A Kent gymnastics coach has taken to the spotlight for the first time on BBC’s new Saturday night competition show, Tumble, alongside former Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding.

Leon Fagbemi and Sarah are battling against celebrities including Steps singer, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, TV personality Lucy Mecklenburgh and four-time world champion boxer Carl Froch in the six week elimination contest.

10 brave celebs were given the task of learning and performing gymnastic routines with a professional partner of the opposite sex.

27-year-old Leon is an acrobatic and tumbling coach at Lightning School of Gymnastics in Sevenoaks and coaches at Bromley Valley Gymnastics Club near his home in Crystal Palace, so the routines are second nature for him.

But for popstar Sarah Harding, the eight-week gruelling preparation period was a steep learning curve and before starting the show said she was excited but a little scared. Leon said: “Sarah was an amateur gymnast when she started, she hadn’t done it for years but she is a real eager beaver.

"She is determined to get things right and won’t stop until she perfects it, sometimes we have to make her take a break!

"Sometimes I forget that Sarah isn't a professional gymnast so I have to remind myself that she won't necessarily understand some terms or moves I get her to do."

“Sarah was an amateur gymnast when she started, she hadn’t done it for years but she is a real eager beaver" - Leon Fagbemi

Leon and Sarah performed their first aerial hoop routine to Florence and the Machine’s ‘You’ve got the love’ on Saturday and will now continue onto next week’s show.

He added: “I think we did well, but could have done better. We always want to do better but I suppose it is down to the judges at the end of the day.

“It was fairly nerve wracking being watched by so many people but I’m used to performing. It’s exhausting psyching yourself up for the show though, at the end your body kind of goes into shut down.”

The duo rehearse six days a week to perfect their routines. Leon added: “It is very intense but it’s where my heart is, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it.

"It’s quite hard to balance time with my girlfriend, friends and family but they understand that I have committed to this show, and are very supportive.

“They came to watch on Saturday and really enjoyed themselves.”

Leon decided to become a gymnast as a young child when he desperately wanted to be a Power Ranger.

His mum decided that instead of chucking himself about on the sofa and the bed he should be trained in a safe environment, so signed him up to his local gymnastics club.

Sarah and Leon are now in preparation for their next performance on Saturday, August 16.