Twenty children, aged 9-13 years, from across the UK have signed up to take part in the series. They will be competing against each other in invented games and challenges centred around spelling conundrums before one of them is crowned champion in a final showdown.

Based on Shine Australia's popular family entertainment show The Great Australian Spelling Bee, the eight-part series will allow audiences to get to know the young contestants through their families and experience the drama backstage similar to talent shows Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor.

Comedian Joe Lycett will provide behind the scenes entertainment as he watches events on stage alongside competitors' families, while newsreader Moira Stuart is set to officiate proceedings as a pronouncer. 

“We absolutely love this show, it’s full of nail biting tension and tremendous warmth," Richard Ackerman, Commissioning Editor at Sky says. "The show has taught me two things; firstly the old adage isn’t true, you can work with children and these kids are extraordinarily talented and fantastically charming. The second thing I learned is that my own spelling is awful.”

Ex-Culture Show presenter Perkins said: “I love being intellectually owned by eight year olds, so this is the perfect show for me.”