Giant balls to roll through Canterbury city centre as famous comedians film new TV show Let’s Play Ball

Comedians are set to roll giant red balls through a busy city centre for a “hilarious” new TV gameshow.

Shoppers and tourists in Canterbury will need to watch out for the 45kg sphere being pushed past iconic landmarks such as the Cathedral and the Westgate Towers.

The UK pilot episode of Let’s Play Ball is being filmed in Canterbury this week. Picture: Banijay UK

Traffic management teams will be present during filming of the pilot episode of Let’s Play Ball this Friday (June 19) – with disruption set to last about three to five minutes on each route.

The ball will be accompanied by teams of celebrities, whose identities are currently under wraps, and a crew with handheld cameras.

The routes two balls will take around Canterbury for new show Let’s Play Ball

The “very silly” show, based on an existing Dutch concept which aired on YouTube via StukTV, is being produced by Banijay UK labels Initial and Zeppotron.

Producers say the challenge is likely to “unravel into comedic chaos and strategic gameplay, demanding quick-thinking, teamwork, grit and determination”.

Two routes across the city will be used, with contestants navigating various terrains and completing puzzles along the way.

A giant ball will roll around Canterbury City Centre for a new game show

Between 9.30am and 11.30am, crews will be in Burgate, Buttermarket, Palace Street, Orange Street, The Friars, King Street, Blackfriars Street and Mill Lane.

From 11.30am to 12.30pm, they will move from Mill Lane to King Street, Orange Street, Guildhall Street, High Street, St Margaret’s Street, Watling Street, Marlowe Avenue, Watling Street Car Park, St Mary’s Street, Castle Street, Castle Row and Sun Street.

A filming break will then take place until 1.30pm, at which time footage will be shot for an hour in Dane John Gardens.

After this, the ball will be travelling through Castle Row, Castle Street, Watling Street, High Street, Rose Lane, Gravel Walk, Whitefriars, Castle Road, St Margaret’s Street, High Street, Guildhall Street, Orange Street and The Friars until 3.15pm.

Finally, they will continue through Sun Street, Burgate, Longmarket, High Street and Rose Lane before both teams on each route meet at Westgate Towers from 5pm till 5.30pm.

New gameshow Let’s Play Ball is set to be filmed in Canterbury. Picture: Banijay UK

Katy Manley, managing director of Initial, said: “This hilarious new show is the perfect next joint project for us.

“Initial brings the big red balls (we also make Wipeout), while Zeppotron will unlock its legendary black book to cast the funniest people in the country. We can’t wait to take this out to buyers in the UK.”

Peter Holmes, MD of Zeppotron, added: “Like the Zeppotron team, Let’s Play Ball is very simple and very silly.

“We’re really looking forward to joining forces with Initial once more to put our own spin on this big, bold, ball-based format.”