Celebrities on their marks for the Games

Ten celebrities will undergo a live fitness test tonight to mark the launch of TV reality show The Games.

Ex-Boyzone star Shane Lynch and It Girl Lady Isabella Hervey are favourites to win the second series.

But all the competitors will be hoping to show off their sporting prowess over a week-long series of challenges.

Channel 4’s The Games has been dubbed “reality TV’s toughest test of physical and mental strength”.

This year’s other participants are TV gardener Charlie Dimmock, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Cheat Major Charles Ingram, TV presenter Katy Hill, former Page Three model Linda Lusardi, Mr Gay UK, singer Romeo, DJ Pat Sharp and glamour model Jodie Marsh.

The celebrities have undergone three months of intensive training, in separate teams of men and women, with experts like Fatima Whitbread and Colin Jackson.

Today they will move into a purpose-built athletes’ village in Sheffield, where they will live for the week.

The women will be faced with swimming 50m freestyle, hurdles, hammer throwing, 100m sprint, cycling, curling and floor gymnastics.

The men will have to show prowess at throwing the javelin, vaulting, diving, weightlifting, 100m sprint, wrestling and speed skating.

They will compete before live audiences and under the scrutiny of judges.

The winners of the first series, rapper Harvey and Hollyoaks star Terri Dwyer, and two finalists will be pitted against this year’s victors on a final show.

A Ladbrokes spokesman said: “Spies in Sheffield tell us that Shane Lynch and Lady Isabella Hervey are the ones to watch.”