Blue Peter star Skelton gets polar cycle under way

The 28-year-old was meant to kick off her gruelling 500-mile ski, kite and ice bike journey across Antarctica for Sport Relief on 1 January, but set off shortly before 10am yesterday.

Skelton, whose previous exploits for the childfren’s TV show include high-wire walking between the chimneys of Battersea power station in London and becoming the first person to solo kayak the length of the Amazon, is aiming to set a world record for the longest bicycle journey on snow.

She said: “I am desperate to get started and to get a few miles under my belt. Bad weather delayed the start of my challenge by four days and that means I now have less time to reach the South Pole – so the sooner I get going the more likely I am to finish.

“I’ve decided to start my polar challenge on my ice bike as I’m determined to prove that you can ride part of the way to the South Pole.”

Blue Peter viewers will be able to see how she gets on in a special nine-week series that will feature on the show from the end of January.