Marathon effort no joke for comic

The Liverpudlian said his body had been taped up to ease crippling muscle aches as he set off in front of well-wishers from Dover, Kent, as part of a “week of hell” for the BT Sport Relief Challenge.

He battled sleep deprivation and became “delirious” during the 26-mile row across the English Channel on just one hour’s sleep, after earlier completing a 185-mile cycle ride.

Bishop, 45, said: “I have had a bit of sleep which has made a massive amount of difference.” He hopes to make it to Trafalgar Square in London on Friday. The aim is to raise enough money to vaccinate 250,000 children in Africa, as well as help with projects in the UK.