Seconds
out for Ricky Gervais and Grant Bovey in BBC TWO's The Fight
Ricky
Gervais and Grant Bovey are preparing for a tough month of physical
endurance as they undergo training for the first round of BBC TWO's
celebrity boxing programme, The Fight…
Ricky
- fresh from the extraordinary success of The Office - will take
on Anthea Turner's fighting fit husband Grant, with the winner of
the middleweight bout earning a £5,000 purse for charity.
The
pair will undergo intensive training for a month in secret gyms
in the South East under the wings of some of British boxing's finest
trainers - before coming together for three rounds of power-packed
pugilism.
Hand
in glove with Ricky is legendary trainer and promoter Frank Moloney,
the man who brought Lennox Lewis to fame.
Coaching
Grant to boxing prowess and peak physical and mental condition is
former European Featherweight Champion, Jim Macdonnell, who trained
Les Dennis for the Sport Relief boxing match.
And
the cameras will be with them every step of the way as they come
to grips with the biggest physical challenge of their lives.
As
the going gets tough, Dr Sandra Scott, The Fight's official medical
advisor, ensures that the health of the competitors is kept in tiptop
condition.
Although
it's a light-hearted event all safety steps have been taken. Both
competitors will get in the ring with maximum protection - including
mouth guards, gloves and headgear.
Ricky,
41, said: "Charity boxing appealed to me - pain and suffering
to stop pain and suffering.
"Next
year I'm getting involved in a new reality gameshow - celebrity
hanging! I've always wanted to put pro-celebrity boxing on the small
screen - Frank Bruno versus Frank Bough.
"On
a serious note, I can't believe my luck - a month of training with
the best professionals in the game. They've got their work cut out."
Opposite
him, cheered on by wife Anthea Turner, is 'Granite' Grant Bovey:
"It's strange going into training knowing that you're eventually
going to get thumped in front of millions of people.
"But
then when else would you get the opportunity to get into the psyche
of a professional boxer? It's a fascinating proposition and I can't
wait to get stuck in."
Bob
Mortimer will be following the pair during their intense month long
preparations to build skill and muscle.
He
says taking part in the original Sport Relief fights was one of
the finest moments of his life: "It's amazing how fit I became.
The whole effort has changed the way I look at myself and look at
the sport. And it's given me the uptmost respect for boxers."
Bob
aka 'The Woodpecker' beat Les 'The Blond Bomber' Dennis in the special
fundraising bout held in July.
He
offers his hard-earned words of wisdom and monitors the novice's
progress from the first day of training, through rigorous one-to-one
instruction and is ringside when seconds count out, signalling the
main event.
Then
it's up to three specially appointed judges to decide which contender
deserves the winner's Belt and a purse to be handed to a charity
of their choice.
Executive
Producer Lisa Clark says: "The fight between Bob and Les on
Sport Relief was compelling and it got a fantastic reaction from
viewers.
"This
programme will have an added dimension because a large part will
follow these fishes out of water as they prepare for the biggest
challenge of their lives.
"So
we'll get a fascinating - and very amusing - insight into their
lifestyles and personalities."
Notes
to Editors
Ricky
Gervais is a guest on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on BBC ONE
at 10.35pm tomorrow (Friday 8 November).
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