BROADCASTER and keen sailor David Dimbleby will fire the starting cannon for this year's Round the Island Race – before jumping onboard a boat and competing himself.
The Question Time presenter will start the historic 50-mile race around the Isle of Wight at 6.30am on June 21.
He will then join his son, Fred, on a 65ft yacht alongside the race's 16,000 competitors.
Despite being a keen amateur yachtsman, Dimbleby has only competed in the Round the Island Race once before, in the 1960s.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here