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Radio 1's Jordan North sets off rowing 100 miles for Comic Relief

Sam Moore
·2-min read
BBC Radio 1 DJ Jordan North sets off in a single scull rowing boat from Little Venice, London, on his Comic Relief challenge - a 100 mile, five-day row along the UK's canals from London to his hometown of Burnley. Picture date: Monday February 28, 2022.
BBC Radio 1 DJ Jordan North sets off in a single scull rowing boat from Little Venice, London, on his Comic Relief challenge (PA)

Radio 1 presenter Jordan North has begun rowing 100 miles in support of Comic Relief.

The DJ, who also appeared on the twentieth season of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, will be rowing on canals between London and Burnley.

North commented on the challenge on Instagram: "It's the hardest I've ever trained for anything. I'm under no illusions that it is probably going to be one of the most physical and gruelling things I've ever done."

Read More: Jordan North: I was so skint when the pandemic hit I nearly moved back up north

He added: “It took me seven attempts to pass my driving test so you can imagine how I’m feeling about navigating 100 miles of the canals to get to Burnley over five days solo! There have been times where I’ve thought that I won’t be able to do this and have felt quite overwhelmed. I know it will be so hard."

LONDON,ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 1: Jordan North BBC Radio 1 presenter, rows along the river Thames in preparation for his Rowing Home challenge for Red Nose Day 2022. Shot in London on the Thames, on February 1, 2022.(Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief via Getty Images)
Jordan North BBC Radio 1 presenter, rows along the river Thames.(Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief via Getty Images)

North plans to start rowing every day at 8:15 during the Radio 1 Breakfast Show hosted by Greg James until he gets to the canalside location of his afternoon show which he shares with Vick Hope.

He is expected to row for eight hours a day for a week to complete the challenge.

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A post shared by Jordan North (@jordannorth1)

To train for the pursuit, North has been working with a professional rowing trainer for the last six weeks.

James' 4 March edition of the Breakfast Show will be broadcasting from Burnley to meet North at the finishing line. He won't be doing the route all in one but several different legs across the week.

LONDON,ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 1: Jordan North BBC Radio 1 presenter, proses for camera after training for his Rowing Home challenge for Red Nose Day 2022. Shot in London on the Thames, on February 1, 2022.(Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief via Getty Images)
Jordan North BBC Radio 1 presenter, poses for camera after training for his Rowing Home challenge (Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief via Getty Images)

James himself raised over £1m in 2018 for Sport Relief after climbing five of the tallest mountains in the UK.

This year, Red Nose Day will be taking place on 18 March. Olympic diver Tom Daley is also participating in a challenge for the charity. He rowed, cycled, swam and ran from Stratford to his home town of Plymouth across four days for the charity which aims to help communities in poverty.

Donate to Comic Relief here.

Watch below: Jordan North sets off on epic row from London to Burnley