Big Spash for Patrick Monahan

Teesside comedian Patrick Monahan is hoping to make a big splash – when he appears on an ITV diving series next week.

The Irish-Iranian stand-up, from Middlesbrough, will appear in heat three on Tom Daley’s swimming show Splash when it airs on Saturday 19 January.

Speaking to Giggle Beats, Monahan said he can’t wait get his trunks on – despite having no diving experience.

He said: “I’m so excited about being on Splash. Ever since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to be on the show; I’ve always wanted to dress up as a mermaid and splash about in water.

“I’ve got no diving experience, no diving knowledge and no gymnastic skills, but I love wearing trunks and wearing them in swimming pools, so it should be fun.”

Monahan is a familiar face on ITV, having won the channel’s comedy talent search, Show Me The Funny, in 2011.

Jenny Eclair also revealed to her fans on Twitter that she will be taking part in Splash, which returned to ITV with just 4.9million viewers on Saturday night.

The first female Edinburgh Comedy Award winner wrote: “Off to Splash training and I have forgotten to fake tan the top half of my right leg – the really fat bit – FFS.”

Other comedians to have appeared on the show include Omid Djalili, Dom Joly and Jo Brand, who is on the judging panel.