TOWIE hunk Dan Osborne dives into the third round of Splash! wearing tight leopard print trunks... as he wins the show with public vote

By FELICITY THISTLETHWAITE

Published: 14:45 EST, 18 January 2014 | Updated: 18:32 EST, 18 January 2014

Diving in tight leopard print trunks, gym-bod TOWIE star Dan Osborne performed an impressive backward dive off the 10m board on Saturday night's Splash!

Before diving, Dan said: ‘I can’t multitask. I can’t dive. Every sport I’ve ever tried I’ve been good at, but diving’s hard. I’m hoping that Jo fancies me, she’s hot.’

But the star impressed the three judges, despite Jo Brand declaring sarcastically that the star had 'let himself go' and went on to win the third heat of the show through the public vote.

Hunky star: Dan Osbourne dived off the board wearing leopard print trunks on Saturday night

Impressed: TV host Gabby Logan didn't know where to look as Dan appeared in tight trunks

Speaking about the hunk’s ability, Tom said: ‘If Dan wants to be a good diver he needs to concentrate more. Dan and Patrick are a bit of a double act but while Patrick’s moving ahead, Dan’s being left behind.’

‘I have really enjoyed it and worked as hard as I can. I’ve had a few sleepless nights and changing nappys, but it’s all good.’

The star performed the daring high-board backward dive, landing feet-first.

Training friends: Dan and comedian Patrick became BFFs as they practiced their dives in the weeks before the show

Nervous? The TOWIE star looked a little apprehensive as he peered over the edge of the diving board on live TV

Andy said: ‘A back somersault from 10m was always going to be impressive. For me it was good.’

Jo, whom Dan said he fancied in his pre-show VT, added: ‘Dan, I don’t fancy you and you’ve let yourself go to seed. But that was very good.’

Leon said: ‘You looked like a bad guy in a James Bond movie – but it was an impressive stunt.’

Dripping wet: The star looked equally as fabulous when he got out of the pool after his dive, covered in water

Andy awarded him an 8, Jo an 8.5 and Leon a 7 leaving the star with 23.5 out of 30.

Comedian Patrick Monahan, 37, was the first to dive in the third heat of ITV's diving reality TV show Splash!, performing

The star said, 'I dive like a seal that’s being attacked by a whale being attacked by a penguin,' in his VT before the live dive.

Moral support: All the celebrities watched the dives from the side of the pool with their mentor Tom Daley

Multicoloured madness: Patrick Monahan was the first to dive during the third round of Splash!

Lunge: The comedian jumped on this unsuspecting member of the audience for a pre-dive hug

Looking nervous before he dived off the top board, the star winked at the audience and threw his hands in the air; he performed a near-perfect tuck but over-rotated slightly.

The star was heard saying, 'I'm sorry Vernon,' after the dive as he hugged the host, thus covering him in water and leaving a wet patch on his shirt.

The judges were impressed with the star. Leon Taylor said: 'You are completely bonkers but that was a hard dive.'

That's not the diving board: Patrick was seen trying out his technique on the side of the pool during rehearsals

Second on the show: Paul Young was the second into the pool diving off a high board

Jo Brand said: 'As a comedian I was expecting something hilarious and it was hilarious. But it was also brave and I appreciated that.'

Rewarding the comedian's bravery rather than ability, the judges were generous with their points; Andy and Leon gave the star 7.5 while Jo awarded an 8. 

The second to dive was 57-year-old musician Paul Young who came out with a great energy.

Speaking during the practice sessions, he said: 'Everyone else has got flips and tricks but I haven't, so I've got to go for height.'

Good movement: The musician gave a fabulous performance on Saturday night

Age ain't nothing but a number: Paul was the oldest contestant but Tom ensured him he shouldn't let age hold him back

Tom Daley said: 'He's letting his age hold him back and he shouldn't.'

But the musician bravely headed for the 7.5 metre board for the live dive, something he refused to do during practice. 

As he made his way to the edge of the pool the singer looked up at the board to admire the height.

Judge Leon said: 'Well done. The line was well executed, but I don't think it will be good enough to go through.'

Third in the pool: MP Penny Mordaunt tried a really hard dive on Saturday night, but it didn't quite pay off

Concentration: Penny looked like she was deep in thought as she stood on the edge of the board

Andy added: 'You pushed yourself up to 7.5m, well done.'

But the star still got 20.5 from the judges with Andy giving a 7, Jo a 7.5 and Leon a meager 6.

After the dive, speaking to Vernon Kay, Tom said: 'That was the best he's ever done. Amazing. Well done.'

Third in line to take to the diving board was MP Penny Mordaunt wearing a fabulous fifties swimsuit.

She said: 'I think you have to be brave in politics and I think some of those skills might be needed when I'm on the diving board.'

Tom added: 'Penny's a tough cookie and she's the hardest worker in the group.'

