 Walliams: more people climb Everest than swim the channel |
David Walliams is determined to do his bit for the Sport Relief this year. so serious in fact, he's decided to have a go at swimming the English channel to raise funds for the charity event in July.
And it's no laughing matter for the Little Britain star.
Last week, David completed an eight hour swim in Croatia, his longest so far.
He had to complete this before he could attempt the channel swim, and he described it as 'utter misery'.
Breakfast talked live to David Walliams
"It's 21 miles across the channel, but you swim much further than that because you can't swim in a straight line because of the currents" he told Dermot and Sian.
"Apparently, you can hear the noise of the tankers behind you."
He's had 11 months of training - even when he's been away on tour, but now only has a month left to prepare.
The crossing is set to take place in the first week of July, but David's nerve will ultimately be tested by the weather and tidal conditions which mean he have to be ready to start at a day's notice.
Covered in grease, he'll have to contend with slimy seaweed, crossing shipping lanes, and the inevitable cold conditions.
A support boat will be with him - and it's up to the pilot to decide whether he's had enough or is suffering from hypothermia:
"Six people have died attempting to swim the channel, " David explained. "I will be pulled out if my life is in danger."
You can get involved by sponsoring David - and can download a special wallpaper for your mobile. Find all the details on how to sponsor David from his 'Super Swim' website via the link below
The main Sport Relief programme is on BBC One on Saturday 15 July, but the story of David's challenge - Little Britain's Big Swim - will be shown the day before Swimming lessons
As David's training comes to an end, the government will today announce details of a �5m scheme to provide swimming lessons for children who cannot swim by the age of 11.
The scheme, available in England, will teach children to swim up to 25 metres unaided.
An earlier pilot scheme saw 57% of children at Key Stage 2 level who previously could not swim reach the target of 25 metres.
Details of the scheme will be available later today from the Safe Swimming website via the link to the right of this page 
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