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TWO of Bolton's top celebrities will be joining forces for a new TV show.

Vernon Kay is to host a new ITV series called Beat The Star, which sees sporting personalities take on members of the public in a series of physical and mental challenges, such as climbing a 10-metre-high telegraph pole.

Boxing sensation Amir Khan will be one of Vernon's celebrity guests.

Amir, who stands at 5ft 10ins, will go head-to-head with Dan Ivey, a 6ft 5ins policeman from Plymouth, who visits a gym five times a week and has won a police bravery award.

Amir, aged 21, said: "I'm always up for a challenge and I know that I will be up against somebody who thinks they can beat me.

"However, this is going to be different. It is not boxing training. There will be different events and sports in this show - so it is a challenge for me.

"I want to go there and see what it's all about.

"I'm definitely going to win - there's no doubt about it."

If PC Ivey wins, he will receive £50,000 in prize money. However, if Amir is victorious, the prize cash will be rolled over to the following week.

Meanwhile, Vernon has backed a campaign to urge dads to read to their children as part of the National Year of Reading.

He said his wife, fellow celebrity Tess Daly, read every day to their daughter, Phoebe, aged three.

Vernon also admitted that his dad, a lorry driver, read trade magazine trucking articles to him when he was a young boy.

Vernon said: "Maybe some dads get bored reading princess books?

"So, why not read stories about things that they are interested in?

"I like Winnie The Pooh and I love Goldilocks.

"I sometimes make up different characters to add to the story when I'm reading to Phoebe - and she loves it."

11:35am Monday 14th April 2008

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