Concern: The judges were worried about Penny's entry to the pool, but the star didn't seem to have hurt herself

Glamour queen: Penny looked amazing as she spoke to the camera about her determination to win

With plenty of encouragement from the crowd the MP performed the hardest dive seen on Splash this far: a backward dive off the 7.5m board.

After the dive, Jo said: 'That was one scary dive there. I was so scared for you I had my eyes shut.'

Andy added: 'You had to get the control right, which unfortunately you didn't do.'

The star said: 'Everyone's dived really well in rehearsal but your heart's racing so much.'

The judges rewarded her with 22.5 points - Andy gave a generous 7.5, Jo an 8 and Leon just 7.

Last to hit the water was model and TV personality Danielle Lloyd who wore a black cut-out onepiece.
Speaking on the VT, she said: ‘I’m competitive, I’ve done a lot of pageants.’

All friends: The group were seen laughing and joking together during the training sessions with Tom

Her mentor Tom was impressed with the star's behavior: ‘Danielle began training just weeks after giving birth to her third child and she’s doing so well.’

The model was spotted video calling one of her sons as she sat with her feet in the pool, but it wasn’t all fun and games. After a scary moment in the pool Danielle was seen in tears having bruised her back.

Speaking to Vernon about the incident, she said: ‘What happened really shook me and I’m proud of myself to be on the 5m tonight.’

The star performed a 5m pike perfectly. After her dive, she said: ‘Hopefully, if I get through, I’ll have a chance again.’

Confidence: Danielle was the last to dive, but the star looked very confident as she walked out

Snazzy: The model showed off her fabulous figure in a cut-out swimsuit

Judge Leon was impressed with the model: ‘It was a beautiful dive. To come back two days after that is impressive. I’m very, very impressed with your bravery.’

Jo added: ‘I thought you were very brave. Well done.’

Finally, Andy said: ‘Danielle, the main reason why people quit this sport is because they take a big smack and never come back, but not you. Beautiful dive.’

Andy awarded her a 6.5, Jo a 7.5 and Leon a 6 giving the star a 20 out of 30.

After diving the star said: ‘I’m so please I actually did it. Hi Archie, Harry and George!’

Great performance: Model Danielle did a brilliant, but simple, dive with straight arms and legs

Brave: Danielle had seriously bruised her back when she landed on it after a high dive

Ouch! The star showed the camera her red-raw back which meant she changed the dive she performed on the live show

The show opened with several divers twisting and turning with impressive dives from each board as the contestants were revealed.

Show mentor, and Olympic diver, Tom Daley showed the contestants how it was done as he sliced through the water with great ease and sophistication from the top board.

Speaking to the hosts he said: 'It's been eventful, there have been lots up and and downs but it will be great tonight. This group have been very technically capable so you'll have to wait and see what they do but they're very capable.'

Happy: The model was over-the-moon to have completed the dive, and couldn't stop smiling as Gabby spoke to her on the side of the pool

She's a family woman: The model and mother-of-three was seen FaceTiming her kids from the side of the pool

Last Saturday former Boyzone star Keith Duffy won the second heat, wearing a pair of lucky clover trunks. In the 'Splash off' between 80s singer Toyah Willcox and TV presenter Anna Williamson, it was Anna who won the judges over and gets to compete again.

All the celebrities had dived with Dan at the top of the leader board and Danielle at the bottom – but it was up to the public and not the judges who jumped through to the next round.

The celebrity with the highest score from the public vote was Dan, and the hunk went through to the semi-finals immediately.

The final call: The celebrities lined up as it was revealed who had won the show and which two contestants were going through to the splash-off

Winner! Dan was revealed to have gained the most public votes and was fast-tracked through to the semi-finals

But the first to leave the competition and go home was comedian Patrick, who did a double flip into the pool as he was evicted.

The second celebrity to leave the competition was veteran musician Paul Young, leaving Penny and Danielle in the splash-off.

Tom gave the girls some advice before they took to the boards, while Dan celebrated his win with host Vernon.

The wrong side: Penny hit the water very hard as she landed on her front rather than hands first

Huge splash: The star's entry made everyone in the audience wince, but she appeared to be okay when she spoke to Gabby after leaving the pool

First to dive in the splash-off was MP Penny – the blonde had to repeat her tricky backward dive from earlier and did several practice jumps on the board before approaching the edge.

Second to dive was model Danielle Lloyd who smiled as someone screamed, ‘I love you Danielle,’ as she prepared to repeat her previous dive.

It was down to the judges who they wanted to see in the semi-finals.

Jo put through model Danielle, Andy admitted Penny had wiped out in the pool and put through

Danielle meaning, with two of three votes, the model was automatically through. Leon agreed he would have put through the brunette model.

Confidence: Mother-of-three Danielle oozed confidence as she stood waiting to do her dive

Someone had to go: Penny was voted out by the judges, meaning Danielle goes through to the semi-finals

It suits you: Tom Daley dived into the pool during a professional performance wearing a full suit, shirt and tie

Performance: There were several high-octane performances from diving and swimming professionals through the show