Bleakley Sport Relief water-ski delayed

Christine Bleakley's sponsored water-ski across the Channel has been delayed due to bad weather.

The One Show host's attempt to stay upright for the 22-mile trip from Dover to Calais has been postponed until at least Thursday due to gale force winds.

"I've spent a lot of time bobbing around in British waters in a wetsuit in preparation for this - it would be nice to set foot on some French soil at the end of it," said Bleakley.

"My biggest fear aside from the fear of physically trying to do it is not completing it and letting people down."

Earlier this week, Bleakley also faced the prospect of not being allowed to complete the journey by French coastguard officials, who questioned the safety of the TV presenter passing through a busy shipping lane.

However, officials have retreated on their initial veto, claiming that they are satisfied with the BBC's safety precautions.

"I don't say I'm happy about this because these kinds of things are forbidden," coastguard Francois Naduad told The Mirror. "However, in this case the BBC has obtained authority so there is no problem."