Which celebrities are running the 2024 London Marathon?

The London Marathon is upon us once again and, as usual, a clutch of celebs will be pounding the streets along with thousands of other runners.

Blue Peter’s Abby Cook had hoped to take part in her wheelchair, but has had to pull out just days before the race due to her health. Addressing fans on Instagram, she explained: “I really want to do this marathon, I so want to do it, I want to do everything that I set my mind to… but there does come a time where we have to draw a line.

"And I think that this might be it because I don’t want to damage my wrist for the rest of my life. I think this is my limit, for my health, for now,” she added.

While Cook is sadly sidelined this year, a host of other stars will be running the 26.2 miles across London on April 21 to raise money for various charities.

We have a look at some of those who have signed up and what they have said about it so far.

Christopher Eccleston

Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston has been a runner for years and has signed up this year, both to raise money for The Big Issue magazine, and to mark the fact he has turned 60. The actor has also said it won’t be his last, as he plans to do it again at 70.

“I did my last marathon in 2014, when I was 50, to celebrate my daughter Esme who had been born in August 2013,” he told The Big Issue. “Now I want to run another one to celebrate the fact that I’m still alive at 60.”

He went on: “And I’m promising myself that when 70 comes around, I will try it again. Because that will keep me focused and busy for a decade. That’s the plan – to make the next decade as disciplined and energetic as the previous one. And onwards and onwards.”

Laura Hamilton

A Place In The Sun presenter Laura Hamilton is running for WellChild – a national charity giving children and young people with serious illness the best chance to thrive.

Posting on Instagram this week, she admitted she was feeling “anxious”.

“I’ve never really enjoyed long distance running, BUT I started to enjoy it more through my training,” she said.

“It’s been tough and I keep asking myself have I done enough? I really don’t know. Am I aiming for a particular finish time? NO. I just want to finish whilst raising money for an amazing cause.”

“For anyone else who is feeling nervous about the event this weekend, I’m with you but let’s get through this together!” she added.

Joel Dommett

TV star Joel Dommett is going to be running in a huge piranha costume, in aid of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

The Survivor host said he realised how important the organisation was after he and his wife Hannah welcomed their baby boy Wilde last year.

“They provide end of life care for children and do some amazing work for families in need,” he said on Instagram. “After Wilde was born I started to fully realise how important this charity is to the families who need it and I really want to raise LOADS for them.”

Natalie Pinkham

TV presenter Natalie Pinkham is running the Marathon in memory of her friend Caroline Flack, after the Love Island host took her own life in 2020 at the age of 40.

She will be running for Samaritans, explaining on Instagram: "I am running for Samaritans as they are one of the four great charities we support at Flackstock - a music and comedy festival on 22nd July 2024, which raises money and awareness for mental health causes, and in memory of our beautiful friend Caroline Flack.”

Romesh Ranganathan

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan told fans on Instagram that he had vowed to never run a Marathon. But he ended up going back on that vow to run for Calm, the Campaign Against Living Miserably.

“I’m not sure where I’d be today if I didn’t get help when I hit rock bottom,” he wrote on Instagram. “In fact, I don’t know if I’d be here at all. So, I want to help to make sure more people know about CALM’s life-saving services, as well as raising as much money as I can.

The TV star also urged people to donate to his marathon fundraising page if you can, adding: “I WILL MATCH DONATIONS (unless it gets so high I’d have to lose my house).”

Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick

Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick’s London Marathon experience comes with a twist, as the real footage of them tackling the run will be in EastEnders.

The Albert Square favourites – aka Honey and Jay – are taking part to honour Borthwick’s onscreen wife Lola (Danielle Harold), who died of a brain tumour in the BBC soap. As they run, a crew will be filming to add some scenes into EastEnders.

In real life, Borthwick is actually running for prostate cancer, while Barton will be running on behalf of BBC Children in Need.

Speaking on The One Show last week, she said: “It’s quite complicated and it’s quite exciting because it’s never been done before… we are going to have four of our crews at four points… we just hope they get us because I am not going back to retake, that’s for sure!”

Tom Grennan

Tom Grennan is running for Shelter and admitted just two months ago that at that point he'd "not really trained for the Marathon at all".

"Not a massive fan of running to be honest with you," the singer said on Facebook as he shared a video of his first run. "All I'm thinking is, 'How the f*** am I going to do this for 16 miles?'" he told fans as he jogged along.

Harry Judd

McFly star Harry Judd will be among the returners when he sets off from the starting line this weekend, as he has run the London Marathon before.

The musician is a big supporter of The Children's Trust and will be running in aid of the charity for children with brain injuries.

The London Marathon takes place on Sunday, 21 April, and is on BBC One from 8:30am.

For confidential emotional support contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org

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