STARS who do a bit of work for charity have suffered ever since Smashy and Nicey did their "but we don't like to talk about it" routine.

You do sometimes wonder what the motives behind some celebrity charity work may be particularly when it coincides with an artist having a new album out or film on the horizon.

But you could never accuse Little Britain's David Walliams of making a token effort in the name of charity.

Last night on BBC we watched, in awe in our household, as Walliams decided to raise money for Sport Relief by swimming the Channel!

This man clearly doesn't do anything by halves. He could have had the relatively easy task of learning to show jump on Only Fools On Horses (surely the best programme name for ages) but no. For Walliams it was the ultimate sponsored swim.

I have to confess that I'd always found Matt Lucas the funny one out of Little Britain and though Walliams was too often in the gossip pages.

But I have gained a whole new respect for the bloke watching him smear himself in goose fat and plunge into the Channel.

What came across particularly well was his determination to do succeed, even though he was a self-confessed non sportsman.

His dedication to training while embarking on the record-breaking UK tour of Little Britain was amazing.

And, boy did it pay off. Over £400,000 raised for Sport Relief and one of the faster times in history.

From now one I can even forgive him for appearing in that awful comedy sketch' about incontinent old ladies.