Richard Hammond is to take a Jeremy Beadle-style role heading a new Saturday night prank show.

The Top Gear host will front the series, Secret Service, and will be involved in the tomfoolery.

The six-part hidden camera series is to be screened next year with members of the prank team being given missions by members of the public.

The show is being made by the team behind Total Wipeout which was recently axed from its own Saturday night early evening slot.

A team of actors and comedians will be involved in the stunts for the shows, which echo ITV's Beadle's About.

Comic Dom Joly is also to host a prank show for ITV1, Fool Britannia, in the coming months.

Producers of Secret Service said: "Whether you want to propose to your girlfriend, impress your teenage son or get back at your best mate - they'll complete your mission in the most absurd, extreme and ridiculous way they can."

The BBC's controller of entertainment commissioning, Mark Linsey, said: "Richard has proved to be an enormous treat for the Saturday night audience with his own unique brand of humour, and I think the viewers are going to enjoy his Secret Service as much as they have Total Wipeout."