Only fools on horses

Talk about falling at the first hurdle. Sally Gunnell may have won gold for leaping over barriers on her own feet but she clearly finds it more of a challenge on horseback.

The 1992 Olympic 400m hurdles champion parted company with her mount while training for BBC1' s celebrity showjumping contest Only Fools On Horses.

Stars including Ruby Wax, Sara Cox and Diarmuid Gavin, some with no riding experience, have been put through a gruelling training regime before a daily live jump-off as part of Sport Relief next month.

Most are finding the discipline hard to master. Motorsports presenter Suzi Perry has been concussed and former Changing Rooms host Anna Ryder Richardson sustained whiplash in a fall.

Comedian Felix Dexter pulled out after losing his nerve and Duncan Bannatyne, from BBC2's Dragons' Den, was forced to quit after breaking an elbow. Pop Idol panellist Nikki Chapman and TV presenter Josie D'Arby are their replacements.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "They've only been training for two weeks on these enormous horses - and every one of them has had a tumble at some stage."

A show insider added: "They are working really hard, nine-hour days. They're all walking like John Wayne now. It's really tough."

Three expert judges will score the riders on technique and the public will vote each night on who should be eliminated.

Details in the latest Radio Times.