodes are repeated at 8am, 12.30pm, 5pm and -for those whose grand slam tournament went on for a bit longer than expected- at 00:30am. Happy viewing!

jazzapaul

Tue 21 April 2009, 16:53

sounds great. cant wait for the show

tomthumb

Tue 21 April 2009, 16:56

great stuff, lol

timtim

Tue 21 April 2009, 16:57

sounds superb

timmy

Tue 21 April 2009, 17:02

woohooooo this has made my day

angelica

Tue 21 April 2009, 17:30

my bridge skills are the best already. do i need this? sure do

Mike

Tue 21 April 2009, 17:32

Actually she played out of the wrong hand but the guy sitting over her did not notice so it was accepted. To be honest they were not very good players and that hand had a huge swing because it was 7nt doubled that should have gone one down. But hey its all for charity so I suppose it does not matter.

mike76

Tue 21 April 2009, 17:32

i may set up a site to promote this. i love these kind of shows

tim897

Tue 21 April 2009, 17:35

i will look forward

John L

Tue 21 April 2009, 19:47

To Simon C
Yes! You are absolutely right.
The commentary changed from one player to the other without me noticing that it was describing a different hand! Ace of diamonds was in the correct hand of course!
It was late when I watched it… that’s almost all my excuses!
Anyone else have problems with the antispam word?
Tried with and without spaces, ended up refreshing page for new one. Hope this works!

TonyP

Wed 22 April 2009, 06:31

After watching the first three episodes, I think its a great show, in fact I feel inspired to take up playing bridge again. Let’s hope there will be future series, how about it Sky?

Peter Zarins

Wed 22 April 2009, 07:16

Well done Sky. What a clever programme. Who would have thought that Bridge would work so well on TV. I won’t be leaving my viewing chair this week!

Peter Foster

Wed 22 April 2009, 16:48

I thought the programme was awful. They clearly don’t know what they are doing and very little help is offered by the experts. Anyone not knowing the game would not be able to work out how the game is played and anyone knowing the game would cringe at the poor bidding and play.
I compliment them on their willingness to do this for charity and hope the charities benefit, but the programme is really a waste of time other than that. Poker programmes have nothing to fear.

STAN

Wed 22 April 2009, 22:43

Inclined to agree with Peter Foster. The play was poor, but the real problem with the programme was too much camera on the faces & not sufficient on the hands. It depends on the objectives of the producers.
It was certainly not bridge that they were trying to promote.
Mr. Anderson seems superfluous. More input from the over-quiet experts would improve the presentation.
Showing the 4 hands, with or without a reference to the players, would connect with viewers who can play the game.
Copping out on the back of the charitable status is still copping out.
Sky Arts 2 is one of the most progressive programmes on TV today. Bridge can be made interesting with a good presenter and a good format.
A pity. So many bridge players of my knowledge were looking forward to it and our local Bridge Club had an At Home to watch it.
Everyone was disappointed. The two Susans can play, the rest are very wobbly.
Sorry, an opportunity missed, but it could be improved.

Dick Barton

Thu 23 April 2009, 17:20

Doesn’t seem to be on Sky Player. Can anyone clarify, please?

David Ebbett

Fri 24 April 2009, 01:15

Beautiful surroundings which give a lovely image of contract bridge. Fantastic sportsmanship allowing beginner, Kay Burley to trump twice without the inconvenience of returning to hand!

Tony Cordery

Fri 24 April 2009, 08:11

What a load of ********. Who is the target audience ?
I teach my pupils to always count the cards before bidding !
And the duplicate board should always be on the table.

Paul Baylis

Fri 24 April 2009, 10:00

An opportunity missed. Bridge is a great game but it more than bidding the correct contract. Not enough time shown actually playing the cards - and for any beginners or non-players, the format has been so ‘bitty’ that it has been hard to really follow what’s happening. I’m grateful that the card layouts were in ‘Mr. Bridge’ before the programme so at least I can have a point of reference on what is happening.

