David Walliams schools Vassos ahead of Channel swim while recalling his 'euphoric' experience

Virgin Radio

7 Jun 2024, 12:04

David Williams had a few words of warning for Virgin Radio’s Vassos Alexander ahead of his Channel swim later this year.

Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar, Walliams - who himself swam the Channel for charity back in 2006 - told Vassos one key bit of advice he was given before his swim was to put on some weight to fight the cold.

“I’m very excited for him… but can I be honest with you Vassos? You need to put on some weight,” the comedian and author warned. “Because you need a layer of fat… if you’re super skinny like this, you will feel the cold.”

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Thinking back to his time training for his swim, Walliams revealed: “I trained for like nine months, I was looking not bad for me and I was quite pleased… and then the trainer, Greg White, said ‘You need to put on about two stone!’”

“I keep hearing it,” Vassos admitted. “I keep hearing: ‘You’ve got to stop running because it burns too many calories’ and ‘Put on loads of weight because you need it for the insulation, it also helps with buoyancy.’ [But] I’m just going to try and firm it.”

“No, he’s got to put on some weight!” David insisted. “I’m sorry, just for like a couple of weeks before… eat a load of cheese, a load of chocolate!”

But while the former Britain’s Got Talent and Little Britain star didn’t seem able to convince Vassos that he should fatten up before his big swim, the author - who appeared on today (7th June)’s show to promote his first graphic novel Astrochimp - was able to inspire him with his favourite memories from his swim.

“It was very exciting, it was a very exciting thing to be a part of,” he shared. “I was surprised it was actually enjoyable, because it was a nice sunny day and the sun was on my back which kind of warms you up…

“When I saw the bottom of the sea as I was approaching France, that was absolutely euphoric. Because I hadn’t seen the bottom of the sea for a long time, because there’s not much to look at.”

Astrochimp by David Walliams is out now.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.