BBC Eggheads star CJ de Mooi is facing extradition to the Netherlands over his claim that he killed a mugger while living rough in Amsterdam nearly 30 years ago.

The 46-year-old quiz champion confessed last year that he had punched a man in the face when he was threatened with a knife in 1988.

De Mooi said he "snapped" and flew into a rage, "knocked the knife out of his hand and threw him in the canal.

"I fully suspect I killed him. I’ve no idea what happened to him.”

De Mooi, famous as a member of the experts panel on popular daytime quiz show Eggheads, said the incident happened when he was living on the streets of Amsterdam in 1988.

He mentioned the attack in his autobiography released last year, writing that the mugger had come at him while he was using a phonebox.

“He told me to turn around, open my bag and give him whatever was inside", he said.

“It was the only outburst of violence I’ve ever done. That’s one of the main reasons why I absolutely abhor all violence.”

Dutch police were only alerted to the alleged attack in September last year by press reports of de Mooi's book launch, but promised to investigate.

A European Arrest Warrant has now been issued, and de Mooi was arrested at Heathrow Airport yesterday.

If approved, the celebrity will be sent to the Netherlands to face an allegation of manslaughter, according to the court file

De Mooi, real name Joseph Connagh, of Caldicot, is currently in custody awaiting the court hearing.

Earlier this year, de Mooi revealed he had been the celebrity at the centre of a sexual assault police probe.

He accused the BBC of "hanging him out to dry" and giving him the boot from his role on Eggheads.

He is due to appear in front of District Judge Vanessa Baraitser later.