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Last Updated: Friday, 19 September, 2003, 15:38 GMT 16:38 UK
Watching thoroughbreds at work
By Johnny Vaughan
Superstars presenter

It's great to have Superstars back. Just hearing that theme tune again brings it all back - it's the best theme tune of them all.

And Superstars has the history - it's the original "I'm a celebrity get me out of here".

It was the first show to take stars, put them on a level playing field and make them play elimination games.

And what would you rather watch - Kevin Keegan on a bike or Anthony Worrell-Thompson in the jungle?

What is fascinating is that the stars are like thoroughbred race horses (except Dermot Reeve), but they have limits.

You think: "Why is this athlete losing to this footballer in the long run - surely his fitness can't stop at 100m?

But it can. And that's the beauty of it.

VAUGHAN'S TOP THEME TUNES
1 Superstars
2 Grandstand
3 Sportsnight
4 Ski Sunday
5 Hickstead show jumping

Superstars is basically a collection of all the people who were the best in their schools at sport.

It is the ultimate sports day and lots of my favourite athletes are here.

Not many people know this, but I did a pilgrimage to Richie Richardson's house when I was in the West Indies.

And, as for Jimmy Adams after a hard day of work. . .

I don't know of a better way to unwind than to have a chat with him - within 30 seconds you're at the beach.

Paul Hunter has also been great and it's good to see snooker producing the ilk of players that made it great again.

If I could be any of them, I might be Mark Foster - he is god-like

There is something Corinthian about Superstars and no-one represents this better than Brian Hooper, who is 50 and still has the most toned body on show.

The other athletes just look at him and think: "Yes, you're good."

But if I could be any of them, I might be Mark Foster.

At just about 7ft tall, he is god-like.

His head is in the clouds he is so tall and, although he is not as chiselled as some of them, there is the element of super hero about him.

Foster may not win, though.

I think Alain Baxter is in with a big chance. He looks to me like the Brian Jacks-type figure in this crowd.



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