Good evening and welcome to the semi final draw of the 2018 World's Hardest Creature tournament. That's WHC XI to you and me. I'm Nick Baker and over the next five minutes, together with the fine folks at NSC HD I will be bringing you the draw for the final four of this year's competition.
So we now know our final four creatures. They are hard as nails every single one of them and at this stage of the tournament it goes without saying that there is no such thing as an easy draw.
We have the Honey Badger. He's in at number 1 and the defending champion. Despite his having almost as many detractors as admirers it should be noted that he's received more votes than any other competitor in each of the knockout stages. Very much in form he remains the one to beat.
Number 2 in the bag is the Hippopotamus. Also in rude health, the hippo has demolished the Salt Water Crocodile and destroyed the Siberian Tiger. Nobody will want to meet him.
Number 3? The Polar Bear. Three times champion and with unquestionable class. Has yet to bring his A Game to this year's event but you suspect it's never very far from the surface.
Last up and number 4 in the bag is the Grasshopper Mouse. This year's smallest remaining entrant but don't let that fool you. He's finished off a Grizzly Bear and a Black Mamba to be here this evening so underestimate him at your peril.
Drawing the balls this evening will be Martin Hughes-Games and Charlotte Uhlenbroek. Thank you both for helping out. Martin? The first ball is yours...
FFS!