A FORMER soldier lost out to an Olympic boxer when they competed on a TV show.

Nimo Ahmed, of Hale End Road, Walthamstow, was a contestant on Beat the Star, presented by Vernon Kay, on ITV1 on Sunday night.

The 38-year-old civil servant competed with Olympic gold medal winning boxer James Degale during eight challenges in a bid to win £50,000.

Mr Ahmed was in the lead after five games and scored well on the mental agility quiz in which Mr Degale said Cornwall was one of the biggest cities in the UK.

However, Mr Ahmed lost the table tennis challenge, which he blames on having not played the game since he was a 11-year-old boy scout, and also failed to overcome Degale in the final hanging from a bar challenge.

The prize money will be donated to charity at the end of the series.

Mr Ahmed said: “As a boxer, he had better upper body strength for the final challenge. The last game was worth eight points, so if I had won I would have won.

“But overall it was a fantastic experience. I had family and friends in the audience cheering me on, so it was fun.

“James Degale was very competitive, we both were, but he is a really nice guy. He has sent me a couple of tickets to his first professional fight.”

Mr Ahmed, who has two degrees, said he has kept fit since leaving the Royal Irish Regiment Infantry of the British Army five years ago by doing a different activity every day including running, circuit training and playing cricket with Enfield Cricket Club.

Although disappointed not to win the £50,000 prize, he said he was glad the money will go to a good cause because at the end of the series a charity will be chosen to donate the money to.

- Enfield Cricket Club is looking for new members. If you are interested please contact the club at enfieldcc@yahoo.co.uk or for more information visit enfield.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp