By Sarah Smithon Tuesday, 4 Jul 2006 Little Britain star David Walliams is attempting to swim the 21 miles across the English Channel to France.
The comedian is hoping to raise £500,000 for Sport Relief by doing the swim, which he aims to complete within 16 hours today (July 4).
He will have to dodge tankers and seaweed on his Channel crossing – an endurance test that has only been completed by one out of ten of those who attempt it. More people have climbed Mount Everest than have swum the Channel.
Before he plunged into the 18C water, he 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."
Just before setting foot in the water he received a phone call from Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas wishing him well.
His journey will be documented in a programme to be shown on BBC One at 8pm on July 13, entitled Little Britain's Big Swim.
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