It’s a start - nice to have Bridge on TV - but I don’t see people clamouring to play the game after this programme.

John Rutley

Fri 24 April 2009, 10:45

A good idea but not ideal for learners and non players wishing to learn. Agreed that it is the greatest card game ever invented but most of the celebs playing appear to me to be rank novices. Nevertheless I’m all for anything that might promote the game. Well done.

Barry Cooper

Fri 24 April 2009, 12:05

I agree that it’s bitty, and a less than half-hour programme with a break in the middle and a fair bit of flannel isn’t really long enough. But it’s a great idea, it’s re-stimulated my interest in bridge (I haven’t played for years) and I hope we get more - preferably on a Freeview channel.

Ian Dalziel

Fri 24 April 2009, 14:02

As a full time bridge teacher my initial thoughts are that it is sooooooo much like my bridge classes. ie brilliancies and blunders, everyone dead keen to win, but lots of laughs. Just the sort of image of bridge I have been trying to promote for many years

Neil Prebble

Fri 24 April 2009, 17:21

It really is a pity that most of the players are so weak that the experts are reduced to saying O Dear! after most of the bidding sequences. Bridge is a great game but it is very difficult to learn and hard to televise. The best form of presentation would have been to have had the celebrities plus four expert players also playing the hands to show what is possible. For those wanting to watch experts playing go here:
http://www.bbotv.com/vugraph/

Noorul Malik

Fri 24 April 2009, 19:15

what a great show and getting better every episode going, bridge is played mostly socially and few play real competitive bridge so programme is showing how much fun you can have from bridge even if you are not really good at it.

Lucy Gardner

Fri 24 April 2009, 19:18

I love bridge, but I don’t have Sky Arts. It’s about time there was a bridge series on the television, but please, please can it be broadcast on a channel available to everyone?

Andrew Shaw

Sat 25 April 2009, 01:49

Have to agree an oppotunity missed, extremely poor players to bity and not enough teaching from the experts. Glyn Liggins was never that quiet when I played with him.

Ned Paul

Sat 25 April 2009, 02:25

Just loving this programme. It really does show how much fun players who aren’t very good can have at the game. Can you imagine any of them really being made welcome and to feel at home in your bridge club? If not, it’s why they don’t come.... There are tons more people playing bridge at this level than there are at so-called ‘vcub standard’. Bridge is about the people who play it as well as the technical aspects of bidding and play, and if the unorthodox choice of bid or card play has its success then I say ‘hurrah’!

BTW Bill Gates was in London today and showed up at Young Chelsea BC.

steve foster

Sat 25 April 2009, 10:36

This was never going to be a program for existing bridge players.
1) Everyone has different systems for bidding the same hands,
2) Bridge players are all on different steps of the ladder of experience from beginner to international.

Bridge needs to encourage new people to learn the wonderful experience of playing the game. For me this program is excellent in inspiring people to think about playing the game.

I only wish there were more lobvious inks to where people can find out about learning .

Dont miss the opportunity folks.

bill lawrence

Sat 25 April 2009, 14:12

what a wonderful advert for the game - showing people actually enjoying it! Let’s have less nit-picking and carping and thank the producers for encouraging others to take up the game

gillie morwood

Sat 25 April 2009, 22:53

Unfortunately I missed the programme this evening but I’m looking forward to the climax tomorrow. This pilot may not be perfect but it does go some way to de-mystifying the game of Bridge. It is a great game and can be enjoyed at all levels, the important thing is to communicate the different levels at which it can be enjoyed. Like any sport or pastime, the rules of the game are fairly straightforward but achievement comes with practice and confidence. I sincerely hope that there will be enough interest in these pilots to encourage the producers to provide more coverage of this fabulous game.

