In the long hot summer of 1976 Formula One star James Hunt and motorcycling legend Barry Sheene conquered the world and captured the public imagination.
Playboy wasn't their image. It was their lifestyle of choice. They were the aspirational role models of the all-or-nothing '70s. Today they would be every agent's nightmare.

Today's footballers, Formula One heroes and sports stars may be rich, powerful brand names in their own right but can they ever be as entertaining or charismatic? Will the system allow it?

"When Playboys Ruled The World" investigates, interweaving classic archive footage to tell the story of Hunt and Sheene against the backdrop of 2010’s scandals surrounding Tiger Woods, John Terry and Wayne Rooney.

Sheene's wife Stephanie, Hunt's brother David, Murray Walker and former Formula One chief Max Mosley – the subject of his own recent tabloid exposé - lead an A-list cast of interviewees. Actor Rupert Penry-Jones narrates.

Sport is a serious business ... but what happened to how you 'played' the game?

"In my day when the race was done we went off and chased girls. Now they go and say thanks to Vodafone." (Sir Stirling Moss)