BBC Scotland, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer will launch a new sand sculpting competition series titled Race Against the Tide in August. Produced by Tern Television, the six part series is filmed at West Sands Beach in St Andrews. Seven teams, each consisting of one professional sand sculptor and one amateur, compete to build themed sculptures within a six hour window before the tide returns.
The series is hosted by Iain Stirling. The competition format involves a halfway point marked by a yellow flag and a final ten minute warning marked by a red flag. Judges Sadie Clayton and Jamie Wardley score the entries based on technical skill, creativity and storytelling. One team is named Sand Champion at the end of each challenge, while one pair is eliminated from the competition.
The amateur contestants include a leather craftsman, a cake decorator, a plasterer, a stationery designer, a carpenter, an art teacher and a fine art student. David Marshall, Creative Director of Tern Television, described the format as a returnable entertainment investment for the production company. The competition concludes after six builds with the crowning of a single winning team.
The production uses tonnes of sand to create the sculptures on the beach in St Andrews. The series is scheduled for a multi platform release across linear and digital channels. The show features a judging panel composed of an artist and a professional sand sculptor.