Comedian David Walliams has dived into his latest challenge – to swim the entire 140 mile length of the Thames.
The star, renowned for his turns in Little Britain sketches with catchphrases “I’m a Lady” and “Bitty” will spend the next eight days swimming from Gloucestershire to London in an effort to raise money for Sport Relief.
Before starting out the comedian told how he mentally cope with the gruelling endeavour.
"I think about happy things, I think about what I'm going to eat when I get out. I think about songs and I have been on some trips with Comic Relief and Sport Relief and I think about the people the money raised will help.”
"I met this boy in Kenya on the street. His name is Philip and he's 12 years old and he's been homeless for four years. His mum and dad are dead and he lives in desperate circumstances. Sport Relief funds a centre that gives him education, food, shelter and healthcare.”
"I think about him because he is such a sweet boy, with so much hope. I said 'what do you want to be when you're older?' and he said he wanted to be a pilot. He's living in the most desperate circumstances yet he still has great aspirations. I think about him and not wanting to let him down."
In 2006 Walliams raising £1 million for Sport Relief by swimming the English Channel. At only 20 km it was a doddle compared to Walliams' latest challenge.
