"THOR blimey, it's a belter," said theme park aficionado Jonathan Ross as he and his wife Jane Goldman opened the £15 million dark ride Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach yesterday (June 14).

Pictured here on the ride's maiden voyage, the TV star said: "It's excellent," as he enjoyed a quick snack in Loki's bar overlooking the biggest dark ride in the world. Still in his slightly damp green suit, he added: "Even though it didn't help my hair and the freezing bit reminded me of my first flat.

"Quite scary in parts too, but I was sitting with Geoffrey Thompson and when you're with the guy who owns the park you do feel a bit better about things.

"Although the Pepsi Max Big One is still my all-time favourite, this is now my favourite wooden ride, even if you do get very, very wet.

"Water rides normally just go up and then drop, but with this there's a whole story involved in it and some great surprises and effects.

"It's perfect for Blackpool as the skulls and everything give it a real English seaside feel. "Jane and I love the Pleasure Beach. It's so quintessentially British and the best theme park in the world for the sheer quality of rides.

"Blackpool itself is great, too, especially when you see the blokes tied to lampposts and stuff on Sunday mornings.

"We've been here about four or five times now and remember going to Time nightclub once, but I don't really want people to know I go to clubs for the over 25s.

"The only thing I won't go on here is the Pasaje Del Terror.

"I went on something similar in Spain and got myself in such a state I punched one of the guys dressed up and ran out. But Jane's fearless and keeps trying to drag me on.

'I'm planning to come back for my 40th birthday so you never know."

Author and theme park junkie Jane added: "Valhalla is so original. It takes all the cool elements of other rides and joins with a great atmosphere."