Jordan Mentors Criminals In New Five Series

Formula 1 mogul Eddie Jordan is mentoring eight car criminals as part of a new Five series, with the programme seeing Jordan giving expert coaching in motoring and mechanical skills in a bid to keep them out of trouble.

The five, hour-long, programmes will see the boys forced to confront the impact of their crimes. As part of the scheme, Jordan will attempt to build a race team by moulding them into a unit to compete under his name at a racing event. He will be looking for a team leader, a chief mechanic and the best drivers.

If the participants stick with Jordan’s course and graduate they will gain a basic mechanic’s qualification that should enable them to work in the motor industry.

Commenting on the initiative, Jordan said: “I’m not afraid to tackle these issues head-on. I’m keen to show them that there’s an alternative career to that of crime. I demand hard-work, honesty and perseverance and, in return, am offering them the opportunity to change their lives.”

Justine Kershaw, controller of science for Five, who commissioned the series continued: “I’m thrilled that a major figure in motor sport like Eddie Jordan is involved in this great project. The series promises to be hard hitting, exciting and have a big impact on these young men’s lives.”

The boys who really stand out and prove that they are serious about putting their criminal lives behind them will face a further challenge as they are assessed by Honda for a potential place on the company’s award-winning three-year Apprentice Technician programme.

Gareth Ebenezer from the Honda Institute, Honda’s state-of-the-art UK training organisation added: “If we see anyone with the right levels of enthusiasm and ambition and can match them to a suitable vacancy in a Honda dealership, we will put them forward for selection and hopefully help them to start realising their dreams.”

Five recently announced that it was joining Five forces with the Telegraph Group in a multi-media partnership, seeing the newspaper publisher enjoying exclusive sponsorship of England’s home Test Matches and One Day cricket internationals from 2006-2009 (see Telegraph Group Sponsors Cricket On Five).

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv