TWO of Britain’s best loved sporting heroes are going back into combat more than a decade after they last locked horns on “Question of Sport”.

Cricket legend Sir Ian Botham and former England Rugby Union captain Bill Beaumont are staging a comeback of the BBC’s popular sporting quiz at Mowden Park Rugby Club in Darlington.

The club has made Sir Ian’s “Beefy Foundation” one of its charities of the year and will be raising money for great causes all year round.

Question of Sport is the launch event and takes place at The Northern Echo Arena in Darlington at 6.30pm on Monday, May 21.

As well as Sir Ian and Bill, other sporting celebrities taking part will include former England footballer Peter Reid and England cricketers Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Collingwood. The evening will be compered by Pete Graves, of Sky Sports.

Sir Ian said: “In the eight years Bill and I did Question of Sport together, I only managed to win one series so I’m really looking forward to finally getting another win.

“It’s a local event at a great venue and I’m really grateful to Mowden Park Rugby Club for adopting the Beefy Foundation this year. It promises to be a fabulous and memorable evening so please come along and support us.”

Sir Ian and Bill, who is now chairman of the Rugby Football Union, will each chair a captain’s table for the interactive quiz and they have both already been taken at a cost of £2,000 each.

However, “Platinum Packages” – tables of ten, including a local sporting celebrity as host – are available for £950 plus VAT. “Golden Table Packages” cost £650 plus VAT for ten people.

Mowden Park managing director Lee Rust said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming such high profile sporting guests to the arena. Our events team have worked very hard over recent years to expand our annual calendar to offer a full array of events.

“Question Of Sport is a new edition that is attracting regional businesses, our members, and general sports fanatics alike. I’m sure the evening will be a memorable occasion for all involved.’’

To find out more about the event, call 01325 350267.