24 Aug 2014

Ice bucket challenge – who’ll be the spoilsport?

George W Bush has done it, but Barack Obama won’t budge. David Cameron has just been nominated to get soaked in ice-cold water too – so who’ll be first to step up to the bucket?

Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond has become the latest politician to take the ice bucket challenge – the social media campaign launched by neurodegenerative disease charity ALS, that ecnourages people to get drenched in ice cold water to raise awareness and money.

Mr Salmond nominated Prime Minister David Cameron, while his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, proposed Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg for an ice-cold soaking – but will they do it?

If not, they might be in renowned company – for now. Normally game for most things, US President Barack Obama has turned down a challenge from former President George W Bush, and has instead made a donation.

Even Sarah Palin has taken part, although whether her nominee Hillary Clinton follows suit remains to be seen.

Mr Salmond followed in the footsteps of Alistair Darling, who is campaigning against him in the Scottish independence debate to keep the union – but will Mr Cameron step up to the bucket? Here’s a taste of what the PM might be in for:

Plenty of celebrities have taken the plunge (ahem, sorry about that), including David Beckham and Lady Gaga:

Kermit the Frog’s soaking was, he claims, the first naked ice bucket challenge:

Actor and social media legend Patrick Stewart took part in his own inimitable way:

And have you ever wanted to see Sherlock in a wet t-shirt? Actor Benedict Cumberbatch took the challenge to a whole new level: