Stars make a splash in dive show (From Swindon Advertiser)

Stars make a splash in dive show

9:45pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Comedian Omid Djalili and Benidorm star Jake Canuso sailed into the next round of new talent show Splash! as a host of famous figures took the plunge to learn how to dive.

Djalili topped the ITV show's leaderboard with a daring 10-metre "swan dive", while Canuso won a head-to-head "splash off" against TV presenter Jenni Falconer.

The contestants have spent weeks building up the courage to be able to dive into an Olympic-sized pool under the tutelage of London 2012 star Tom Daley.

British Iranian Djalili impressed the judging panel - featuring Team GB's diving coach Andy Banks, comedienne Jo Brand and former Olympic diving medallist Leon Taylor - as the only contestant to dive from the highest board.

The Gladiator star described his effort as being "like a pig flying into a trough" but the judges disagreed, awarding him their highest points total of 23.

Banks said: "I've haven't been that much on the edge of my seat since the Olympic final."

Brand described the comic as "a majestic turkey", while Taylor said Djalili had shown the qualities of a professional diver - "courageous, determined and absolutely mad".

Djalili will be joined in the next round by actor Canuso, who went through after beating Falconer in a head-to-head second dive.

The pair had finished in second and third place after the judges' scores were combined with the viewers' votes.

After failing to impress the judges, Falconer joins Sugababes singer Jade Ewen and comedy actress Helen Lederer in exiting the show.