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By AS surreal moments go, sharing a bubble bath with England legend David Beckham is right up there. It also happens to be the ultimate fantasy for most females the world over. But Posh Spice doesn’t have to worry — her husband has only been cracking open the Matey with James Corden for the sake of light enter- tainment in a hilarious intimate soak for Sport Relief tonight. The bathroom bonding session between Becks and comic Corden is just one of the highlights of an utterly brilliant Sport Relief sketch. I was given the exclusive first showing of the 15-minute clip of Gavin & Stacey’s unlikely hero Smithy on another quest to coach the UK’s finest athletes to glory. In an exclusive interview with The Sun, 31-year-old James says: “Becks and I were both in little trunks. There was a surreal moment when we were both in the bath and they had to move the cameras for another shot. “We were just talking about football as if it was the most normal thing in the world. I suddenly thought to myself that this might be a good idea for a chat show. “Just being in the bath with different guests every week, relaxed and having a little chat. It was a very pleasant experience.” James is as sick as every other England fan about 34-year-old Becks missing the World Cup after his Achilles tendon injury. He says: “I am absolutely gutted. I was really upset for him. He loves England so much. “It’s so sad for him as a player, for us as England fans, for the whole World Cup. I feel sure though that we’ll see him in an England shirt again.” Becks is just one of a host of British sporting heroes sending themselves up in the Sport Relief Smithy special. Ashes hero Freddie Flintoff, tennis ace Andy Murray, diver Tom Daley, F1 world champ Jenson Button and the Manchester United first team all play ball with tubby Smithy’s comedy caper. And when it comes to acting, James thought Becks and race ace Jenson were naturals. He says: “It’s a straight shootout between them for who was the most natural actor, it really was. “Jenson is like an action hero. He is like a Tom Cruise in the sketch. “David is more of a thinking man’s actor. He’s like a Johnny Depp. David can find the comedy and the serious. “I’m not sure where that places Freddie Flintoff’s performance — he’s a bit like John Candy.” Becks’s former Old Trafford team- mates provide another belly laugh with a camp aerobics session filmed at the club’s Carrington training ground — with England striker Wayne Rooney taking a starring role. James adds: “It was the first time I had spoken to Wayne. When we did the England sketch last year he was injured so he missed out. “The message came through that Wayne was really disappointed not to be in the sketch because he is a Gavin & Stacey fan. “It was great to finally meet him and give him a starring role. I was so chuffed when he walked in to the room because I didn’t know he was coming. “You feel like you are meeting the best footballer in the country at the moment, if not the best in the world. I felt so honoured to be in his company.” He continues: “The bit where we said to the Man United team to free- style, we never thought they would go for it, but if they did we’d be lucky. “Before you know it, Wes Brown was going for it. Wayne Rooney was so up for it. “There’s a bit where Wayne and I had to sing together but when you film that you have to have the music off. So he’s just standing in a room with all his mates in there, singing in front of them. “We literally had eight minutes. It was amazing how within a week from the idea being suggested we were there in the training ground. Rio Ferdinand pulled it together. “The club said they would make it happen but they couldn’t guaran- tee who would turn up and do it. “Obviously we wanted Rooney, Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Wes Brown — all the people you would recognise. “I’m absolutely sure Rio pulled it all off. The strength of the England sketch helped.” Another huge star of the new sketch was Jenson Button, who took time out from preparing for a crucial race during his triumphant Grand Prix season last year to film for Sport Relief. James says: “He was the first one we shot. The problem we had was his people, quite rightly, didn’t want him shooting anything when he was still in the running for the Formula 1 title. “The first option was going to Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was a long way to go for a few minutes’ filming. Then we were told that if he wins in Sao Paulo we could go to Abu Dhabi. “I had never liked F1 really, but suddenly we were there, completely engrossed in the whole thing. “Jenson was just incredible. We landed, got a message saying we had to do it immediately, because GORDON SMART Showbiz Editor ROONEY , BUTTON , 34 Friday, March 19, 2010 we only had 15 minutes in the pit lane. He just went for it. “It was proper Top Gun stuff. Every time those lads go out in those cars they are risking their lives — and there’s a lot of money on their shoulders. “We were going to fly back but Jenson got us passes for the race. He really looked after us, it was terrific.” Olympic hopeful Tom Daley provided James with his biggest challenge — a terrifying plunge from a 10m diving board. And the small matter of sporting a tiny pair of swimming trunks in front of millions of viewers. James says: “Tom’s coach helped me every step of the way. It was terrifying but Tom was great. “What was ridiculous is that he’s 15. He’s the most together and composed 15-year-old you’ll ever meet. Then you see his body and you are like, ‘Oh my word’. It is unbelievable, you think he must really look after himself. “Then we are driving home and stop at the services and we see Tom Daley and his dad in McDonald’s and I am thinking, ‘How is that fair?’ Lovely “Ordering a double cheese- burger? I was just thinking, ‘All you do is jump off a board. You don’t even need to be that fit. All you are doing is just falling through the air’.” Filming with Andy Murray at the Lawn Tennis Association in south London proved the tennis star’s serious reputation is wide of the mark. James says: “He gave us four hours. His sketch was the most intricate and he was terrific. There is this perception of him not being much fun or shy. I couldn’t see anything other than him being a really lovely guy. “His time is precious. For him to come down to the LTA and muck about for a couple of hours was great. “I asked him to give me a full serve. A proper serve. It was like being sat in front of a rifle. I just didn’t stand a chance. “That’s what is great about the behind-the-scenes piece — real moments when you see the people behind who these sports stars are. It’s only £2.99 from iTunes, so check it out.” Meanwhile, James has already started thinking about the next Sport Relief — and is even consid- ering getting into shape himself and taking on a David Walliams- style sporting challenge. He says: “I would like to do it, it’s just finding what it is. If you are going to go for a run, you’ve got to go and beat Eddie Izzard. If you are going to go for a swim, you’ve got to swim more than the Channel. “If you are going to do a bike ride, you’re not going to beat John O’Groats to Land’s End. “Maybe rowing. At least I’ll be sat down.” To see all of Smithy’s sketches tune in to Sport Relief’s big night of TV from 7pm on BBC1. For more information go to sportrelief. com. [email protected] MURRAY , FLINTOFF...THEY’RE GOOD SPORTS Friday, March 19, 2010 35

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