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SPORT RELIEF STAR DAVID WALLIAMS TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO NOW ABOUT CHAFFING, FLIRTING WITH FEARNE COTTON AND WHAT'S NEXT AFTER LITTLE BRITAIN
March 16, 2010
Comedy supremo and Sport Relief superhero David Walliams has parked up his bike after cycling the length of the UK, and talks exclusively to Denise Van Outen in a special Sport Relief issue of Now, the country's best-loved celebrity weekly.
Fresh from leading his intrepid band of celebrities in the BT Sport Relief Million Pound Bike Ride – the film of which will be aired on BBC1 this Thursday at 9pm – David talks exclusively to Now about chaffing, flirting, engagement – and what's next for him and Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas!
Extract:
Congratulations on completing your cycle challenge. After swimming the Channel for Comic Relief, why did you put yourself up for such a big challenge again?
Well I didn't really put myself up for it. When you do something for charity you become earmarked as someone who'll always do something for charity. When I did my swim, I thought: 'Oh brilliant, I'll never have to do anything again,' because it was pretty traumatic. Then I got asked to climb Everest…
You can't say no to Sport Relief, though, even though I hadn't ridden a bike since I was 12.
Have you noticed a change in your muscles since you've been cycling?
I've been in incredible pain and that's about it. My tendons are sore and I'm walking a bit funny. There was a lot of chafing.
Chafing?
Yes – and in the most intimate area!
Did you use nappy rash cream?
No, I took some Savlon with me. I asked Fearne [Cotton] to apply it, but strangely she declined, so I did it myself. I can still feel a little tingle.
How well did you know the rest of the celebs on the cycle challenge?
I didn't really know them well at all because when you meet them for five minutes at a party it's not the same as spending days with them. I know you're friends with Fearne, but I hadn't met her before; I think she was a bit wary of me.
Why? Was it because of things I told her about you when we were
climbing mount Kilimanjaro?
No, I think it was probably because I tried to flirt with her a few years ago, unsuccessfully.
Well you had some nice ladies on yours too, such as Davina McCall?
Yeah, but Davina's married.
And you'll be married soon, so you've got to behave yourself…Oh yes, I forgot!
Those days are over, David – you've got to behave yourself now…
Oh yeah, but it's nice to look, isn't it? It's nice to window shop.
Is your mum excited that you're settling down at last?
She always thought it would be you, Denise, let's be honest! When I told her I was engaged, she sobbed down the phone: 'I'm so happy!'
Do you miss making Little Britain?
No, because me and Matt [Lucas] are making a new series together. It's got lots of characters in one setting, not sketches. I think if I wasn't working with Matt, I'd miss it. When you have a super-hit like that it's very exciting – it's like
being on a roller coaster and part of you wants to stay on, but you know you need to get off and get on the next one.
The special Sport Relief issue of Now carries the full David Walliams interview and is guest-edited by Girls Aloud and Sport Relief star Kimberley Walsh. It is on sale Tuesday March 16, priced £1.40. Five pence from every copy sold on the UK newsstand will go directly to Sport Relief.
-ends-
About Now
Now is the UK's best-loved celebrity magazine. It's packed with the biggest celebrity news, the latest gossip, the hottest fashion and the best pictures. It has everything a reader needs to know about celebrity life and much, much more. On sale every Tuesday.
About Sport Relief
As one of the UK's biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The Sport Relief Weekend takes place from Friday 19th March to Sunday 21st March 2010 including a night of Sport Relief telly on BBC One and the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile events across the UK on Sunday 21st March. All the cash raised by the public will help transform the lives of those living tough lives across the UK and the world's poorest countries.
Since its launch in 2002, millions of people have taken part in Sport Relief, helping to raise over £80 million. Sport Relief has a unique history of dedicated people doing extraordinary things to rise to the challenge, from David Walliams' astonishing swim across the English Channel to Eddie Izzard's truly amazing marathon a day around the UK. Further information is available on www.sportrelief.com
Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NOW PLEASE CONTACT:
Chris Taylor, head of media relations, IPC Media on 020 3148 5406, 07980 221942 or email chris_taylor@ipcmedia.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SPORT RELIEF PLEASE CONTACT:
Sarah Rowley, Sport Relief, on 0207 840 2527 or email s.rowley@comicrelief.com
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