A whole host of celebs are taking to the streets of London this weekend for the 2024 marathon (Picture: PA/JustGiving/BBC)
The 2024 London Marathon is set to be a star-studded affair as a whole host of celebrities don their running gear for the second-largest annual road race in the UK.
This year, the likes of Romesh Ranganathan, Christopher Eccleston, and Ruth Wilson will run in aid of charity, setting off on Sunday (April 21) along with 50,000 other runners fundraising and chasing personal goals.
The London Marathon is no small feat, of course, as participants run a 26.2-mile (42.2km) footrace through the capital.
So, training has been intense, with plenty of celebrities spotted across recent months getting the miles in.
Let’s take a look at who you might spot…
Romesh Ranganathan
Will Romesh Ranganthan’s training pay off? (Picture: Getty Images for Sky)
Romesh is far better known for his comedy than his running abilities, but that doesn’t mean he won’t give it a go.
Having dreaded cross-country in school, he admitted that he’s ‘lazy’ when it comes to the sport.
Speaking previously to Runner’s World about the marathon, he described it as an ‘impossible’ challenge that also appealed to him.
‘I don’t think I fully appreciated how hard it was going to be,’ he said of his training.
‘The training is difficult, there’s no getting around that. But that’s also part of it, otherwise, everyone would be smashing out marathons every other week.’
The self-confessed ‘lazy’ star has been putting the hours in (Picture: PA)
He added that, during training, he ‘encounters things he’s never encountered before.’
‘You’re doing distance you’ve never done before. And you meet challenges you didn’t realise were involved. It’s tough but enjoyable at the same time.’
Romesh is running for a very good cause, though, as he raises funds for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).
‘On more than one occasion in life when I was younger, I came very close to taking my own life. I hit rock bottom,’ he said. ‘I experienced the sensation of feeling that suicide was the solution to my issues, so I can relate to people in that position.’
Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston is running for The Big Issue (Picture: Andy Parsons/Big Issue/PA Wire)
Doctor Who icon Christopher Eccleston is swapping the TARDIS for the tarmac in the name of The Big Issue.
The actor – who played the ninth incarnation of the Time Lord – has just tuned 60, but insists a run always helps him feel better.
‘To be wearing the Big Issue colours is incredible. The last one I ran was when I was 50. So, my plan is to run at 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100. And then I’ll retire!’, he joked.
Christopher predicted: ‘I think I’ll be okay at 20 miles, but I don’t know where I’m going to find that next six miles.’
Ruth Wilson
Ruth Wilson and her family are running together for her father (Picture: JustGiving)
Actress Ruth Wilson will be sweating it out in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Her inspiration for the challenge comes after her father’s recent diagnosis, with Ruth and her three siblings and nephew deciding to run to raise funds and awareness.
The Luther star’s father actually completed the marathon himself once, so they’re hoping to beat his time of three hours and 15 minutes.
In a statement, the Wilson family said: ‘Whether we run together or in healthy competition with each other is yet to be seen but with every step, dad will be in our hearts, together with the hundreds of thousands living with this awful disease and those caring for them.’
Tom Grennan
Tom Grennan is putting down the microphone and putting on his running gear (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
He’s no stranger to topping the charts, but how will Tom Grennan fare when it comes to securing a good time in this year’s marathon?
Well, the London-based star certainly has both youth and stamina on his side, given how he previously smashed it at Soccer Aid, and is set to play again this year.
However, the singer has only been training for the London Marathon for eight weeks but has been vlogging his journey to the marathon online.
Hoping he’s doing enough will be Shelter, the homeless charity he’s fundraising for.
Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick
Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick are teaming up off the Square (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick are best known as Honey Mitchell and Jay Brown respectively, who are the characters they play in EastEnders.
What’s different about their part in this year’s London Marathon is they will actually be running as Honey and Jay.
It’s unclear if they’ll be supporting a charity or what the scenes will look like in the final edit.
But, we do know that the two will be running to honour Jay’s late wife, Lola Pearce-Brown, who died from a brain tumour last year.
Phil Dunster
Ted Lasso star Phil Dunster is running for an important cause (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Phil Dunster is loved by fans for his non-nonsense portrayal of Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso.
For the marathon, the actor will fundraise for Young Lives Versus Cancer and run proudly sporting their t-shirt.
He said the charity cemented a place in his heart when they helped his cousins family cover their medical bills and provided emotional support throughout a tough time.
‘I’m equal parts excited and terrified that I’ll be running the London Marathon this year,’ he said in a press release.
‘I want to raise as much as I can to help Young Lives Versus Cancer social workers be there for more children like Rory and their parents.’
Emily Clarkson
Em Clarkson is running one year after welcoming her first child (Picture: Belinda Jiao/PA Media Assignments)
Em Clarkson may have given birth 14 months ago, but she certainly won’t let that stop her.
The daughter of Jeremy Clarkson and Metro.co.uk agony aunt has completed marathons before, but this is her first major post-partum challenge.
Em wrote on Instagram amid her training: ‘If I walk it, if I crawl it, even if I don’t make it, I’m SO just so f***ingg proud of myself for getting here.
‘My pregnancy was brutal, and this time last year I was still struggling to do my morning walk or sit up on my own. This marathon was a dream but I never let myself hope I’d make it a reality. BUT HERE WE F***ING ARE!!!’
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