ITV Hopes to Drive Celebrity Golf Upmarket

Once handicapped by its association with the naff end of light entertainment, celebrity golf is being given a makeover by ITV, replacing the likes of Jimmy Tarbuck and Bruce Forsyth with A-list stars.

Celebrity Cup, planned for the August bank holiday and hosted by Ant and Dec, is envisaged as a star-studded version of the Ryder Cup, with two teams of 10 celebrities each from Europe and the US lining up over the course of a weekend.

Colin Montgomerie has agreed to appear as the non-playing captain of the European team, while Mark O'Meara will lead the Americans. The Celtic Manor course in south Wales, venue for the Ryder Cup in 2010, has agreed to host the tournament.

According to insiders, the two golfers will definitely appear, as will actor Hugh Grant, singers Robbie Williams and Ronan Keating, former tennis star Boris Becker, former Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, and model Jodie Kidd, who plays off a handicap of 12.

England football captain David Beckham, jockey Frankie Dettori and actors Samuel L Jackson and Kevin Costner have also been approached. Michael Douglas and his Welsh wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, are slated to appear for opposing teams.

The idea for the show came from Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both keen golfers, and it is scheduled to appear for 15 hours across the weekend. The ITV presenting duo's company Gallowgate Productions will co-produce the show with TWI, which already makes revived celebrity sports show Superstars for BBC1.

An ITV spokeswoman stressed that no contracts had been signed and the show was still under discussion, but all parties were keen for it to go ahead.