London Marathon 2024: All the famous faces to look out for

More than 50,000 are due to take part in this year's London Marathon and once again there will be a few familiar faces to look out for. A number of celebrities will be donning their trainers to take part in the event.

EastEnders actors Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick will run the London Marathon this Sunday, as their on-screen characters Honey Mitchell and Jay Brown. It is part of the programme's storyline involving Jay's wife, Lola, who died after a brain tumour.

The characters' marathon efforts will be filmed and feature in the soap on Monday, April 22.

Comedian Rosie Jones, who is using a buggy to complete the TCS London Marathon, has said her "internalised ableism" previously stopped her from using mobility aids.

The 33-year-old, who has ataxic cerebral palsy, is completing the long-distance race on Sunday with fellow stand-up comic Ivo Graham, who will be pushing her in a Delta Buggy.

Ted Lasso star Phil Dunster is running for Young Lives Versus Cancer because the charity helped his cousin's family to cover their medical expenses and provided emotional support in a difficult time.

The actor said: "I’m equal parts excited and terrified... that I’ll be running the London Marathon this year. I want to raise as much as I can to help Young Lives vs Cancer social workers be there for more children like Rory and their parents."

Formula 1 reporter Natalie Pinkham has traded her microphone for her trainers to run for the lead charity the Samaritans. She is running in memory of her good friend Caroline Flack, who took her own life at the age of 40 four years ago.

Ahead of the marathon, Natalie said: “Caroline would laugh. I can hear her voice now… ‘what you doing Pinks!’ Whenever I have a low moment, I do think about Caroline and the depths of despair she must have gone through.”

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who is taking over Claudia Winkleman's Saturday morning Radio 2 show, is running for Calm (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a suicide prevention program and hotline.

The comedian and presenter, who lost a friend to suicide, said: "It’s a sad fact that 125 people in the UK die every week as a result of suicide. And it’s something that I couldn’t in good conscience do nothing about. And so for that reason, I am running the London Marathon in order to raise as much money as I possibly can."

Fellow comedian and new dad Joel Dommett will be running for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices wearing the iconic piranha costume made famous by McFly star Danny Jones on The Masked Singer.

For Joel, this marathon isn’t just about crossing the ‘fin’ish line; it’s about making a difference and raising funds for Shooting Star to ensure babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families receive vital wrap-around support, as well as families who are recently bereaved.

“I decided to run for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices because it’s a charity that is very dear to my heart,” Joel said. “As a patron of the charity, and I know how much every tiny bit of money matters, and I’m really proud to be running for them — dressed as a fish.”

Singer- songwriter Tom Grennan has been keeping fans updated on his preparations on his vlog, even though he only started training eight weeks ago.

McFly drummer Harry Judd is also taking part and has come up with his own Marathon Mix for the BBC with four-and-a-half hours of specialist running music. It's hosted by Harry, with motivation and tips throughout, to give a soundtrack to the marathon experience. Harry will help guide others on their own marathon journey: from training sessions to completing the course.

Post marathon, Harry will also go on to host a regular ongoing show on BBC Sounds called Pace Setter: Run with Harry, where he’ll curate music mixes and motivate and guide people through their workouts.

Actress Ruth Wilson will also be running for the Alzheimer’s Research UK. After her father’s recent diagnosis, Ruth, her three siblings and nephew made the decision to run the marathon (and perhaps even beat their dad’s time of three hours and 15 minutes).

In a statement released ahead of lacing up, the 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."

Former Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston will also be taking part to raise money for The Big Issue. Having just turned 60, he said he will be happy to just finish the course.

The actor, who is an ambassador for the Big Issue, said: “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! I think I’ll be OK at 20 miles, but I don’t know where I’m going to find that next six miles."