Entertainer Darren Day and undercover reporter Donal MacIntyre have been named as possible sparring partners in a televised BBC charity boxing match.

The pair will reportedly go into the ring together in the New Year as part of the corporation's series of celebrity fights.

Day and MacIntyre's names were reported ahead of a controversial bout between Ricky Gervais and Grant Bovey due to be screened on BBC Two.

Day and MacIntyre's reported charity bout would be the BBC's third

The hour-long programme featuring The Office star Gervais and Anthea Turner's husband Bovey will be screened on Sunday evening.

The two men are attempting to go for three 90-second rounds, with the winner's purse of £5,000 going to a charity of his choice.

In July, Les Dennis and Bob Mortimer were involved in the BBC's first televised charity fight in aid of Sport Relief.

The programme was a ratings triumph, attracting six million viewers.

Boxing officials have condemned the programmes, accusing the BBC of being irresponsible in staging unlicensed fights.

Gervais' fight against Bovey will be screened on Sunday

Simon Block, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, said: "We work very hard to try to maintain and improve the image of the sport, and we don't think this helps."

But the BBC has defended its decision to make the programmes, saying the fighters follow rigorous safety and training procedures.

It has stressed that the safety of the boxers is "paramount", with advice sought from leading boxing medical advisers.

The Gervais-Bovey fight was attended by two doctors, an anaesthetist and paramedics recommended on advice from the Amateur Boxing Association.

Four further televised bouts are planned by the BBC for 2003, according to the Independent on Sunday.

It named John Pienaar, the corporation's political correspondent, as another potential competitor.

However, a BBC spokesman was unable to confirm the identity of any future combatants.

"A number of names are in the frame but have not yet been confirmed," he said.