World champion hurdler Colin Jackson has been in Ceredigion this week – being put through his paces in a very different arena.

Colin has teamed up with local presenter, Eleri Siôn, to take on the challenge of learning Welsh.

The former athlete, who was born and brought up in Cardiff, will take part in a new series of Iaith ar Daith (Welsh on Tour) on S4C this spring.

Colin is one of five celebs – including Ruth Jones and Carol Vorderman – who go on the road to different parts of Wales with a well-known Welsh-speaking mentor, in order to learn Welsh.

TV and radio presenter Eleri is Colin’s mentor and the two have been filming in Aberystwyth and Aberaeron over the last week.

As part of the series, each of the celebrities must undertake a number of challenges. And one of Colin’s challenges is to show that he can understand and respond to questions in an interview in Welsh.

Speaking ahead of the challenge, Colin said: “I am a bit nervous and anxious - nerves are my worst enemy. I get very frustrated if I can’t articulate or express myself.

"But I hope that Eleri and I will have fun. I hope that we’ll have a laugh and that she’ll enjoy it as well as guiding me through stuff.

"I hope she’ll help trigger the things I’ve forgotten and get me repeating stuff and really get a feel for the language.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow