He’s done it! David Walliams completes his BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames

Not content with swimming the English Channel in 2006, David Walliams is in deep water again. Now he’s swimming seven times that distance to raise cash for Sport Relief with The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames…

David hopes to swim about 140 miles to finish at Big Ben in the heart of London in just eight days. The epic challenge will see him burn the equivalent of 4,400 calories every day and brave bitingly cold river water, which can cause cramp and involuntary breathing spasms known as a ‘gasp reflex’.

BT is giving £40,000 a day to support David’s swim as part of the £1million it has committed to raise in support of The BT Sport Relief challenges – a series of celebrity challenges sponsored by BT for Sport Relief 2012. BT is also asking people to join in and become part of David’s swim by ‘trunking’ – posting pictures of themselves donning goggles and a swimming pose in a take on the latest internet craze ‘planking’. Find out how to get involved below – and please help us raise £1m and help change lives forever. Donate Now >

David’s latest challenge

In 2006, his awe-inspiring cross-Channel swim secured him a Sports Personality of the Year award. In 2008 he swam across the Strait of Gibraltar… in shark-infested waters. Then, in 2010, he led a team of celebrity friends in a BT Sport Relief £1 million bike ride cycle relay from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

This will be his most gruelling, dangerous and physically demanding challenge yet. He well and truly knows how to go the extra mile for Sport Relief. See how he’s getting on below.

Latest news

River deep, Walliams high: He’s done it!

After powering through 107,062 strokes, burning 65574 calories, and suffering eight days of pain, David Walliams has finally completed The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames.

Despite having to battle a nasty bacterial bug, itchy water flea bites and bitingly cold water that threatened a serious case of hypothermia, David completed 140.54 miles – seven times the length of the channel – as he triumphantly crossed the Westminster finish line at 6.24pm to huge, roaring crowds of supporters cheering him on from the banks of the river. So far, he’s raised a staggering £1,093,325, and the money is still coming in.

Speaking after completing his amazing and courageous feat, David addressed the thousands of people that had come to support him and said: “Thank you for your waves, thank you for your cheers but most of all thank you for your donations.” He went on to say; “Thank you from the bottom of my heart because you really will make a difference to people’s lives.”

As well as his wife, Lara Stone, and his mother, David was greeted by a whole host of celebrities including Lenny Henry, Miranda Hart, Barbara Windsor, Tanni Grey-Thomson, Mark Foster and Sir Steve Redgrave.

The great British public kept David going throughout the swim as thousands of people came out to support him along the way.

The epic challenge started last Monday (5th September) when David set off from as close to the source of the Thames as possible in Lechlade, Gloucester. David’s wife, Lara Stone, sounded the klaxon as he waded his way into the 15 degree water – colder than the English Channel.

Despite the excitement, just a short while into the swim David’s trainer, Greg Whyte, spotted a blue tinge on David’s back – the first signs on hypothermia. Although David preferred to swim in trunks, Greg insisted David changed into his wetsuit at the first stop as a matter of urgency. Fortunately he fought off hypothermia but the torrential weather conditions meant David fell drastically behind schedule.

Fuelling up on bowls of porridge and protein bars eaten in the water, David tried his hardest to bounce back from a difficult day one, but three days into the challenge the filthy river became too much for the swimming hero. Despite doing his best to avoid sickness, David contracted a nasty stomach bug and suffered severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

With his body cramping and his appetite failing, David was only managing to stomach small amounts of food and as a result, his trainer Greg Whyte became increasingly concerned about David’s physical state.

Things were looking better the next day though as David was visited by good friend Jimmy Carr who came out to meet him at Shiplake Lock on Friday morning to give him some on-river vocal support.

Over the weekend David, having completed nearly 100 miles of arduous swimming, even stopped swimming for a short while to turn around and help and help a struggling dog, who had jumped into the water, to safety.

BT has given £40,000 for each day of the challenge but today has given an £50,000 to make a total of £330,000 to support David’s swim. This makes up part of the £1million it has committed to raise in support of The BT Sport Relief challenges – a series of celebrity challenges sponsored by BT for Sport Relief 2012. BT also asked people to join in and become part of David’s swim by ‘trunking’ – posting pictures of themselves donning goggles and a swimming pose in a take on the latest internet craze ‘planking’.

Previously

BT boat to the rescue!

As David closes in on the final stretch of his mammoth swim, reports are coming in via Twitter that Lara Stone – David Walliams’s wife – was on the media boat when it got stuck on a Thames sandbank. Luckily the BT boat got to them in time and saved them! More info when we get it…

Previously: Public support powers David on

Seven days into The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames and David Walliams has the end in his sights. After a week of torrential rain, serious sickness and emotional highs and lows, David is now approaching the final but toughest stretch yet.

