Twice world kickboxing champion Tony Agostini tries to turn a sensitive Oxford student into a tough inner-city bouncer in a TV show tonight.

Tony, from Hastings, and two other coaches had to toughen up privately-educated Alex Geikie, 20, for Channel 4's Faking It show.

In the programme, Alex is sent to Hackney, east London, to live in a tower block for four weeks with Tony and fiancee Berenice.

Tony, of Bembrook Road, will be seen putting 9st Alex through a punishing daily routine of martial arts ready for a stint on the door at the Hippodrome club in Leicester Square, London.

The producers also hired a voice trainer from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to help Alex learn a London accent.

Tony, 29, said: "It was hard trying to bring Alex up to the required standard but it just goes to show that with the right training almost anything is possible.

"After a few weeks Alex's confidence sky-rocketed because he started believing in his physical and mental ability."

Alex even plucked up the courage to confide he was gay - something he had kept secret from friends and family.

And towards the end he became so convincing as a doorman that even the Hippodrome's manager failed to spot he was a rookie.

Berenice, 22, said: "At the end of the four weeks Alex had completely changed. Before, he was quiet, shy and a bit too polite when dealing with awkward situations, but at the end we had really brought him out of his shell."

The show's bosses say the real work was done by Tony and Berenice.

Director Mike Warner said: "They turned Alex from a mouse into a warrior.

"To be honest we didn't think Tony could do it - we thought we had given him a job too far. But to be fair he did a fantastic job."

Faking It is on Channel 4 tonight from 9pm.