The eight-part show pits 12 contestants against each other and will film in Cardiff

Sue Perkins will present Chess Masters (w/t), a new competition-format show for BBC Two.

Chess is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and the new fact-ent show will see 12 players battling across a series of heats and knock-out rounds to find one winner.

The 8 x 30’ series comes from Curve Media, with filming taking place in Cardiff. It was commissioned by Catherine Catton, head of Commissioning, factual entertainment and events, and the executive producers are Camilla Lewis, Charlie Bunce and Katy Fryer. The commissioning editor is Cal Turner.

Three-time British chess champion and grandmaster David Howell will provide commentary along with chess coach and former Traitors contestant Anthony Mathurin.

Howell said: “I’m extremely excited to be part of Chess Masters. Chess has been a huge part of my life, and I cannot wait to invite viewers into the subtleties and intrigues of the game, as well as introducing them to the chess community. We have the perfect selection of contestants, reflecting the fact that chess is a game for everyone.

“It will be an honour to work alongside Sue, Anthony, Curve Media, and the BBC to bring chess to UK screens for the first time in decades!”

Perkins added: “I’m so excited to be hosting Chess Masters, where twelve talented amateurs from across Britain are pitted against one another in the world’s oldest game.

“It’s all about psychology, strategy, smart thinking, and nerves of steel. Chess that is, not my job (which usually involves the opposite). I’m there to help us understand what’s going on in the players’ heads and make sense of what’s happening on the board. We’ve been waiting over 30 years to see chess back on our TV screens. Chess Masters will make that wait worth while.”