Christine Bleakley successfully water-skis across the Channel
Television presenter Christine Bleakley today completed her challenge to water-ski across the Channel.
The One Show host finished her feat in one hour and 40 minutes, although she will be have a few bruises after several bumps and falls.
Bleakley's challenge had been repeatedly delayed by bad weather but she was finally able to set off from Dover at 7.45am today, dressed in a black head-to-toe wet suit and red lifejacket.
She said: "I can't believe I've actually done it! It took me 100 minutes to water-ski the Channel and I only fell in eight times. It was really tough though — the water was freezing and having to get up after every fall was exhausting. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me along the way, it really kept me going out there."
The 31-year-old, who is dating Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard, arrived in France under grey skies after her 21-mile trip and braved air temperatures of 5C with a wind chill of just below freezing.
Her journey was expected to raise hundreds of thousands for the Sport Relief effort, although the final amount will not be known until 21 March.
She was supported by her One Show co-host Adrian Chiles, who shouted encouragement through a loudhailer from the support boat.
Bleakley was moved to undertake the challenge following a trip to Uganda with Sport Relief in 2008. As she set off from the beach at Dover this morning, she said: "I've talked about it, I've trained for it. Now I've got to do it."
The presenter, who managed to raise a smile during the challenge, was put through months of gruelling training by Professor Greg Whyte but struggled to stay upright in the choppy waters.
The arm-aching journey saw her hanging on to the rope while she was dragged along at 20mph. Footage will be shown on The One Show this evening.
A whole host of stars have been taking part in challenges for Sport Relief.
David Walliams, Fearne Cotton and Davina McCall completed a bike ride from John O'Groats to Land's End this month.
In 2006 Walliams raised more than £1 million when he swam the Channel in 10 hours and 34 minutes.
Bleakley asked members of the public to donate what they could to www.sportrelief.com/christine.
