Walliams is Sports Personality favourite

David Walliams has become favourite to win the BBC’s prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award for his cross-Channel swim.

The 34-year-old comedian took the lead in the betting following UK golfers’ poor performance at the British Open, with Colin Montgomerie, missing the halfway cut.

Now the Little Britain star, whose swim earned about £1million for Sports Relief, is the bookies’ favourite, with odds of 7-2. He covered the 21 miles in 10 hours, 34 minutes earlier this month, scoring one of the 50 fastest times ever.

‘That sporting achievement compares very favourably with anything that any UK sportsperson can boast so far in 2006,’ said Tony Calvin from bookies Betfair.

‘When we introduced David Walliams into the market he was an initial 119-1 chance, but that was obviously highly dismissive of a phenomenal sporting achievement.

‘With a few notable exceptions, he is largely up against gallant British failures and remember, the BBC have no shortage of footage of his swim – and that means he will getting plenty of airtime come the December trailers for the award.’

Liverpool soccer captain Steven Gerrard is the second-favourite at 5-1 for his contribution to his team’s FA Cup final victory against West Ham and his performance in the World Cup.

Published: 25 Jul 2006