Richard Hammond sets himself on fire for new show – Daily TV round-up

Richard Hammond has set himself on fire in his new TV show.

The 'Top Gear' presenter also threw himself backwards off a bridge while filming in Los Angeles for 'Richard Hammond's Crash Course', to be shown on BBC America.

[Related story: Coronation Street alters storyline after death of Stone Roses fan]

Hammond's face was covered in protective Vaseline for the fire stunt, before being quickly extinguished by a crew member.

“Back from today's Beverly Hills run. No tweet-fest from me today; gotta go fall off a bridge. Weird welcome in LA: thrown thru window yesterday,” he tweeted.

Hammond is, of course, no stranger to danger.

The 42-year-old survived a 288mph crash in 2006 after a jet-powered dragster he was driving burst a tyre and flipped over.

The incident saw him spend five weeks in hospital. [Daily Mail]

Also in today's press

Snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan is being lined up for 'Strictly Come Dancing', according to reports. After announcing that he's giving up snooker 'indefinitely', his spokesperson said that “he is considering 'Strictly Come Dancing'. There are a lot of things being put in front of him.” Apparently he's also been approached to appear on 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'. [Daily Mail]

Stacey Solomon is to star in a pilot of a 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'-style sitcom. In a semi-fictionalised version of her life, impressionists Phil Cornwell and Ronni Ancona are to play her mum and dad in the show, which is being written by Graham Norton and 'Mock The Week' scribes. [Mr Paparazzi]

Britney Spears reportedly stormed off the set of 'The X Factor USA' after a drag queen mauled her song '(You Drive Me) Crazy'. “I don't think she quite understood your tribute,' said Simon Cowell in response. [Metro]