Fire forces Branson out of charity swim

Ronan Keating, former Atomic Kitten singer Jenny Frost, Strictly Come Dancing star Pamela Stephenson, gadget guru Jason Bradbury and Olympic medal-winning swimmer Steve Parry, will still brave the treacherous currents, ferries and even sharks to complete the relay to raise £1m for Cancer Research UK.

The challenge will see them set off on Wednesday to swim 56 nautical miles (65 land miles) from Holyhead, in Anglesey, North Wales, to Dublin, Ireland.

The team, joined by two experienced “super swimmers” and two members of the public, are expected to take up to 40 hours to complete the challenge.

One of the members of the public is student Nikki Fraser, 18, from Penistone, near Barnsley, who grandfather has been treated for cancer.

As well as swimming long hours through the night, they will also have to dodge wind farms and cope with tidal variations which mean the swimmers could end up covering a distance of up to 70 nautical miles (81 land miles).

At least 30 species of shark are known to pass through the Irish Sea, including the enormous basking shark, the world’s second largest fish.

The world’s largest species of jellyfish, the lion’s mane, is also often spotted in the waters.

Virgin boss Sir Richard, 61, watched in horror last week as his Necker Island paradise home went up in flames.

British actress Kate Winslet was among 20 people who fled The Great House on the island as it was razed to the ground on Monday.

Last night Frances Milner, director of supporter-led fundraising at Cancer Research UK: “Sadly Richard Branson has had to withdraw from Cancer Research UK’s first celebrity challenge, The Samsung Galaxy S II Swim.

“We’re disappointed but understand that he needs to be with his family after fire devastated their home.”