BBC masterminds Des Lynam's return

Des Lynam  is returning to the BBC after almost a decade to host a sporting spin-off from Mastermind.

The show will be televised this summer to coincide with the Beijing Olympics and the Euro 2008 football tournament and will follow the same format as the classic quiz show, with four contestants answering questions while sitting in the famous black chair.

The former Match of the Day presenter, who defected to ITV in 1999, will host the 10-week series on BBC2.

Lynam, 65, said that he was confident that the show, Sport Mastermind, would be a success.

"Bearing in mind how many people are fascinated by sport, I think this programme will turn out to be a very popular complement to Mastermind," he said. "I have always been a great fan of the show and am delighted to be involved."

A BBC spokesman described Lynam as "arguably the most iconic sports broadcaster in the history of television".

The presenter spent 30 years at the BBC before moving to ITV on a £5 million contract.

He then teamed up with Carol Vorderman to present Countdown on Channel 4 following the death of Richard Whitelely, the long-running game show's original host. However, he quit the programme two years ago.