Ski Sunday returns to BBC Two for 2021 with a winter sports season like never before.
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races go ahead without the usual throngs of fans, but the spectacle and challenge remain, including for the BBC team in its weekly coverage of the flagship events of the season.
The biggest change to the BBC’s long-running flagship winter sports programme this year is the absence of regular presenter Graham Bell, as he is participating in ITV’s Dancing On Ice instead.
Stepping up to co-present alongside Ed Leigh for the 2021 series will be four-time Winter Olympian Chemmy Alcott, who has appeared regularly on the show as a presenter since she retired from ski racing in 2014.
The coronavirus pandemic will also change the look of the programme slightly, with only the two presenters and a cameraman on location to film each episode, while all the other production is being handled remotely in the UK and via BBC Sport HQ in Salford.
Allcott was due to take over the popular course run segment of the show this year, but this has been put on hold, with the presenting not able to travel to the weekly World Cup races, so they will instead film their links and provide analysis on the action from the Swiss resort of Laax.
Speaking to the BBC Sport website about the 2021 series, Allcott said:
“We want the show to provide escapism for all those who are desperate to go skiing but can’t. We’re bringing the mountains to them.”
The opening Ski Sunday of 2021 on Sunday, 10 January, features an exciting double-header of races from Austria and Switzerland.
There is speed in the form of the women’s downhill from St Anton, the birthplace of alpine racing, as well as they skill as the world’s best slalom racers, including Britain’s Dave Ryding, take on the famous Kuonisbergli piste in the Swiss resort of Adelboden.
Week two was due to feature the classic Lauberhorn downhill ski races from Wengen in Switzerland, but as this has been cancelled, the men’s slalom from Flachau in Austria will be shown instead.
An action-packed show is lined up for week three and features highlights of two huge events from the slopes of Europe.
First up is the men’s downhill from Kitzbuhel, raced on the infamous Streif. The hoards of Austrian fans may be missing, but the danger and prestige guarantees that this remains the pinnacle of ski racing.
The show also features highlights of the Laax Open in Switzerland, Europe’s biggest snowboard competition, with the world’s best male and female riders going in slopestyle and half-pipe.
In week five, the night slalom from Schladming, Austria, where competitors tackle the imposing Planai track under the lights, takes centre stage, along with the women’s downhill from the icy, treacherous Kandahar course in Garmisch Partenkirchen.
The iconic German venue also features in week six with men’s downhill, which is the final race on the World Cup tour before the World Championships began in Italy. It is therefore seen by many competitors as ideal preparation to hone their form.
The final episodes of the 2021 series features the 2021 Alpine World Ski Championships in the Italian resort of Cortina, including the two biggest races of the biennial event – the men’s and women’s downhills.
Both are sure to be thrilling spectacles as the fastest skiers in the world take on icy pistes and sheer gradients in their bids for gold.
The 2021 series reaches its climax on 21 February with the men’s slalom, where Dave Ryding is vying for Britain’s first ever medal at this level.
Live coverage of the Alpine Ski World Championships will be broadcast across BBC Sport platforms, including the Red Button, from 9-21 February.
Each episode will also be broadcast online via the BBC Sport website – bbc.co.uk/sport – and available to watch live or via catch-up on BBC iPlayer.
Scroll down for SOTB’s TV guide to the 2021 series of Ski Sunday. All times listed below are subject to change and may vary in Wales and Northern Ireland.
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SUNDAY 10th JANUARY
SKI SUNDAY: Episode 1
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SUNDAY 17th JANUARY
SKI SUNDAY: Episode 2
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SUNDAY 24th JANUARY
SKI SUNDAY: Episode 3
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SUNDAY 31st JANUARY
SKI SUNDAY: Episode 4
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SUNDAY 7th FEBRUARY
SKI SUNDAY: Episode 5
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SUNDAY 14th FEBRUARY
SKI SUNDAY: Episode 6
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SUNDAY 14th FEBRUARY
SKI SUNDAY: Episode 7
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Love Ski Sunday- have a film of my daughter skiing last week but not sure how to send it.