Balls of Steel Australia is an Astra Awards winning Australian reality comedy television series which is hosted by The Chaser's Craig Reucassel. The show revolves around comedians who appear and present individual skits where they would perform stunts and hold their nerve during hidden camera set-ups in the presence of the Australian public. The format was acquired, commissioned and developed by The Comedy Channel Group Programming Director Darren Chau who selected Endemol Southern Star to produce it. Balls of Steel Australia premiered on the Australian subscription television channel The Comedy Channel on 19 April 2011. Ten episodes were produced for the inaugural season. Due to the success of series one, which became The Comedy Channel's highest ever rating series, a second series was commissioned, and premiered on 31 January 2012.