Funnyman Louie Anderson made an unexpected return to TV diving show Splash after beauty queen Katherine Webb was forced to quit on doctor's orders. 

The comic wowed the audience by walking out triumphantly on to the highest diving board in a patriotic stars and stripes swimsuit as the crowd chanted his name before plunging into the water below. 

The rules of the show state that if a contestant has to leave the last eliminated person is allowed to return - in this case, Louie. 

Choked up: Louie Anderson was in tears as he returned to Splash on Tuesday

World record breaker? He wiped his eyes as the judges gave their good scores

But his return was short-lived after he chose to bow out of the contest after landing in the bottom two.

He offered to quit because he didn't think he could go any further, giving Brandi Chastain another chance at winning the Splash crown.

'We have Super Louie in front of us,' said judge David Boudia after Louie jumped. 

Big achievement: The comedian was overcome with amazement as he came back to the show after being booted out last week 

Forced to leave: Katherine Webb was ordered to back out of the competition by doctors

Tough practice: The beauty queen was hurting herself during training

Louie wept, saying: 'That's the bravest thing I ever did.'

David gave him seven-and-a-half points, while Steve Foley gave him seven.

'I don't know of any 400lb person who's ever [done that],' said Steve. 

'It's 399 lbs,' Louie corrected him. 

On Tuesday night’s show each hopeful had to dive off  the10 metre platform - 33 ft in the air, falling at speeds of up to 35mph. 

The judges shared their horror stories of dives gone wrong - admitting they had been left bleeding and bruised by misjudging their jumps. 

'It feels like you're hitting a brick wall,' admitted David Boudia.

Surprise participants: Joey Lawrence and Charissa Thompson jumped from the 10-meter board fully clothed 

Enthusiastic hosts: Charissa kicked off her heels and did a backwards flip

And viewers - and contestants - were stunned when the show's hosts Joey Lawrence and Charissa Thompson jumped from the 10-metre board fully clothed after admitting they were the only two people on the show yet to dive.

Charissa kicked off her heels and did a backwards flip while Joey also jumped in with his clothes on.

Charissa narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction as her neon yellow dress almost slipped down as she got out of the pool.

'That was fun,' said Joey afterwards.

'That was fun!': The hosts were drenched afterwards but continued to present

Katherine, who was in bottom place last week but managed to stay on the show after Louie was voted off, was going to jump. 

But medics insisted she didn’t.

'Even the simplest dives shot pain all the way from the middle of my back down my leg.

'I've had the worst time,’ she explained as her tearful mother watched from the audience. 

It came after viewers saw her struggle to perfect her dive.

'I'm done, I can't freaking do this,' she had said in training as she fought back tears of frustration. '

‘It's so embarrassing.'

'Outhouse to the penthouse': Judge David awarded him eight points

Pulled it off: But He nervously approached the edge of the board before struggling to get into a handstand position 

Professional advice: Dive master Greg Louganis advised him to do an arm stand somersault 

Next up was child star Drake Bell, who struggled last week took to the board. He told how he had trained extra hard in a bid to improve.

Dive master Greg Louganis advised him to do an arm stand somersault as Drake admitted the pressure was getting to him as his girlfriend watched.

He nervously approached the edge of the board before struggling to get into a handstand position before executing the dive and coming up from the water with a big smile on his face.

Steve gave him seven-and-a-half points.

'What a comeback,' he said. 

And David awarded him eight points, saying he went from the 'outhouse to the penthouse.'

'It looked like a legit, real diver up there,' he added. 

Disappointing turn: US female soccer star Brandi Chastain did badly

Painful splash: Her focus didn't pay off as she attempted a front one-and-a-half jump

Then it was the turn of US female soccer star Brandi Chastain, who has done well in the contest so far but did badly tonight.

The Olympian said diving was 'way harder' than she'd imagined as she geared up for the big dive - attempting a front one-and-a-half jump.

'There's some anxiety,' she said before urging the crowd to make lots of noise.

And the nerves got to her. 

Nervous: David only gave her five points for her go int he pool

She looked like she had pulled off a great jump but landed with a painful-looking splash, slapping the water in frustration as she surfaced, and shaking her head.

David, who gave her five points, said: 'I know you can do this so much better. I hate giving you this score.'