Starting from Old Windsor Lock this morning at 6.15am, David is hoping to complete a whopping 21 miles on the penultimate day of his swim. Aiming to pass through Staines, Chertsey and Kingston to finish in Teddington, where he will begin the tough tidal section on Monday morning. The dangerous tidal Thames will see him navigate his way round busy river traffic, powerful tides which have overpowered even the strongest swimmers and eddies and undertows that can suck swimmers under in seconds and keep them below the surface for days.

The comedian is being supported by his wife Lara Stone, a lucky duck she was given by a spectator, and thousands of fans who have come out to cheer the swimming hero on. The overwhelming surge of support from crowds all over the country has been an incredible motivation for David. From prams to pensioners and toddlers to teenagers David has been cheered on at every stroke.

David said: “The two things that have really kept me going so far are the updates of the fundraising totals I’m given and the stunning support I’ve been given by the public. There must have been tens of thousands of people along the route and I can hear their cheers as I’m swimming. I never expected this to catch the public’s imagination like it has – there seems to have been a real carnival atmosphere around it which is lovely. Tomorrow (Monday) will see me entering the tidal stretch of the Thames with all the dangers that brings, so I’ll need to be strong.”

Previously: Dog in danger – Walliams to the rescue!

Day six of The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames and David Walliams is nearing the 100 mile mark of his incredible 140 mile swim. After a week of horrendous weather and a serious sickness bug, David is now well on his way to London, supported by his wife Lara Stone, several celebrity friends and even a local mutt – not to mention the great British public who have turned out in their thousands to cheer the comedian on.

Swimming towards Cookham Lock in Berkshire, David spotted a Labrador who had jumped in to greet him but was having real trouble scaling the lock wall to get out. Despite having completed nearly 100 miles of arduous swimming by that point David stopped turned round and helped the dog to safety. The dog’s owner, Steve Outten, 23, from High Wycombe was amazed that David stopped to help his one year old pet Vinny – who suffers from a hip complaint.

Steve said: “Vinny has hip dysplasia and was really struggling to get out just as David was swimming past. He stopped, swam over and helped me get him out – which when you think what he’s going through with the swim is totally amazing – what a man.”

Fuelling up on fish and chips, pizza and copious amounts of bread last night, David got back in the water just after 7am this morning, joined by former Olympian Adrian Moorehouse. Wife Lara Stone also accompanied the comedian but stuck to watching from the boat and handing out cookies when energy levels got too low.

With pep talks from Sir Steve Redgrave and breakfast made by Miranda Hart, the swimming hero is powering through the water at an impressive 2.4 miles per hour and is now on target to reach the Royal Borough of Windsor by sunset tonight.

David said: “It’s been a great day today. My wife Lara has been in the boat cheering me on which was such a big boost to me. Miranda Hart came along and made me porridge too which was a lovely thought, but slightly less lovely in practice. We had a little incident with a dog on the way to Maidenhead – I heard a splash and looked over to be met with the face of a sweet Labrador. I thought he was fine, but he started to really struggle when he was getting out so I swam over and helped his owner get him out.”

He went on to say: “My tummy has settled a bit and I had fish and chips and some pizza last night so feel better. We have broken through the 100 mile barrier now which is great, but once I reach Teddington Lock the Thames becomes tidal and there’s a whole new set of challenges. The currents and undertows are very dangerous so I’ll need to be strong.”

Previously: Where’s Walliams? Halfway to home!

Five days into The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames and things are looking up for swimming hero David Walliams. Finishing at Caversham Lock at 7.14pm on Thursday night, David finally reached the halfway point of his epic swim after a total of 38 hours in the water.

The comedian, who has raised over £400,000, is now closer to London than Lechlade, the starting point of the challenge, and is being cheered on by thousands of people along the river. David’s good friend Jimmy Carr came out to meet him at Shiplake Lock on Friday morning and gave him some on river vocal support.

David said: “It’s fantastic to be half way – although if I think for too long about the fact that I’ve got to do as many miles again, I feel even sicker than normal. I’m learning to live with the stomach bug and had a more settled nigh. I even tucked into fish and chips, so I’m taking food on board again.

The support from the public has really taken me by surprise – not just the money raised so far but the thousands and thousands of people who are turning out to cheer me on. I can’t tell them how much I appreciate it or how much it lifts me. My friend Jimmy Carr came along today which was a lovely surprise. I couldn’t hear everything he was shouting at me from the boat but I’m sure it was nothing but kind words of support!”

Although all seems to be going swimmingly, David is still being monitored by doctors regularly due to his stomach upset, and to add to his troubles he now has a rash on his neck caused from the rubbing of his wetsuit which is posing a risk of infection. The rash, combined with the stiffness and pain he is suffering in his arms and shoulders is making this extraordinary challenge harder with every stroke.

Stopping at Sonning this morning for some tea and toast, David’s trainer Greg Whyte said: “David’s in good spirits, but his arms and shoulders are seizing up and he is receiving increasingly painful Physio at every stop. He’ll be in pain for the duration now, it’s just a case of us trying to minimise it for him now.”

David said: “My shoulders and neck are in a lot of pain and the physio I’m receiving is starting to really hurt. I don’t think it’s going to go away from now on, so I’ll just have to live with it.”

Previously: Water baby Walliams battles through bug

Day four of The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames and David Walliams is still battling the nasty bacteria bug that has left him sick for over 24 hours. The exhausted comedian is struggling to keep even the smallest amount of food down, making the marathon challenge, which normally demands 8,000 calories a day, even tougher.

With his body cramping and his appetite failing, David has only managed to stomach a measly piece of toast, a flat cola and several glucose tablets so far today – a far cry from the carbohydrate overload that his body needs to complete the challenge.

As a result, his trainer Greg Whyte is becoming increasingly concerned about David’s physical state and speaking from Oxfordshire Greg said: “David is burning upwards of 8,000 calories a day but his stomach problems are meaning he can’t get the fuel in him he needs. It’s a vicious circle which means his pace is slowing – but he’s ploughing on.”

Although David is constantly swimming, the bug has meant his pace is a lot slower and his planned schedule is looking doubtful. He had hoped to make it to Henley but an earlier finish in looking more likely.

After being reunited with his wife Lara Stone at Wallingford Bridge last night, David said this morning: “I’m still feeling ill and getting cramps so am not great. I can’t face food really either so that’s a worry. But I can still put one arm over the other and that’s what I need to do and keep doing.”

Previously: Walliams in Thames trouble as sickness hits

Three days into The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames and the filthy river water has become too much for David Walliams. Despite doing his best to avoid sickness, David has contracted a nasty stomach bug and is suffering severe vomiting and diarrhoea. As a result, he also has a high temperature and is struggling to keep up a good pace.

As well as falling behind schedule, David is also battling with his body. The vicious cycle of sickness means he is reluctant to eat but desperately needs to refuel in order to continue with the challenge. In an attempt to compensate he is taking plenty of rehydration salts and is being assessed by the medical team at every stop.

David said: “I always knew there was a risk that taking in the water could cause problems, but now it’s happened it’s still hit me really hard. I was sweating in the night and have been to the toilet a lot this morning.

When I heard the total raised had jumped to more than £200,000 it gave me a real boost, as do the thousands of people who have been turning out and cheering. There were so many last night I thought Take That were in a boat behind me. This is already much harder than I thought it would be – but this Thames Tummy I’ve got is making the task seem incredibly difficult and London seems a long way away.”

After making his way through the village where Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile record, Walliams was inspired to race through his schedule but despite the record breaking motivation, the Thames water has got the better of him and David is beginning to realise just how tough this epic challenge is.

Still not on schedule and constantly battling against the clock – not to mention bad weather, extremely cold water, and lack of energy – it’s hard to believe the comedian still has five days to go.

Previously: Burn baby burn!

Day two of The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames and David Walliams is burning more calories than he’s ever burnt before. Powering through an astonishing 8000 calories a day, David is battling torrential rain and harsh, cold winds in an attempt to get back on track with his swimming schedule after falling behind by two miles yesterday.

Despite the terrible weather conditions the comedian got up at dawn today and managed to make up the lost distance. However due to the nasty wind and rain David is, once again, a full hour behind his schedule.

Fuelling up on bowls of porridge and protein bars eaten in the water, David is trying his hardest to bounce back from a difficult day one and has admitted that after a serious hypothermia scare yesterday, he must banish his trunks and stick to wearing a wetsuit today.

Previously: Walliams hits the water!

This morning (Monday 5th September) at 8.22am David Walliams officially started The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames. He set off from as close to the source of the Thames as possible in Lechlade, Gloucester, where the water measured 15 degrees, colder than the English Channel.

The challenge is set to be the toughest, most dangerous and physically gruelling test of David’s life.

David’s wife, Lara Stone, sounded the klaxon to set him on his way and as he waded into the water he said: “I can’t really explain how I’m feeling at the moment, a mixture of both nervous and excited. I am just really keen to get going and get a few miles under my belt.”

David hopes to swim about 140 miles to finish at Big Ben in the heart of London in just eight days. The epic challenge will see him burn the equivalent of 4,400 calories every day and brave bitingly cold river water, which can cause cramp and involuntary breathing spasms known as a ‘gasp reflex’.

Speaking about David’s challenge, his trainer Greg Whyte said: “David’s been working on his aerobic and strength endurance to withstand the long periods of swimming and his upper body and core strength to help avoid injury from the repetition of over 30,000 strokes per day.”

Warning. The public should not try this themselves. The Thames is incredibly dangerous and many people have drowned in its waters which have powerful tides and unpredictable currents.

Help BT raise £1m for this year’s Sport Relief campaign

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Visit our Sport Relief site