The BBC rowed to victory in a Clash Of The Channels Boat Race for Sport Relief today.
Stars from the rival TV channels went head to head earlier, with the race played out on tonight’s Sport Relief telethon.
Team BBC took the trophy home after a gruelling 1,200m race that took place in front of a cheering crowd at Salford Quays.
For BBC, Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Top Gear’s Rory Reid, newsreader Sophie Raworth, Countryfile’s Ellie Harrison and Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin went to head to head with ITV team Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins, TOWIE star and presenter Ferne McCann, Coronation Street’s Nicola Thorp, Emmerdale’s Chris Bisson, Benidorm’s Jake Canuso and Love Island star Chris Hughes, with the former team storming to victory.
The teams were captained by double Olympic gold-medallist James Cracknell OBE (BBC) and two-time Olympic champion Helen Glover (ITV). Five time Olympic Gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave was also on hand to provide expert advice to both teams and expert Coxswains, Olympic Gold Medallist Garry Herbert and Olympic Silver Medallist Zoe de Toledo, have been offering tips to help the teams get into ship shape condition.
James Cracknell said: “Rowing is such a tough sport and relies on total synchronisation, so to get there and do this after just a few months of training is just incredible and I couldn’t be prouder of them all. The technique and teamwork demonstrated on the water was second to none so a very well done to all of them”
Dan Walker said: “It’s for such a great cause which is why we signed up but ultimately both teams REALLY wanted to win. So we’re of course delighted to lift the trophy for team BBC and I’m happy I can show my face in the office on Monday with my head high – Louise would’ve never let me live it down otherwise!”
Charlotte Hawkins said: “It’s been such a fun day with a great atmosphere but of course I’m seriously gutted that we lost. I’m not sure which I’ve been dreading more, the actual race or having to now go and face Piers without the winning trophy. It’s the taking part that counts right!”
The Clash of the Channels Boat Race for Sport Relief is the perfect warm up for The Boat Race 2018 which takes place on Saturday 24 March. The iconic clash between Cambridge and Oxford Universities will play out across BBC TV, radio and digital – marking 80 years since it first aired on BBC TV.
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