'I have to take points off for the entry,' said Steve, who gave her four-and-a-half points, to boos from the audience, leaving her at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Fear of heights: 7ft 2ins tall basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Deep breaths: The crowd roared their encouragement as he jumped

Gone wrong: He struggled to emerge from the water after he immersed himself

Next to jump was 7ft 2ins tall basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, who has confessed to a fear of heights, because he is scared of injuring himself if something goes wrong.

'I feel like I'm going to break my nose,' he said.

And as he got to the platform he admitted he still wasn't sure if he could jump.

He steeled himself as the crowd roared their encouragement.

And the big man found the inner strength - finally making the plunge.

In shock: He told how he panicked before taking a couple of minutes to compose himself

'It's just impressive': Steve gave him seven points after his competing dive

But he appeared to be in pain as he flailed around in the water afterwards.

And he asked for help as he grimaced trying to pull himself out of the pool as his fellow contestants looked on anxiously. 

'I couldn't swim,' he said as he told how he panicked before taking a couple of minutes to compose himself.

'I felt like I just went a round with [a heavyweight boxing champ] Joe Lewis,' he said. 

'Kareem stepped it up,' said David as he gave him seven-and-a-half points.

Steve gave him seven points, saying: 'It's just impressive.'

Great heights: Former Baywatch star Nicole Eggert came top on last week's show

Unsure: But when she stepped up to do the reverse backflip off the highest board, she began to have doubts

Nine points: Steve praised her massively improved self-confidence

Former Baywatch star Nicole Eggert came top on last week's show, prompting her to believe she could win the show.

But when she stepped up to do the reverse backflip off the highest board, she began to have doubts.

She pulled off a great dive, punching the air and beaming when she came up for air out of the water.

'I'm continually being blown away by the progress you're making,' said David as he praised her technical abilities. 

He gave her nine points.

Meanwhile Steve praised her massively improved self-confidence since the show's star.

'What a metamorphosis,' he said as he awarded her eight points, putting her at the top of the leader board. 

Daredevil: Extreme skier Rory Bushfield confessed he was scared to dive headfirst but was inspired by his late wife

Bold move: The star took a run and pulled off a tremendous dive

On with the show: He ruptured his eardrum earlier in the competition 

Last up was daredevil extreme skier Rory Bushfield - who confessed he was scared to dive headfirst from such a height.

He ruptured his eardrum earlier in the competition and despite doctor's orders carried on with the show.  That meant he couldn't practice this week's dive.

'I could actually hurt myself in this one,' he admitted as he paid tribute to his skier wife Sarah Burke who died in 2012 while skiing.

Awesome jump: He was told his late wife Sarah would be impressed

'It was just sort of a fluke crash. I had it all,' he said as his voice broke as he remembered her.

'This week I'm going to do a front one-and-a-half and land on my head to prove to Sarah that I'm not a baby,' he said. 

Wearing a black headband he said: 'I'm just inspired by my wife.'

He looked terrified as he peered over the edge - but then took a run and pulled off a tremendous dive.

Professional qualities: Steve said he's thinking about signing Rory up for the 2016 Olympic team

Very impressed: David said he was blown away by what he saw in front of him

Steve said: 'I'm thinking about signing him up for the 2016 Olympic team.'

He gave him eight-and-a-half points, adding: 'Sarah would be impressed.'

David said: '[I'm] blown away.'

He gave him nine points.

Bottom two: Brandi and Louie faced a dive-off at the end of the show

Going no further: He decided to give up his place in the competition so Brandi could continue

Big thanks: The soccer star hugged him goodbye before her exited the stage

After the live audience scores were tallied with the judges' it was revealed that Brandi and Louie would be facing a dive-off, meaning the other contestants were safe.

But then Louie offered to quit – because he knew he couldn’t go all the way.

'I really went further than I ever thought I could. I know I have very little chance of winning this competition,’ he said. 

As he quit he added: 'I am going to defer to Brandi because she has a chance to win this competition.'

'You have our hearts forever,' said host Joey Lawrence, as the crowd chanted Louie’s name. 

Rehearsal mode: Kareem was seen talking to Drake Bell at practice on Tuesday

Shooting high hoops: The star played basketball on top of a board

Tags: Katherine Webb, Katherine Webb Quits, Entertainment