Owen Tonks
Celebrities were out in force as a record number of people took part in the London Marathon on Sunday in what has been billed as its most inclusive year yet.
More than 50,000 ran the 26.2-mile course through the capital on what was a dry and bright day with highs of 12C.
Runners of all ages aimed to complete the route for charity, pouring through the start line from 10am, with some even in incredible costumes.
Famous faces who took part included comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan, who ran for suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably the day after starting his new BBC Radio 2 Saturday morning show.
Fellow comedian Joel Dommett ran in the Piranha costume first worn by this year’s Masked Singer winner, McFly’s Danny Jones, while radio presenter Chris Evans and his wife Natasha, singer Tom Grennan and actress Ruth Wilson, among others, also took part.
McFly’s Harry Judd said the atmosphere for runners on the London Marathon was ‘amazing’.
The pop star, 38, who ran for charity The Children’s Trust, for children with brain injury, finished in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 40 seconds, and told the BBC while running in the marathon: ‘The atmosphere is amazing.
‘The crowds are out in their thousands, and loads of amazing runners have charities donned on their t-shirts.’
He said the conditions were ‘pretty good’.
‘I would say these are pretty good conditions for those elite athletes, which I am not one of,’ he said.
‘It’s not too cool nor too windy.’
Fellow singer Tom Grennan, 28, finished in 3:45:39 after running for housing and homelessness charity Shelter.
The recording artist said after crossing the finishing line: ‘What an experience! I can’t tell you how amazing that is.
‘There’s so many people cheering you on, seeing so many people run for their charities.
‘What an incredible experience. Loved it!’
The Masked Singer UK host Joel Dommett also took part in the race, with a finishing time of 5:19:19.
Television presenter Joel, 38, who hosts the singing competition, wore the Piranha costume which featured on the show and was worn by winner of the last series, McFly star Danny Jones.
Joel ran for charity Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, of which he is a patron.
He wrote online ahead of the race: ‘Shooting Star Children’s Hospices supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families across Surrey and west London.
‘Whether lives are measured in days, weeks, months or years, we are here to make every moment count. We support families from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.’
Former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston completed his run in 5:21:50, with the actor, 60, running in aid of The Big Issue.
He said: ‘I want to thank you all personally. Some people put in incredible amounts of money and others put in just what they could. Everything is equal. It’s really emotional and it’s what gets runners round is the sponsorship. So thank you very much.’
Meanwhile, Ruth Wilson ran for charity Alzheimer’s Research UK and completed her marathon in 4:54:26.
The actress, 42, ran almost 43 years to the day since her father Nigel took part in the first ever London Marathon in 1981, completing his run in a remarkable 3 hrs 15mins.
Nigel is now living with Alzheimer’s disease and Ruth wanted to raise funds in his honour to support their search for a cure.
She said: ‘I’m just so elated to have finished and to have helped raise such valuable funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. I suffered an injury to my leg at around mile 20, so had to hobble the last six miles, but Dad was in my thoughts throughout and motivated me to keep going. It was the perfect tribute to him. I think it’ll be some time until the emotion of crossing that finish line is matched.
‘The crowd was electric, and their encouragement and support really drove me on. It’s a day I’ll remember forever, and it’s all been for the most incredible man and amazing cause.’
She added: ‘Research will help overcome dementia and Alzheimer’s Research UK will lead us towards a cure. If you can spare any pennies, please do consider donating. And a massive thank you to everyone who has donated so far – it means so much to me and my family.’
EastEnders actors Jamie Borthwick and Emma Barton ran the London Marathon in character as part of a brain tumour storyline.
Last year the BBC One soap said goodbye to Lola Pearce-Brown, played by Danielle Harold, in heart-wrenching scenes as she died following her diagnosis with a glioblastoma multiforme.
On Sunday, in a clip played on BBC One, the actors; Jamie, 29, who plays Lola’s husband Jay Brown; and Emma, 46, who portrays Honey Mitchell, said their characters would run the marathon in honour of Lola.
Jamie said ahead of the race: ‘Over the last 18 months, we have seen a storyline where my wife Lola, had developed a brain tumour.
‘We just really tried to make it as real as we could and our lovely boss dropped the idea to us that maybe our characters would run the marathon.’
Emma added: ‘I think it’s a really clever idea that EastEnders have done to show what a lot of the people all over the country are doing.
‘And that’s raising money for their charities or in memory of a loved one.
‘As Honey and Jay are going to be running the London Marathon, we are going to be filmed live on the London Marathon day, which will then go into Monday April 22’s show at 7.30pm. This has never been done before in soap history.’
Presenter JJ Chalmers spoke to the duo at the 12-mile point.
Jamie said: ‘It’s fantastic. So far, we are struggling a bit. But are we getting through, the crowds are great.’
He added: ‘Everyone’s been great.
‘It’s such a great day, and everyone’s screaming and shouting and it’s brilliant.’
Asked if they were ready for their EastEnders scene, Emma said: ‘We just have to treat it like any other scene of EastEnders, professionally, we’re gonna get it done and then we can relax for the last half.’
The EastEnders London Marathon episode will air Monday 7.30pm on BBC One.
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