The Chaser star Craig Reucassel will host the Australian version of hit UK comedy stunt show Balls of Steel.

The seasoned TV prankster will present the 10-part series, in which guest comedians perform stupid and sometimes dangerous comedy stunts in a weekly competition. They are judged by a studio audience and the winner declared to have "balls of steel".

Prank master ... The Chaser's Craig Reucassel will host Balls of Steel.

The UK program has been aired in Australia on Foxtel's Comedy Channel and has been among its best ever ratings performers.

The Australian version will be produced by Southern Star Entertainment's Courtney Gibson, who resigned from the ABC after The Chaser's controversial Make A Realistic Wish skit earned the comedy troupe a two week suspension.

Typical ... The UK's Balls of Steel character The Annoying Devil at work.

Gibson is now the director of programmes at Southern Star.



Filming for Balls of Steel begins in mid-October, with Reucassel the first to sign on. Other talent is currently being tested for the ensemble cast.



The comedian said he was looking forward to the project.



"Having other people making fools of themselves will be a great change," he said in a statement today.



Comedy Channel boss Alex Ristevski said it was "likely" some of the original characters from the UK show - the Bunny Boiler, who flirts with men in front of their girlfriends and The Annoying Devil, who uses funny signs to irritate and embarrass the general public - would make an appearance in the local version.

Balls of Steel will air in Australia next year.