Tina Whiting

Sun 26 April 2009, 10:17

Can we please have more Bridge on TV with the experts. It is very informative for anyone who plays Bridge or wants to learn the game. So more hands to watch please.

anna

Sun 26 April 2009, 10:31

What a strange set of comments - are we watching the same programmes? Real beginners would be better of buying Andrew Robson’s DVDs (seen them - great) or Bernard McGee’s (I hear they are good). The format is just about right - well done the celebs for being willing to make mistakes so we all can learn. I am sure the next series (please let there be one) will be even better. Just a little bit more on the cards and the experts, and just a little bit less on the faces. And a split screen diagram with the bidding when the auction is complicated. Looking forward to the last show tonight - come on Kay!

maggy

Sun 26 April 2009, 12:04

A brilliant series. Let us hope you have more of this. It would be good if you focus a little more on the hands.

Libby

Sun 26 April 2009, 18:37

A great idea but ‘sexing’ up the celebs may help to popularise bridge. Inlcuding the likes of Stephen Fry, Ben Miller, Germaine Greer, Carol Vorderman, Salman Rushdie etc would surely increase interest in the game for those of us still trying to get a grip on it!

Emma Hyde

Sun 26 April 2009, 19:45

great programme, the experts are brilliant!

John Hinde

Sun 26 April 2009, 20:16

Having made a somewhat derogatory comment earlier (now removed from the site) I have to concede the programme got better and a sequel would be welcome. But please could there be greater emphasis on bridge proficiency and less on celebrity chumminess. This programme did not seem to know what audience it was aiming at. Also better display of the play of the cards. And what did we get in the final? Just one hand played in one room, and no explanation what happened with the bidding in the other room and why it was so different. So come back please - but with more and better bridge.

Debbie

Mon 27 April 2009, 00:17

Great programme captures the fun of the game without getting too technical - long overdue

Ken J

Mon 27 April 2009, 11:47

Wasn’t sure what to expect but strangely have enjoyed watching it. Aimed at people who are just starting out. Having taught beginners for many years can empathise with the really silly mistakes in the bidding.

R Miller

Mon 27 April 2009, 16:44

Great programme - well done SkyArts! It’s amazing how much was achieved in so little time. Ideally it would be useful to spend a little more time studying the hands with comments from the experts. Hope this is the start of many. Would like to see a table with experts competeing.

Mrs M Greenwood

Mon 27 April 2009, 17:13

In the last programme, when they were calling Blackwood and the declarer had a void, instead of calling 5 diamonds, showing one ace, could she not have called 6 hearts showing two (one ace+ void)?

Jill Tupper

Mon 27 April 2009, 21:03

Thanks so much for this programme. I’m a novice with very little playing experience and I learned a lot from watching, along with simply enjoying it. Please let’s have more.

Irene Davidson

Mon 27 April 2009, 23:31

I quite enjoyed it - I found the show entertaining. There was a nice feeling of camaraderie and great fun. I think it may well tempt people who haven’t played for a while to do so again. I think Kay showed how important it is to have lessons as the standard of bridge with the others was poor. I found the bridge side of it frustrating for me.
I liked the fact that the money was shared out among so many different charities

Anne Whitehead

Tue 28 April 2009, 10:30

Enjoyed the programmes, especially the later episodes, when the standard of play improved a little. The experts were’nt allowed to say enough though.
I would recommend looking at the hands on this website, as each has useful comments from the experts.

Richard Bailey

Tue 28 April 2009, 22:22

Good to have bridge on TV even if this format didn’t suit everyone.
I enjoyed it

John Worth

Mon 4 May 2009, 14:08

Your website is a right shambles, designed by idiots.

Charles King

Wed 6 May 2009, 23:00

Great show. I thoroughly enjoyed it. More please.

Michael Smith

Wed 6 May 2009, 23:02

Good, but would like more expert feedback.

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BRIDGE: CELEBRITY GRAND SLAM

Celebrities battle for a £20,000 charity pot

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

Bridge: Celebrity Grand Slam

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