Robert Bugalski has spun the Wheel of Fortune, filled in the gaps on Blankety Blank, been transformed into a disco king on ITV's This Morning and even lived solely on petrol station food for Five's Diet Doctors, but yesterday he faced his biggest challenge to date.

As part of the 2008 Children in Need Appeal, Robert, who works at Heltwate School, in Peterborough, has agreed to be shorn of his luxurious locks live on TV on BBC3's Celebrity Scissorhands.

The show, which last year featured city Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis as one of the celebrity crimpers, sees stars learning to cut hair with sometimes startling results.

And the 40-year-old, from central Peterborough, is really hoping the celebrity wielding the scissors will be more Nicky Clarke than Sweeney Todd.

He said: "I am quite scared. I watched the show last night and some women had a big patch of hair missing at the end of the cut. It was really drastic.

"The worst-case scenario for me would be to have bald patches, so I am taking my woolly hat just in case. However, my hair is in need of a good cut, so fingers crossed."

Staff, children and parents at the special school have raised a hefty "wedge" of £400 already, with £200 going to Children in Need and the other £200 towards the youngsters' Christmas party.

Robert, who has worked there for four years, added: "The kids are really excited about seeing it on TV tonight, and I want to thank everyone for sponsoring me."

All customer "tips" are donated to BBC Children in Need in return for a haircut or treatment at the academy in Camden, London, and Robert is among those who bravely agreed to have his hair cut.

This year's star snippers include former Eastenders actress Shana Swash, Lucinda Ledgerwood, from BBC1's The Apprentice, Stedman Pearson, from '80s pop group Five Star, soul singer Kym Mazelle, Scott Robinson of boyband Five and former Grange Hill faces Lee Macdonald and Chris Perry-Metcalf.

He added: "I don't mind who cuts my hair, as long as they do a decent job."

After three gruelling weeks, the star snippers will have their scissor skills judged by hairdresser to the stars Nicky Clarke, who will crown one crimper Celebrity Scissorhands Hairdresser of the Year 2008 live on the star-studded BBC1 telethon show, on Friday, November 14.

Celebrity Scissorhands started on Sunday, and Robert will be appearing at 8pm today or you can catch up on the show via BBC iPlayer or via clips on the homepage.

Elsewhere online:
www.bbc.co.uk/scissorhands.