Leeds cheerleading club to feature on Blue Peter in high-pressure TV challenge

A cheerleading group in Leeds is set to appear on a classic children’s TV show this September to prove that cheer is a sport “for everybody”.

Mayne Allstars, based at Fearnville Leisure Centre, will feature on Blue Peter on CBBC in a three part challenge as they teach presenter Shini Muthukrishnan how to cheer for the first time.

The competitive cheerleading team face the feat of preparing Shini for a national cheer championship in Glasgow in the space of just three months.

The first two parts of the challenge will air on Blue Peter on September 11, and the third part will air on September 18.

Theo Mayne, head coach at Mayne Allstars, has been “super proud” experience to watch his students use their talent and teamwork to teach a complete amateur.

“A lot of athletes have been with us for years. For them to be able to confidently teach somebody completely new to cheer is phenomenal,” Theo told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“It was nice to showcase who we are and to do something different that the kids can be proud of.”

As star of BBC smash-hit The Traitors, Theo is, of course, no stranger to TV.

However, Mayne Allstars’ Blue Peter appearance is a chance to shine a light on just how much joy can be found through cheerleading.

Theo said: “It's a big achievement for us as a club, and it's just a big achievement for the industry to shed a light on our sport and to showcase that anybody can be a part of it.”

Alongside spotlighting cheerleading, Theo hopes the TV appearance will prove just how much the city of Leeds has to offer.

“It’s not only putting cheer on the map; it’s putting Leeds on the map,” Theo said.

“There's so much happening within our city, so it's great to shout about how great Leeds is and what we've got going for us.”

As a club, Mayne Allstars prides itself on its ability to turn children with no experience into accomplished cheerleaders.

However, Theo said teaching 24-year-old Shini was a tough challenge as adults learn to be scared of the unknown.

Theo said: “Kids are fearless - they don't care. But when trying to teach an adult, they break down what could go wrong so fear is definitely more of a factor.”

Originating in the US, cheerleading is growing increasingly popular in the UK, with an estimated 89,000 cheer athletes worldwide.

By teaching Blue Peter Shini, Mayne Allstars want to show that no matter your age or gender, you can try out cheer.

“The sport is incredible. It teaches so much discipline within and outside the sport, and trusting people too.

“It's constantly growing and to get on TV is massive. It shows how fantastic this sport is and hopefully this will bring even more movement to it.”