David Seaman, Paul Merson, John Barnes and Matt Le Tissier will star in a new ITV series.

David Seaman

David Seaman

The two-part special, which currently has a working title 'Match Fit', will pull the retired footballers out of their comfort zones and into today's world of professional football as they aim to slim down ahead of a comeback match.

Kate Teckman, ITV's commissioning editor of Factual Entertainment, said: "Classic ITV, entertaining, with scale and purpose, and moreover we are finally going to answer the age old question "Who ate all the pies?"

The team will be managed by former Spurs gaffer Harry Redknapp and will feature the likes of Robbie Fowler, Mark Wright, Chris Waddle, Rob Lee, Ray Parlour, Lee Sharpe, and Neil 'Razor' Ruddock.

The former Premier League stars will be constantly monitored to see how well they're performing off the pitch before they strut their stuff on the hallowed turf once again.

Leon Wilson, managing director of Talkback, who will produce the show, said: "We're thrilled to be working with ITV on this unique and epic new series.

"Bringing together some of England's greatest footballers of all time, we're looking forward to seeing if they can ditch their unhealthy habits, to get match fit, back in their kits and on the pitch, doing what they do best."

Several of the retired professionals are no strangers to starring in TV shows since hanging up their boots, including Seaman, who won the one-off special 'Strictly Ice Dancing' in 2004.

He returned to the ice in 2006 to appear on 'Dancing on Ice', and while he finished fourth on the show, he tasted success away from the programme by marrying one of the pro skaters, Frankie Poultney, who former Man United winger Sharpe partnered on 'DoI' in 2007.

What's more, Le Tissier and Merson are still on TV nowadays, acting as pundits on Sky Sports' popular football show 'Soccer Saturday'.

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