We Are The Champions is a classic BBC wacky kids' sports show. It hasn't been on TV for years, but Paddy and Sport Relief have brought it back for one week only. The teams will be coached by sporting legends such as Dame Kelly Holmes, Amir Khan and Tim Henman. Read on for Paddy's funny lowdown on the show. 

Did you watch We Are The Champions when you were a kid?

Yeah, I watched it first time round. It’s strange really, doing this one, because the kids now that are doing it will not have a clue what it is. It’s still got the same spirit, but obviously it’s a bit more up to date now, with a few different types of games.

What are your memories of it?

Just kids being freezing in a field. While Ron Pickering stood under an umbrella giving it: “Run!”

What did you think when they asked you to do this one?

I said: “Can I have a bit of fun with the kids and give them a bit of a hard time? Right, I’ll do it!” The role I play on it is more of a PE teacher, so I’ve got the whistle round my neck and a clipboard. I’m very much sort of: “These kids are much too busy playing on their PS3PPOs, their XStations, or whatever it is they all go on these days. This is what we used to do when we were kids: running, climbing and stuff!”

How did they react to that?

I said to the kids before we did any of the takes: “If you don’t agree with anything I say, just boo me.” And they did! It was great, a really good laugh.

Were you quite sporty as a kid?

Yeah. I wasn’t really fantastic at any one thing, but I could always enjoy and turn my hand to most sports.

What did you prefer?

Like most lads, everyone at my school used to play football all the time. It was just a case of: “There’a a football, get down in them tennis courts.” In fact, when I saw someone playing tennis there, I actually thought: “Oh, that’s what they’re for!” We just used to play football on them for six years!

Do you try to keep fit now?

Err…well, I walk up and down the stairs now and again. But no, if you watch what you eat, do a bit of sport in the week with your friends, a bit of football here and there, a bit of tennis, or whatever it is you’re into, it is important.

Did all of the team coaches on the show get into the spirit of things?

Yeah, and obviously being professional sports people, they’re all competitive. But they really got behind the kids and the teams, and gave them a lot of good advice.

Who seemed the most competitive?

It’d be either Tim Henman or Darren Campbell. They weren’t on the same show as each other, but they were really geeing the kids up, and telling them the best way to complete the obstacles and everything else.

Darren is pretty chatty. Did you manage to get him to keep quiet for more than ten seconds?

It was hard, but we got there! But someone like Tim Henman, I’d seen him on the telly for years at Wimbledon and you sort of build up a picture of what someone’s like. But then you meet them, and he was absolutely fantastic. He got involved in it and didn’t mind me taking the mickey out of him, he was brilliant. I must say, all the athletes were top-notch.

Amir Khan doesn't seem that big for a boxer. Did you think he looked hard as nails in person?

Well, you can tell him that if you want, next time you see him. I’ll mention that when I bump into him: “Eddy has something to tell you!”

Which was your favourite game?

I think the games in the water were really fun. Working with kids was nice because they reminded me of the simple things in life. I’d say: “Right, for this next game after your dinner, we’re gonna take this inflatable you’ve just been playing on, put it in the water and you’re gonna climb up it.” And they were like: “Wowwww!” as if Jesus Christ had just walked in the room or they’d won the lottery. So it was nice seeing them enjoy stuff like that.

Sport Relief does We Are The Champions is on the CBBC Channel from 8-12 March, or BBC One from 15-19 March.