Bishop gets go-ahead to row Channel for charity

Comedian John Bishop will be able to undertake a gruelling triathlon for charity after he was granted last-minute permission to row the English Channel.

The stand-up will attempt to cycle, row and run 290 miles from Paris to London in five days, starting today.

He was previously refused permission from French authorities to row from Calais to Dover, but yesterday the Admiral of Cherbourg gave him the go-ahead after a Twitter campaign from fellow charity rowers Andrew Flintoff and Davina McCall.