Britain's Strongest Man 2020: Legends announced to battle at Sheffield FlyDSA Arena

Sheffield’s own world record holder Paul Smith has also been confirmed and now, after calling for home crowd support, he knows who has has to beat at the city’s FlyDSA Arena on Saturday, January 18.

He will also face hopefuls John Pollock, Luke Richardson, Ben Brunning, Ryan England and Mark Steele.

BUY TICKETS: Seats are £28.13 to £196.88, with VIP tickets available including the chance to meet the strongmen. Visit www.flydsaarena.co.uk, call 0114 256 565 or visit www.giants-live.com.

The jaw dropping strength competition, being filmed again for TV's Channel 5 as part of the World’s Strongest Man series, will see the City of Steel welcome the return of the iron men for a third consecutive year.

Twenty five-year-old local hero Paul – England’s Strongest Man 2016 and World’s Strongest Junior 2017 – is aiming to unleash his potential after showing his powers when he set a world record there two yers ago.

He set a time of 62.68 seconds in the Hammer Hold, a brutal test of strength where athletes grit their teeth and take the pain to hold a giant 30kg so-called Thor’s Hammer at arms length, as long as they can.

Paul beat all the household names including then and now retired World’s Strongest Man, Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall, who is now a regular pundit at the arena shows.

Sheffield’s own ‘Man Of Steel’ Paul finished fifth when the adrenaline-pumped competition returned at the start of 2019.

Now he will face an awesome line-up of heavyweights including former Britain's and England's Strongest Man Terry Hollands, 53-year-old super human Mark Felix, hotly tipped Adam Bishop, Scotland’s strongest brothers Luke and Tom Stoltman, plus more, in what will be a close-fought competition.

There’s a lot at stake – including a golden ticket to compete at 2020’s World's Strongest Man.

Britain’s Strongest Man will be the one who comes out on top after five gruelling challenges – hoisting giant logs, lifting atlas stones and more – to prove they are the next big thing.

Reigning champion Graham Hicks, who recently became a dad for the third tim is spending more time with his family this year, has announced he will not defend his title – leaving the door open.

It was a similar situation earlier this year after Eddie Hall hung up his lifting belt and fans were treated to a superb spectacle of strength by Morecambe’s Hicks, who came out on top ahead of Adam Bishop and Tom Stoltman rounding out the podium.

Rising star Paul, a World’s Strongest Man competitor in 2018, knows a good result will see him compete on the world stage again as this is the start of the 2020 World’s Strongest Man Qualifying Tour.

He said: “I'm ready and I need all my home town support to help me lift the title!”

Giants Live Director, Darren Sadler, said:"The inspirational, edge-of-seat action has to be seen to be believed– this is a sports entertainment at its biggest and best! "We are delighted to return to Sheffield where we get great support with huge crowds. We offer a VIP ticket and fans can also get the chance to meet Paul and the other strongmen.

"But with Christmas coming and the World's Strongest Man on TV during the festive period tickets will sell fast so buy now to avoid disappointment."

*Note, due to the nature of the event, the line-up of stars is always subject to change.