Dawn French narrates Strictly Lady Sumo, which follows the journey of a group of larger-than-life women as they undertake the extraordinary challenge of learning the ancient art of Sumo in time to compete at the World Championships in Japan.
Over three months, these 25 hopefuls are whittled down to just six finalists through an intense and vigorous selection process. From those six, only four are selected to represent Great Britain in the Sumo World Championships in Japan. These four women leave behind their ordinary lives as housewives, teachers, mothers and council workers to become championship-level Sumo wrestlers. And only one of the 25 has ever wrestled before.
The documentary follows Steve 'Sumo' Pateman's recruitment drive, and the trials and tribulations as this group of ordinary women from all over the UK embark on their extraordinary blood-sweat-and-tear-stained training regime. The hopes and dreams of these remarkable women are put on the line as the final team is announced and they go on to travel to Japan and put their reputations on the line for Queen and Country.
In July 2006, in a back street gym in Derbyshire, the 25 women congregate for a training session. It's just three months before four of these 25 women will become the first ever ladies team to represent Great Britain at the Sumo World Championships in Japan.
The four women selected are taken away from their every-day lives as mothers and office workers, and thrown into the ring with top-class fighters from around the world. The man behind this unique enterprise is Steve 'Sumo' Pateman. Former world bronze medallist and head of the British Sumo Federation, 'Sumo' Steve decided early in 2006 to set himself the task of recruiting the first ever British female Sumo wrestling team.
But before they get a chance to be big in Japan, the girls must make it through Steve's relentless training regime and selection process.
Among the hopefuls is 37-year-old youth worker Adele Jones from Derby. Adele wins all of her practice fights and looks to be a possible contender. She could be a threat to 50-year-old Jackie Bates, the only British woman to have competed at competition level before. Jackie has the experience, but now she's facing younger and fitter girls, and she'll have to train hard to retain her spot on the team.
Single mother Sharran Alexander also stands out from the crowd. At 28 stone Sharran is by far the largest of the women. But she hasn't exercised for years and there's more to Sumo than size; and she struggles to balance caring for her son with Sumo training. After the first training session Steve admits he is disappointed by the calibre of the girls and wonders if any of them have the mental strength to make it all the way.
With just six weeks to the World Championship the strength training intensifies, and a lap of the park carrying 40kg of weights tests all the girls. But late-comer Rebecca Williams rises to the challenge. At 25, Rebecca – also known as 'Pink' – is no stranger to a man's world. A keen rugby player, sports are her life, and she works in a meat processing plant. Sumo Steve is impressed with her determination. There's every chance he might take her to Japan.
With the World Championships just a few weeks away there's a deciding competition for the remaining 11 women. Only four will go to Japan. Favourite Adele and newcomer Pink must face each other in the ring to secure a place in Japan, and both have won all their fights so far. At this stage, for the girls that don't make the top six, it's time to say goodbye to the Japanese dream.
At the end of the last week of training Sumo Steve is ready to announce his final team. But the girls are dogged by injury and illness, and Steve won't take an unfit team to Japan. And for those who do make the final cut, the World Championships loom ahead.
Can Steve's lady Sumo wrestlers really take on the best of the best, and bring back a medal for the girls and Great Britain?
