Joel Hicks

Approximately 12,000 spectators took advantage of the April sunshine to watch the muddy madness that is the Mad Maldon Mud Run! The event, which is usually held in December (but which had to be rescheduled in 2011 because of the icy weather), involves around 300 people racing across the River Blackwater at Maldon in Essex, and getting very muddy in the process!

This year’s special guests included comics Jo Brand and Sean Lock, as well as Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere. Reconciled to the fact that no washing powder would get Essex's finest mud off my clothes I elected to spray my whole body silver and compete in a silver wig and silver grass skirt.

It wasn’t exactly good "clean" fun however… having attempted to pull Jo Brand out of the mud after she sank just yards into the race, I lost both of my own trainers within the first few dozen yards. Things went from bad to worse when, at the half way stage, my entire costume was sucked off into the sticky Blackwater mud! Check out my naked appearance on Blue Peter...