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Comedian John Bishop rides 185 miles in a day for Sports Relief... then rows across Channel (+ video)

Just three Marathons to go and Scouse stand-up's Week of Hell will be over... £400,000 raised so far...

Scouse stand-up comic John Bishop has reportedly enjoyed a good night’s sleep after cycling 185 miles from Paris to Calais followed, almost immediately, by rowing across the English Channel and so far raising more than £400,000 for the charity Sport Relief. The comedian now faces the prospect of running the equivalent of three marathons in three days to complete what has been billed as ‘John Bishop’s Week of Hell.’

Bishop, who had never ridden a road bike before agreeing to undertake the challenge, set off at 8.22am on Monday morning from the Trocadero in the heart of Paris, accompanied for the first part of his ride by Olympic gold medallist and former Tour de France maillot jaune, Chris Boardman.

Just an hour into the ride, the 45-year-old experienced a clipless moment familiar to all cyclists inexperienced in riding with cleats as he fell to the ground after failing to unclip in time at a set of traffic lights.

Speaking as he broke off for lunch on that opening day, Bishop told the Sport Relief website: “It’s lunchtime and I’ve done 55 miles - which on any other day in my life would be amazing, but today there's still 130 odd miles left to do. I’m trying not to think about the row tomorrow - and as for the Marathons, it’s probably best not to worry about them at all at this stage.”

The Sport Relief website also revealed that even at that early point in the challenge, Bishop, who is being coached by Professor Greg Whyte of Liverpool John Moores University, was struggling with issues such as a sore shoulder and neck as well as pains in his left hamstring.

After arriving in Calais in the early hours of yesterday morning, Bishop was only able to grab a couple of hours sleep before setting off on the rowing leg in which he was joined by Davina McCall, Denise Lewis and Freddie Flintoff.

Earlier in the week, however, it had appeared that the row would have to be cancelled after French authorities refused to grant permission for the crossing.

However, that decision was reversed by the Admiral of Cherbourg, reportedly after comedian James Corden, who helped organise the challenge, spoke to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who took up the issue with President Sarkozy.
Today, Bishop is running from Dover to Faversham, the first of three marathon-distance runs that will end in London on Friday.

Full details of the challenge including how to sponsor Bishop’s efforts can be found on the Sport Relief website.
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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13 comments

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WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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James Corden calling Gordon Brown??!! What celebrities are next I wonder? Basil Brush contacts Neil Kinnock? Much as I applaud Bishop I'd rather see someone we dislike doing something like this. What about Jeremy Clarkson cycling up the Tourmalet being pelted with rotten fruit by cyclists? Alastair Campbell being chased by hyenas.... Maybe not sport in the true sense of the word but it would certainly make a change from the usual 'challenge'.

I remember well what Farrell says about the Mt Killimanjaro junket. The best bit was the celebs faces when someone said masseuses were at the next tent stop and then told it was just a joke. You could see for just a split second their 'I want someone sacked for this now!' face before they remembered they were being filmed. Hilarious.

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phax71 | 12 years ago
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The sponsosrhip thig is quite likely.

A few years back I started noticing that all outdoors reporters during colder months and even weather presenters etc were all wearing North Face outerwear.

Hadnt seen it so much recently, but I did notice that a lot of them were wearing RAB outerwear ... something fishy, you betcha!!!

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ragtag | 12 years ago
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You gotta give it to the guy.... he's earning his money with hair like that.

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simonb | 12 years ago
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whats with all the gaffer tape over his mates jackets? JB looks like he is riding a combination of Gore Bike Wear & Altura which genrally seems to be the outerwear stuff worn by celebs on bikes for sports relief- Does the beeb not want any tacit adverts?

Either that ot they are old jackets with holes in them patched up by gaffer tape...  39

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farrell replied to simonb | 12 years ago
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simonb wrote:

whats with all the gaffer tape over his mates jackets? JB looks like he is riding a combination of Gore Bike Wear & Altura which genrally seems to be the outerwear stuff worn by celebs on bikes for sports relief- Does the beeb not want any tacit adverts?

