HE is a Golden Globe winning actor, an international DJ and he broke an 88-year-old UK land speed record for the ‘Flying Mile’.

At this point nothing seems unobtainable for Hollywood heavyweight Idris Elba. That was until he told his best friend and former Bewsey and Penketh High School pupil Warren Brown that he wanted to step into the ring.

Idris, who starred in Luther and The Wire, works with the Discovery Channel on a series of documentaries where he sets himself a huge challenge which is filmed from start to finish.

So Warren, who grew up in Westbrook and Padgate, remembers his reaction when Idris said he wanted to become a professional kickboxer in just 12 months.

He said: “Idris and I met on Luther and worked together and became great friends. He knew that I had a professional fighting background and we’d often chat about that and go and watch some Thai boxing fights in London.

“So I knew he had an interest and he’d done a little bit himself and we’d trained a little bit but not to any serious extent. I remember he called me one day and said: ‘This is what I want to do’ and initially I said that is a ridiculous idea. Why do you want to do that?

“But having worked with him and spent time with him I know that anything he sets his mind to he can achieve. I’ve seen that with his acting, directing, writing and DJing.

“So when we all knew that he was serious we put everything in place to start this journey.”

Warren helped train Idris for the show but admitted that he was worried about him. Before he became an actor, Warren was a two time World Thai Boxing Champion and you can see him flicking through Warrington Guardian sports pages in the first episode.

“I know how fit you need to be,” added Warren, who was 21 when he became a world champion.

“People say Idris is in really good shape and he’s always in decent shape for films. But you’ll see the transformation yourself in the programme. ‘Fight fit’ is a completely different thing.

“I’ve had injuries and I’ve watched enough fights to know that you can be very seriously hurt. Even if you’re in peak physical condition it’s still dangerous. Also Idris is in his 40s so he’s no spring chicken. There were so many factors against it which makes what he did more of an achievement.”

Shot on location in the UK, Cuba, Japan, South Africa and Thailand, Warren and a team of trainers prepared Idris for the ‘ultimate test of a human being’.

Warren, who spent Christmas with his parents in Paddington, said: “It wasn’t easy and I don’t think for one minute he thought it would be.

“He’d done a little bit of kickboxing in the past so we had some very basic tools but they were rough and raw and there was a lot of work to be done.

“It was about getting Idris physically and mentally in shape to have a fight. A legitimate, professional fight. It’s the ultimate test of a human being to get in a ring with someone.

“It’s a team game for the build-up but once you climb through the ropes you’re on your own. It’s just you and the person you’re fighting and you’re both trying to win at any cost. It’s very serious.

“Idris did everything we asked of him and put himself through it to get himself in the best physical and mental condition. Whether he fights again or not he can walk away with his head held high and say: ‘I’m a fighter’.

“I think fighter doesn’t necessarily have to mean fighting in a ring. It’s being the best you can be at something. He certainly had that mentality with the things he has done before.

“From my own journey from Thai boxer to actor, it was interesting how many of those skills I gained were transferable.”

The documentary brought back lots of memories for Warren.

“I really miss it. I miss fighting, I miss training,” he added.

“I keep having this stupid idea of making a comeback but it’s one that my agent keeps reminding me is a terrible idea. When I first started acting I didn’t train for a while.

“I also made a conscious decision not to bring up my Thai boxing background because I wanted to learn how to be an actor and learn a new craft. Thirteen years in, I can just about get away with calling myself an actor.

“Certainly over the last few years I’ve had a few roles that have required a little bit of physicality. I’ve always enjoyed that and I’ve got a project this year that will be action orientated and there will be a lot of fighting required in that.

“So I’m training loads at the minute to be able to do both things I’m passionate about – the acting and the fighting.”

That project is Strike Back, a reboot of the original series about a British special ops team who go on high risk missions throughout the globe.

Warren, who started his acting career on Shameless and Hollyoaks, will be filming in Jordan and Budapest between April and September.

He said: “I was a huge fan of the show a few years back so I’m super excited to be part of the reboot. Every episode is like an action film.

“My agent likes it too because it keeps me busy and means I’m not able to have a real fight...”

Idris Elba: Fighter starts at 10pm on Tuesday, January 17, on Discovery Channel.