Bleakley completes Sport Relief waterski

Christine Bleakley has successfully completed her Sport Relief waterski challenge across the Channel.

The One Show presenter departed from Dover at 7.46am this morning following delays due to gale force winds on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bleakley finished the 22-mile waterski in 100 minutes, arriving on French land at 9.26am. The weather conditions and wind chill meant that the TV star was sometimes working in temperatures below freezing.

She only fell off her skis eight times and at one point managed to stay upright on the water for 15 minutes. Footage of her challenge will be shown on The One Show at 7pm tonight.

Speaking about her journey, Bleakley said: "I can't believe I've actually done it! It took me 100 minutes to waterski 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 work Sport Relief does helps changes lives both in the UK and the World's poorest countries and I've seen firsthand the difference it can make so please donate what you can by visiting www.sportrelief.com/christine."

Earlier this month, David Walliams, Fearne Cotton, Davina McCall and other celebrities completed a Sport Relief bike ride from John O'Groats to Land's End, raising £1million.