Either that ot they are old jackets with holes in them patched up by gaffer tape...  39

I seem to remember when that annoying fat waster from Radio 1 and the pop tart that batters toilet attendents doing Killimanjaro and there were very few shots that didnt have a North Face logo in full view. Perhaps people had a whinge and moan about that?

Or perhaps they have a sponsorship deal with other sportswear companies?

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G-bitch | 12 years ago
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Had to chuckle at the photo - looks like Chris Boardman has gone all audax on us with a huge saddle bag. Can't believe he didn't give him a tow for a bit longer!

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arrieredupeleton | 12 years ago
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Bishop: full winter jacket and massive gloves.
Boardman: cycling top, obligatory t-shirt and no gloves - proper hard man.

As I understand it, Boardman only did a few miles with him. By any standards 185 miles is good going. Was it coincidence that it's the same distance as Milan - San Remo (298km)?

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Super Domestique | 12 years ago
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Spesh Roubaix?

It's all about the bike...................  3

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phy2sll | 12 years ago
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Bishop for PM.

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Coleman | 12 years ago
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Impressive.

Any information on why the frogs would have denied permission for the crossing?

We're in the EU.

"Everyone got their passports? OK, stoke, stroke..."

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Simon_MacMichael replied to Coleman | 12 years ago
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Coleman wrote:

Impressive.

Any information on why the frogs would have denied permission for the crossing?

We're in the EU.

"Everyone got their passports? OK, stoke, stroke..."

Not clear but I imagine an inexperienced crew attempting to get across the world's busiest shipping lane in what is still winter has something to do with it.

Actually, a quick Google turned up some coastguard quotes from a Daily Mail article a few years back when Kate Middleton rowed across as part of a dragon boat crew and which are probably relevant to this situation too:

'But they need advance permission for what is officially termed an '"unorthodox crossing" of the Dover Straits.

This process can take a month - but the crew left it until yesterday to contact British coastguards.

It is unlikely their request will have been given a warm reception as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said attempting the crossing in a glass-fibre boat designed for use on lakes and rivers is "highly irresponsible".
Coastguard spokesman Mike Toogood said: "This is the most dangerous shipping lane in the world.

"We have 500 vessels making this crossing every single day. You can't just turn up and set off - you need permission.

"Not getting this will put lives in real danger - not just theirs, but everyone in the Channel that day.

"Also, a dragon boat has a flat bottom so it tends to go through the waves rather than over them, meaning their craft could quickly become swamped with water."'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-472786/Coastguard-scupper-Kates-...

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Coleman replied to Simon_MacMichael | 12 years ago
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Simon_MacMichael wrote:
Coleman wrote:

Impressive.

Any information on why the frogs would have denied permission for the crossing?

We're in the EU.

"Everyone got their passports? OK, stoke, stroke..."

Not clear but I imagine an inexperienced crew attempting to get across the world's busiest shipping lane in what is still winter has something to do with it.

Actually, a quick Google turned up some coastguard quotes from a Daily Mail article a few years back when Kate Middleton rowed across as part of a dragon boat crew and which are probably relevant to this situation too:

'But they need advance permission for what is officially termed an '"unorthodox crossing" of the Dover Straits.

This process can take a month - but the crew left it until yesterday to contact British coastguards.

It is unlikely their request will have been given a warm reception as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said attempting the crossing in a glass-fibre boat designed for use on lakes and rivers is "highly irresponsible".
Coastguard spokesman Mike Toogood said: "This is the most dangerous shipping lane in the world.

"We have 500 vessels making this crossing every single day. You can't just turn up and set off - you need permission.

"Not getting this will put lives in real danger - not just theirs, but everyone in the Channel that day.

"Also, a dragon boat has a flat bottom so it tends to go through the waves rather than over them, meaning their craft could quickly become swamped with water."'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-472786/Coastguard-scupper-Kates-...

Yeah, ok, Seems reasonable. I suppose. Thanks.

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jezzzer | 12 years ago
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james corden is organising it but not taking part? shame...

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