Former pop star Tony Hadley is in training to face BBC reporter John Pienaar in the corporation's next celebrity boxing bout.

The fight is set to take place next month, but Hadley, formerly of 1980s stars Spandau Ballet, and political correspondent Pienaar will have to prove they are fit enough before the fight goes ahead.

The BBC also confirmed investigative reporter Donal MacIntyre is to face entertainer Darren Day in a second bout.

"Those involved must prove themselves to be fighting fit before the bouts take place but we can confirm that they are all in training," a spokeswoman told BBC News Online.

The programmes will be shown as specials later in the year, with prize money going to charity.

I'm having fun, because no-one's hit me so far John Pienaar

They follow two previous specials, which saw comedian Ricky Gervais beat Grant Bovey, husband of TV star Anthea Turner, and comedian Bob Mortimer triumph over entertainer Les Dennis.

Gervais gave his money to McMillan Nurses, which cares for cancer patients, while Mortimer's money went to Sport Relief.

The British Boxing Board Of Control has complained about the bouts, which it claimed were potentially dangerous because they might promote unlicensed fighting.

Hadley, the voice of Spandau Ballet, has had a mildly successful solo career since the band split in 1990.

Pienaar, whose burly frame has been a fixture of TV news bulletins, recently joined BBC Radio Five Live as its political correspondent.

Speaking on the station's Simon Mayo show, he said Hadley had already told him he would "batter" him, which he found "quite alarming".

He said he was a complete boxing novice and had not previously had any training - "which is one of the reasons I did it".

"I've started some training, and I'm enjoying myself an awful lot, believe it or not," he added.

"I'm having fun, and that's because no-one's hit me so far. But that's going to happen quite soon."