Ed Balls continues to surprise with his post-politics career.

In his latest television project he travelled to the American south in an effort to understand Trump voters. The Travels in Trumpland series follows his previous TV turn as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing where he wowed with his Gangnam Style routine.

He began his tour in Texas where he visited a festival celebrating redneck culture. He also interviewed a Mexican chef there who broke down in tears as she recalled swimming across a river to enter the US when she was just 17.

He then went on to take part in an immigration raid and spoke to a man being deported to Afghanistan after over 20 years living in the US. He also spent time with some army veterans before attending a wrestling school where he was persuaded to don a lycra leotard emblazoned with a union flag and take on the persona of the British Bruiser. Balls' wife, and chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Yvette Cooper seemed unimpressed with his get-up when he video-called her to show off the outfit. During the bout Balls was roundly booed by the Trump-supporting crowd when he kicked the home favourite between the legs however the show ended with Balls roundly defeated and out for the count at the hands of his opponent.

The encounter convinced Balls that Donald Trump uses the language and style of the wrestling ring in the White House. He described it as "macho, childish, divisive and ridiculous".