Following the come back of The Krypton Factor, Philippa Weighell tries out the new assault course at Adrenalin North Yorkshire.

TELEVISION’S toughest quiz – those were the words ringing in my ears as I drove to Adrenalin North Yorkshire – the new, and until recently, top secret location of The Krypton Factor’s new assault course.

The phrase was coined by Gordon Burns, who hosted the hit gameshow from 1977 until it ended in 1995, thanks to the somewhat “challenging”

nature of the legendary physical ability round.

When the show was resurrected last year, Will Scullion, ex-paratrooper and director of Adrenalin North Yorkshire, decided his outdoor activity centre would be the perfect location for the course – just one component of the show, which also tests contestants’ mental agility, observation and general knowledge.

Having spent 22 years training recruits in the Army, Mr Scullion devised a fiendish, 600-metre assault course with 13 challenges – from the 9ft wall to the quagmire.

Yes, I was scared, but having agreed to try out the course I couldn’t back down now – could I?

After being kitted out in a boiler suit, and given a welcome cup of tea by Mr Scullion’s wife and business partner, Jaqui, it was time to begin training.

I was taken round the course trying out each obstacle in turn, although Mr Scullion kindly allowed me to forgo the many “wet” challenges until I attempted the course for real.

Finally, it was time for the race. I was up against a reporter from The Yorkshire Post, who seemed just as cheerfully terrified as me. I had a feeling my competitive streak was about to kick in.

After losing my footing on the initial tree challenge, I made up time on the over and under – a combination of vaulting over and rolling under fences.

The 9ft wall and subsequent jump into a muddy, thigh-high puddle proved especially challenging, as did the nightmarish tunnel and nets.

Although the course is only 600 metres, the water and mud added what felt like half a stone to my weight.

Coupled with the devilish nature of the obstacles – as well as running ankle-deep in mud – the effect was exhausting, and when I finally finished the course I flopped on the floor like a wheezing sack of potatoes.

The course was one of the most difficult physical challenges I have completed, and the sense of achievement afterwards was immense.

Not at all important was the fact that my time – a respectable seven minutes and nine seconds – was enough to beat my rival.