‘The Jump’: Meet the contestants

Tonight marks the start of Channel 4’s The Jump, a new reality show in which celebs battle it out on the snowy Austrian mountainsides in a host of winter sporting disciplines – including speed skating, bobsleigh, slalom skiing and a live ski jump. With next month’s Winter Olympics in Sochi poised to get our blood boiling, The Jump could offer some much-needed light relief, so here’s a handy “who’s who” of the celebs slipping into their salopettes and hitting the slopes.

Sinitta
Age: 50
Famous for: Singing So Macho and being Simon Cowell’s musical advisor.

If you were wondering how Sinitta would spend the long winter months between Judges’ Houses appearances, ponder no more. Attitude.co.uk’s resident agony aunt has apparently been enjoying the après ski during her stay in Austria, and with any luck has already put together a coniferous version of her infamous palm-leaf outfit. We have high hopes.

Ritchie Neville
Age: 34
Famous for: Being a member of ’90s pop group 5ive.

Fresh off The Big Reunion tour, 5ive star Ritchie Neville was a late replacement for injured Flash Gordon actor Sam J. Jones – and about all we’re going to get in the man-candy stakes. Ritchie’s garnering our support if only for his relationship with Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton: a power couple so 2001 we’re half expecting Samantha Mumba and Darius Danesh to turn up as his on-piste cheerleaders.

Kimberly Wyatt
Age: 31
Famous for: Judging Sky 1’s Got to Dance and being a former Pussycat Doll.

While old Scherzy lords it up in Louis Walsh’s dressing room with a bottle of Bollinger, her fellow Dolls are risking life and limb in the Australian jungle and Austrian peaks. Former bandmate Ashley Roberts did very well on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here back in 2012, and Kimberly’s youthful fitness is likely to stand her in good stead – just look what she did with her legs in that Buttons video. One to watch.

Henry Conway
Age: 30
Famous for: Being a British socialite, fashion commentator and party promoter.

Nope, we don’t know either. Mr Conway is apparently a fashion pundit and regular fixture on London’s party scene, responsible for organising Thursday nights at trendy celeb hotspot Mahiki. The self-titled ‘Queen Sloane’ attracted controversy in 2007 after holding a night with the theme ‘F**k off I’m Rich’. Likely to be an early casualty, tbh.

Anthea Turner
Age: 53 
Famous for: Being a former Blue Peter and GMTV. presenter.

Whatever you think of poor old Anthea, you can’t fault her insatiable ‘can-do’ attitude. The former presenter of a TV show called Help Me Anthea, I’m Infested is adding The Jump to her extensive portfolio of reality show appearances, which already includes Hell’s Kitchen, Celebrity Big Brother, and perhaps most importantly, Dancing on Ice. Will cling to this tighter than a mountain goat in crampons.

Nicky Clarke OBE
Age: 55
Famous for: Being a personal stylist to the stars and hairdressing mogul.

Celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke has been responsible for the royal barnets of Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson over the years – and it’s good to know that someone will be on hand to deal with the effects of the harsh winter climate on Sinitta’s split ends. Despite having not taken part in Dancing on Ice like so many of his fellow competitors, Nicky’s resemblance to the blonde one from Blades of Glory may give him the edge in any rink-based contests.

Laura Hamilton
Age: 31
Famous for: Presenting A Place in the Sun.

Laura finished runner-up on the sixth series of Dancing on Ice back in 2011, proving she knows how to handle herself on the white stuff despite all that time spent finding pensioners a maisonette in the Algarve. A keen skier and snowboarder, the Place in the Sun presenter could be well-placed to make an impact provided she’s match-fit after giving birth to her son last November.

Marcus Brigstocke
Age: 40
Famous for: Being a comedian and actor.

Marcus Brigstocke is probably most recognisable from his appearances on panel shows such as QI, Have I Got News for You, and Would I Lie To You?. The political satirist is a bit of a curve-ball amongst this crop of ‘celebs,’ and as a “very out of practice intermediate skier”, we’re finding his chances a tough one to call.

Amy Childs
Age: 23
Famous for: Being a original member of the TOWIE cast.

The woman responsible for catapulting the term “vajazzle” into the UK pop culture lexicon, Amy Childs is now turning her manicured hand to everything from technical slaloms to speed skating. She rates her own ski skills a modest “6.5 out of 10”, but it’s possible that the combined effect of winter glare with fake tan and pubic rhinestones could hinder her competitors significantly out on the slopes.

Darren Gough
Age: 43
Famous for: Being a former England cricketer

Another reality show veteran: Darren won Strictly way back in 2005. Though he retired from Test cricket over a decade ago, that gung-ho spirit still lurks within, and he describes his skiing as “fast and fearless.” The face of Costcutter certainly has the attitude and determination to overcome any possible gaps in technique.

Melinda Messenger
Age: 42
Famous for: Being a TV presenter and former glamour model

Don’t be fooled by the perma-grin and perfectly-preened appearance: you should never underestimate a woman who managed to turn a few appearances on Eurotrash into a sustained television career. Another bloody-Dancing-on-Ice-alumnus, not only does The Messenger cut a great silhouette in that jumpsuit, but the 42-year-old’s time working on Fort Boyard will have left her with a competitive edge to rival Sir Steven Redgrave’s.

Sir Steven Redgrave:
Age: 51
Famous for: Being an Olympic Rower and one of the most decorated British athletes in history.

What do you do after a glittering athletic career that saw you win gold medals at five successive Olympic Games and become one of the most revered sportsmen in the ccountry? Compete against Sinitta in a bobsleigh race, of course! Given his sporting hero status and competitive background, we definitely fancy Sir Steve’s chances on The Jump, though we’d be hard-pressed to refer to him as a “winner” in all of this, tbh.

The Jump starts tonight (January 26) at 8pm on Channel 4.