A POOLE schoolboy was right in the middle of filming for episode two of Harry Redknapp’s Sandbanks Summer.

During the hottest weekend of the year in August, Rocco Toll, 11, who attends Yarrells School in Upton, posed for photos and chatted with Harry and John Barnes at the Cowes offshore powerboat race, Cowes Torquay Cowes (CTC).

Rocco’s dad, Christian, 47, was one of 150 racers in 60 different boats from all over the world taking part in the race, which was the final round of the United Kingdom Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (UKOPRA) world championships.

Harry and John boarded Christian’s and teammate Mike Bontoft’s boat, Dry Martin, to film a segment of the show on the speed and adrenaline that comes with offshore racing.

Christian said: “It was a great opportunity to meet some football legends in a wonderful setting over in Cowes.

“It gave us an opportunity to ask them, and John Barnes in particular, about their football career.

“They were nice guys. I have met Harry in various restaurants, he is a lovely guy. He always has time for the general public.

“My son thought it was fantastic, they are legends in their own right.”

Harry arrived with wife Sandra and John Barnes on a £3 million superyacht, a Sasse Sunseeker 75.

After Rocco told Barnes he supported Arsenal, the former England and Liverpool player joked: “Don’t worry Rocco there’s still time for you to become a Liverpool supporter.”

Christian and his team came third in the race in their 46-year-old boat.

“We didn’t think it (the boat) was very competitive anymore,” Christian added. “Harry was talking about putting a bet on us, but we talked them out of it.”

The team have invited the stars back to the Isle of Wight for the 60th anniversary of the race, which takes place on August 29 and 30 2020.

More than 60 people are expected to attend the race, including Kiki Wong from Hong Kong, the first female driver, who will race with Poole’s Brian Pelham. The second episode of Harry Redknapp’s Sandbanks Summer airs tonight at 9pm on ITV.