DRAGON'S Den star Duncan Bannatyne will swap his spreadsheets for a bucket and spade on Sunday - as he frolics on a Suffolk beach with two beauty queens.

Richard Cornwell

DRAGON'S Den star Duncan Bannatyne will swap his spreadsheets for a bucket and spade on Sunday - as he frolics on a Suffolk beach with two beauty queens.

The successful millionaire business entrepreneur will be at Felixstowe for further filming for a new programme in which he tries to change its fading fortunes as a seaside resort.

During the day there will be loads of fun for children with circus skills workshops, balloon modelling, stilt walkers, face painting and a storyteller on the seafront.

The activities will take place during the afternoon at Charles Manning's amusement park, the Forum, run by David Manning, and at Stan Harris's children's amusements, all in Sea Road.

Then at 4pm Mr Bannatyne will pose for photographers on the beach off Sea Road, opposite the boating lake, with two former Miss East Anglia winners.

“The rebrand of Felixstowe has been a very exciting challenge for me,” said Mr Bannatyne.

“I'm all for holidays at home but Britain's seaside resorts have taken a bit of a hit over the last few decades.

“I hope the work we've completed here helps to put Felixstowe back on the tourist map as a prime seaside holiday location for Brits.”

Programme makers TwoFour Broadcast are putting together the event as part of their work in the town on The Great British Holiday Show, which aims to help seaside towns with their regeneration.

The team is making six hour-long shows for Virgin 1 in different coastal towns, and chose Felixstowe because in recent years it has suffered a downturn in visitors while other nearby places have seen an increase.

The show is due to be screened at the beginning of 2010.

As part of the programme, on August 31 there will be an Edwardian Extravaganza on the seafront between Manwick Road and Arwela Road between 11am and 6pm.

It will feature fancy dress, Edwardian-style food and drink, Punch and Judy, storytelling, and a brass band, plus a Beach Olympics and a 1950s-style Bathing Beauty Competition.