A photographer who spends his days snapping mouth-watering meals is heading out to Borneo for the toughest challenge of his life.

Ian Parsons, 34, will be confronted with little more appetising than grubs, snakes and insects for the next three weeks after flying out to the tropical island yesterday.

Ian, who lives in Langdale Road, Hove, is ditching his home comforts to take part in the latest BBC Two reality gameshow SAS: Are You Tough Enough?

The series follows 19 men and five women as they endure two weeks of gruelling training.

With nothing but bare essentials, such as a compass and the Army issue clothes on their backs, the contestants will undergo a string of vigorous challenges.

They will be eliminated one by one until the toughest are left.

Ian, who works as a freelance commercial photographer counting Marks & Spencer among his clients, said: "People might think I'm mad but it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many people can say they've trained with the SAS?

"They run the toughest training programme in the world. It's the ultimate challenge."

However, before setting off, he admitted he was getting nervous.

"I've been reading SAS books on what snakes and plants you can eat and how to deal with leeches and poisonous spiders.

"I'll just have to tackle them when I come across them."

After filling out an application on the internet, Ian was chosen to take part following a selection weekend in the Brecon Beacons.

He said: "About 100 of us had to run up mountains with 45lb packs on our backs. When we thought we'd reached the finish we were told to run back to the start. Then when we were back at the start we were told to run it once more.

"It must have been over 25km up and down but you knew if you said no or gave up you'd lose."

Since finding out he had been selected, he has been training as much as possible.

He said: "I've been running about 70 miles a week, trying to fit it in around work.

"A friend gave me a sweatsuit to run in, which is like wearing a plastic sack, to get an idea of what the humidity will be like in the jungle.

"I'm in it to win. I wouldn't have entered if I didn't think I could do well."

However, he stresses he is not competing for fame or gain.

"The only prize is knowing you're tough enough, knowing you've made it through one of the hardest physical challenges in the world.

"Now that's something to tell your grandchildren."

SAS: Are You Tough Enough? starts in February next year.