Greg Rutherford leaps onto ITV quiz show

Greg Rutherford from Milton Keynes was the Olympic long jump champion at London 2012 Credit: David Davies/PA Wire

Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford from Milton Keynes is making the giant leap into the hot seat of Who Wants To Be Millionaire in January.

He'll team up with Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne aiming to generate cash for a charity edition of the ITV quiz show.

Bannatyne, who is more used to putting business wannabes on the spot said: "I'm very, very nervous about coming on the show in front of a live audience. It's an absolute privilege to be coming on with Greg, I think his gold medal win was brilliant - I just hope he knows more than I do."

The duo will be taking part in an edition of the show on January 8, which will also feature Coronation Street's Charlie Condou and Samia Ghadie, and impressionists Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson.

Greg Rutherford will appear on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire with Duncan Bannatyne Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Another medallist from the summer of sport taking part in a pair of Millionaire specials will be Paralympic gold-winning swimmer Ellie Simmonds.

The teenage pool prodigy will be pairing up with West End star Michael Ball as they face question-master Chris Tarrant.

Simmonds and Ball will be seen a week earlier, on January 1, alongside Bear Grylls and Omid Djalili, and husband and wife Una Healy and Ben Foden.

Saturdays star Healy said: "Ben and I are huge fans of the show and have watched it for years."

Each of the contestants will be aiming to win cash for their chosen charities.