EIGHT celebrities were cheered on as they took on extreme sports for a live Channel 4 show.

About 6,000 people urged on the contestants as they competed to land £50,000 for their chosen charity in prime time event show Famous and Fearless, at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

Double Olympic gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes took the first night of competition, beating musician Sam Branson in a dramatic “car flip”.

Hosted by Chris Evans, the urban action sports show will be broadcast over the next five nights as the celebrities go head to head before a live final on Friday.

Competing for the girls was Dame Kelly, 40, former Atomic Kitten singer Jenny Frost, 32, Hollyoaks actress Sarah Jayne Dunn, 29, and ex-Eastenders star Kacey Ainsworth, 40. While representing the men's’ team was musician Branson, 27, rugby star Jonah Lomu, 35, comedian Rufus Hound, 31, and adventurer Charley Boorman, 44.

In the surprise of the night, Branson, who was supported by his entrepreneur father Sir Richard, beat pre-tournament favourite Lomu in a BMX race, after the rugby star fell while in a comfortable lead.

Branson then sailed past Boorman in a second round to meet Dame Kelly in the final. Despite having a badly-bruised knee from training, the Olympic champion had come out on top in the girls’ street luge challenge.

The competition will continue with inline speed skating, powerbocking and dirt buggy racing.

Meanwhile, organisers have urged people to check their ticket information and arrive early to avoid queuing.

Those with a code need to exchange it for a ticket upon arrival.