Television host Dale Winton has revealed that he thinks Britain's Hardest fighting champion is a knockout presenter.

The 48-year-old reckons he and North-East hardman Ian Freeman would make a dynamic television duo with great on-screen chemistry.

Dale spotted Ian on the Sky One show Britain's Hardest and called him to tell him he had star quality.

The host of Celebrity Fit Club said: "I'm always very aware of who is new on TV, and I just happened to be flicking through the channels when I came across Ian on Britain's Hardest.

"I just thought he was sensational, and extremely accomplished at what he was doing."

Dale, who also hosts the Saturday night Lottery show In It To Win It on BBC1, is working on ideas for a programme in which he and Ian, of Dipton, County Durham, could do a double act.

Ian, known as The Machine, won the world heavyweight total fighting title in 2001.

He was snapped up by Sky One to present Britain's Hardest, an extreme endurance competition.

The 37-year-old said: "I couldn't believe it when Dale rang me.

"It would be brilliant to work with someone who's such a well-established TV star, so I was really flattered and pleased."

Published: 10/05/2004