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Battle of the Blades back next fall

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | 5:01 PM ET

CBC News

Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson, performing on CBC Television's Battle of the Blades on Nov. 9. (CBC)

Battle of the Blades will be back for a second season, CBC Television announced Wednesday.

The series featuring world-class figure skaters coaching former NHL stars on how to figure skate will return in the fall of 2010.

The first 14-episode series was a hit with Canadians, with CBC reporting an audience of more than 1.7 million turning in for the one-hour finale on Monday. Tickets to see the skating live at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto also sold out every week.

Olympic gold medallist Jamie Salé and former Edmonton Oiler Craig Simpson won the first competition, earning $100,000 for their favourite charity, northern Alberta's Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society.

Kurt Browning co-hosted Battle of the Blades with Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean.

The overwhelming response to the show has led Insight Productions to look at expanding the franchise globally.

“It has tremendous international potential as a big-name sports and entertainment brand and we look forward to growing this franchise significantly over the coming years,” said John Brunton, president and executive producer of Insight Productions.

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Internal Links

P.O.V: Will Battle of the Blades bring more boys to figure skating?
Battle of the Blades won by Simpson, Salé
CBC: Battle of the Blades

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