VERNON Kay is in Germany again this weekend as the host of a new TV hit. Beat The Star (ITV1, Sunday, 6.45pm) sees a member of the public taking on a celebrity in a series of seven physical and mental challenges.

The show is already a family favourite in its home country, where it is called Schlag den Raab. The UK version is filmed in the same Cologne studio, which also has a massive outdoor area for driving and other challenges.

Over 5m viewers watched Bolton boxer Amir Khan's narrow win over Plymouth policeman Dan Ivey in last week's first edition, produced by Ant and Dec's company Gallowgate.

Amir went home with his pride intact, while the £50,000 Dan could have won is rolled over. That means a total prize of £100,000 is at stake this weekend for new challenger - Salford fire fighter Chris Rainford.

Each week's show also features a different celebrity. So Chris is taking on cricket legend Darren Gough, also a former winner of Strictly Come Dancing.

Broughton Red Watch Commander Chris, 43, says: "I was unsure about the show before I went on, but now I've seen it, I like it. It's a bit quirky - family viewing that keeps you watching."

Chris had to go through several audition stages to get his big TV chance but had few worries about his fitness.

He's both current National Fire Service Sports Personality of the Year and European Fire Service Triathlon Champion.

Challenger

But there was no real way of preparing for the seven rounds on Sunday, with both challenger and star in the dark about what they had to do until Bolton-born Vernon revealed each task.

"I didn't do any special training. Because I do triathlons all the time, I train six days a week anyway," explains father-of-two Chris.

"The programme producer said, `Look, forget it. There's nothing you can do that'll prepare you for this. Just keep your own fitness up'. And when you look at the different things they ask you to do - last week's programme had one round where they had to milk a cow. How can you train for that?"

This week Chris and Darren have brand new challenges, where their driving, climbing and salami-slicing skills will all be put to the test.

"I had a driving game which was different to last week and a game of cage football with a goal at either end for three minutes, which was pretty frenetic," adds Chris.

There's no money at stake for England and Yorkshire cricketer Darren.

He's just playing for pride. And if Chris fails to win, the prize fund will be rolled over again to £150,000 for the following week's show.

That will feature Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, with tennis aces Martina Navratilova and Greg Rusedski among those starring later in the series.

For all the latest news from the world of television, check out Ian Wylie's blog, The Life of Wylie .