Little Britain star David Walliams has begun his “swim to Africa” in aid of BBC’s Sport Relief.

Walliams will join Olympic rower James Cracknell for the 12-mile swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, a journey expected to take five hours.

Not only is the straight a major shipping route, but there is also known to be sharks in the water, a fact that worries Cracknell’s wife!

“I’m nervous about the swim because it’s a dangerous stretch of water… I will be watching from a support vessel with one eye trained on sharks’ fins and tankers,” Cracknell’s wife, TV presenter Beverley Turner said.

It’s not all bad though as when the pair finish their leisurely swim (only joking!) they will be picked up by Dragon’s Den millionaire Theo Paphitis on his yacht before being flown back to the UK.