Brown has been intrigued by the growing reputation of Victor, a statue dedicated to the four-legged friend of former mayor Albert Palmer, in the town’s Centre Vale Park.

Residents claim that patting the dog is a good omen, amid speculation a familly secured a lottery win after carrying out the ritual.

Broadcaster and journalist Dawn Porter has already been down to the park, as part of a Channel 4 series revolving around luck.

And now Brown, who has his own show on the channel, is making a beeline for Victor’s home, near the ruins of the former Centre Vale Mansion.

His publicist Anna Symons said: “Derren has been following and been inspired by the growing rumours that touching the dog statue in Centre Vale Park can make you lucky.

”Luck is something that has fascinated Derren for a long time and he wants to test these rumours that Todmorden is a lucky place.

“In order to do this he will be looking to create a massive luck test later in the week, which will be filmed.”

The dog’s likeness, 18-inches tall, stands next to the former family home of renowned social reformer John Fielden MP.

The statue’s previous fate was not so lucky – he was only moved to his present home after vandals hurled him into the Rochdale Canal several years ago.

The Channel 4 programme, Hero at 30,000 Feet, followed a volunteer with an “unconfident character” as Brown built up his courage, enabling him to take on a series of personal challenges.

The scene in question saw him escaping from an oncoming train in the scene.

Ofcom received 11 complaints from viewers about the safety of the stunt.

The media regulator is investigating the show, broadcast on Wednesday, 8 September, to see if it breaches broadcasting regulations.

It will consider whether the scene “condones or glamorises violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour and is likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour” or breaches “generally accepted standards” in broadcasting.

The programme culminated in the subject, Matt Galley, facing “a life-changing decision of whether to take control of a Boeing 737 packed with passengers, which he believes is about to fall out of the sky”.

In reality, he was moved from a real-life aeroplane to a flight simulator after being put under hypnosis by the illusionist.

A spokesman for Channel 4 said: “The railway track challenge was one of many confidence-building experiences within the show which prepared Matt for the finale.

“For all the experiences, the programme-makers have procedures in place to ensure the contestant’s welfare was protected.

“We would never recommend that viewers recreate any of the events in the programme.”