Iain Stirling is set to host the new BBC competition show Race Against the Tide, a sand sculpture series he says he joined partly so his daughter could watch him on television.
The Scottish comedian and presenter, best known as the voice of Love Island, told the BBC: "There's not a lot of stuff I do on telly that they [my children] can see so I really wanted to make something that I could watch with my daughter, and that would make her passionate about wanting to go outside and do a thing."
He added that after filming, he and his daughter have been making sandcastles together, describing it as "such a wholesome and fun thing."
Show details and format
Race Against the Tide launches on Monday, August 17 on BBC iPlayer, then airs the next day on BBC Two at 7.30pm. Teams of two attempt to build fantastical sand sculptures on West Sands Beach in St Andrews before the tide washes them away.
Each team pairs a professional sand sculptor with a complete beginner. Expert judges Sadie Clayton and Jamie Wardley will assess the creations on wow factor, creativity and technical ability.
The six-episode series synopsis reads: "With just six hours before the tide rolls in, the teams must transform tonnes of sand into spectacular themed creations while battling the clock, the weather and each other."
Stirling's children's TV past
Stirling is also known for his CBBC work, including co-writing and presenting The Dog Ate My Homework, which earned him the 2018 RTS Scotland On Screen Personality award and the 2017 Children's BAFTA Best Presenter Award. He also fronted CBBC continuity segments in 2009 alongside puppet Hacker T Dog.
Reflecting on his earlier career, he told the Radio Times: "Being a dad who does comedy, it's hard to find things that I've been in that my daughter is allowed to watch, without going back to my time on children's TV where she won't even recognise me."
Race Against the Tide streams on BBC iPlayer from August 17 and airs on BBC Two at 7.30pm the following day.
