A LEGENDARY Lye muscleman contest organiser is poised to bring back one of the biggest competitions in bodybuilding to Britain’s second city this weekend.

Jim Charles, who runs Jim's Gym and who has organised the NABBA Mr Universe contests for decades, is bringing the show to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall this Saturday (October 29).

The event - which helped propel a young Arnold Schwarzenegger to stardom - has been taking place in Southport for the last 16 years after previously being held at Birmingham’s ICC and The Palladium and The Old Vic in London.

But Jim, an international judge and life president of the National Amateur Bodybuilders' Association (NABBA), is excited to be bringing it back closer to home.

He said: “It’s fantastic. There'll be about 200 competitors including a terrific team from Brazil and America."

The final qualifier for the event was held at Brierley Hill Civic Hall on October 16 and about 30 musclemen and women secured places to compete for coveted Universe titles. Jim said: "The standard was incredible."

Judging for the Universe event gets underway at 9.30am and the show starts at 6.30pm.

For tickets go to www.nabba.co.uk or call the Symphony Hall Box Office on 0121 780 3333 (Monday to Saturday - 10am until 6pm).