Christine Bleakley completes water-ski challenge

Christine Bleakley has completed her challenge to water-ski across the English Channel.

The One Show presenter finished her feat in a time of around one hour and 40 minutes - with a few bumps, bruises and splashes as she fell in the sea en route.

Christine, who swapped her usual polished glamour for a black head-to-toe wetsuit and red lifejacket, had been repeatedly delayed because of poor weather, but finally got the go-ahead at 7.46am today (Friday).

Her arrival on the French side was announced on Twitter from the support team, who said: "She has made it."

Christine arrived in France under grey skies after falling into the water eight times during her 21-mile trip.

The journey, in which she battled against choppy waters and dodged tankers in the world's busiest shipping lane, raised thousands of pounds for Sport Relief.

The TV favourite, who was supported by co-host Adrian Chiles, encouraging her by loudhailer from the support boat, had to brave miserable temperatures of just 5C, with a wind chill below freezing.

She was moved to undertake the challenge following a trip to Uganda with Sport Relief in 2008, where she met young people struggling with tough lives.

As she set off from the beach at Dover this morning, she declared: "I've talked about it, I've trained for it. Now I've got to do it."

Footage of her challenge can be seen on The One Show on Friday night.