Little Britain star begins charity Channel swim

Little Britain star David Walliams finally took the plunge today, setting off on his cross-Channel swimming challenge.

Walliams entered the water at Shakespeare beach, Dover, at 5.31am after being given the all clear that conditions were set fair for his Speedo Sport Relief Super Swim.

Cross-Channel swimmers have to wait for the right weather and tides to increase their chances of completing the 21-mile swim.

Before setting off, Walliams (aged 34) said: “I’ve been training for months now and to be honest I just want to get in there now and give it my best shot.”

The star faces hazards such as tankers, jellyfish, seaweed and sewage during the swim across the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

He is expected to take up to 16 hours to reach France.

Walliams is hoping his marathon effort will raise £500,000 (€719,218) for Sport Relief.

A documentary about the swim called Sport Relief Presents Little Britain’s Big Swim will be shown on BBC1 on July 13 at 8pm.