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Radio 1’s Longest Ride for Red Nose Day has raised an incredible £4,041,000 for Comic Relief so far
Mega-band Coldplay donate £100,000, alongside a major match funding from The Hunter Foundation
Starting in Weymouth on Friday 13th March the Radio 1 DJ cycled for eight consecutive days spending up to eight hours in the saddle as he headed north to Scotland on his tandem
Greg was joined on the tandem by a string of familiar faces including His Royal Highness Prince William, Tour De France winner Geraint Thomas, comedian Joe Lycett, comedian and YouTuber Max Fosh, fellow Radio 1 DJ’s Jamie Laing, Arielle Free, and broadcaster Alice Levine
Comic Relief: Funny for Money is live from MediaCityUK in Salford on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Friday 20 March from 7pm, and for the very first time, live streamed simultaneously on the official BBC YouTube channel - where Greg’s total will be revealed
Greg will reveal the final challenge total live on his Radio 1 Breakfast show from 7am on Monday 23 March
Money raised for Red Nose Day could help people to eat, sleep safely, and live without fear. It can help put food on tables, roofs over heads and provide safety to those facing the toughest times of their lives
You can still donate to Greg here: comicrelief.com/ride
Friday 20 March: BBC Radio 1’s Greg James has completed Radio 1’s Longest Ride for Red Nose Day, arriving at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh after eight relentless days on the road, raising an incredible £4 million for Comic Relief so far.
After setting off at 5.45am for one final push, Greg rode to Edinburgh and the home of Scottish rugby to a roaring crowd and a true hero’s welcome, greeted by a traditional Scottish reception with bagpipes bellowing, courtesy of The Royal Military Tattoo, bringing an end to one of the toughest challenges ever undertaken for Red Nose Day.
Cycling more than 1,000 kilometres on a tandem bike - affectionately named “Tando Norris” by Radio 1 listeners - from Weymouth to Edinburgh, and climbing higher than Mount Everest along the way, an emotional Greg crossed the finish line broken and utterly exhausted.
Commenting on the remarkable feat after crossing the finish a visibly emotional Greg James said: “It feels amazing to have done that adventure, it feels amazing to have pushed through it all, it feels amazing to be part of an amazing team, and it feels amazing to have raised so much money, and it feels amazing to have finished!
Samir Patel, CEO of Comic Relief, said: “What Greg has achieved over the past eight days is nothing short of extraordinary. The challenge has captured the nation's attention and shows the force of good when we come together, helping to raise funds for people who are struggling to eat, sleep and feel safe right now.
We’re so thankful for every donation, and for everyone who has lined the streets to keep Greg’s spirits high and be part of this epic endeavour. Seeing communities come together like this is exactly what Red Nose Day is all about - people helping people and looking out for one another.”
The ride quickly became as entertaining as it was gruelling. Along the way, Greg was joined by a string of familiar faces in the saddle including His Royal Highness Prince William, double gold Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, comedian Joe Lycett, comedian and YouTuber Max Fosh, broadcaster Alice Levine, and fellow Radio 1 DJ’s Arielle Free and Jamie Laing, who turned up in full bridal lingerie on the penultimate day of the challenge to provide both pedal power and moment to smile.
There were jaw-dropping moments along the way from a dramatic Red Arrows flyover to be joined by convoy of leather-clad motorcyclists, but behind the spectacle, this was a challenge that very nearly broke him. After eight brutal days of punishing climbs, freezing starts and hour after hour in the saddle, Greg was left battling exhaustion, pain and sleep deprivation, at one point admitting he felt “broken”. Yet somehow, he kept going lifted by thousands who lined the route from city streets to remote country lanes, cheering, clapping and willing him forward. And after one final push into Murrayfield, he crossed the finish line exhausted, emotional, and having taken the entire country with him.
School pupils, families and local communities turned out in force, joined by messages of support from celebrity fans, including Formula 1 driver Lando Norris, all rallying behind Greg as he pushed through the pain barrier. At finish lines, he was met with emotional scenes, often visibly overwhelmed by the scale of support and what the challenge had become. And as he rode into Murrayfield, he crossed the finish line exhausted, emotional and having taken the entire country with him.
Fundraising momentum surged throughout the week, boosted by a £1million match funding pledge from The Hunter Foundation, alongside major donations including £100,000 from Brit band Coldplay, helping drive the total higher as the nation rallied behind Greg and the cause.
The £4 million raised so far will help Comic Relief support people facing incredibly tough circumstances, helping provide essentials including food, safe shelter and protection for those who need it most.
Greg’s final fundraising total will be revealed live during Comic Relief: Funny for Money, broadcast from MediaCityUK in Salford on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7pm and streamed live on the official BBC YouTube channel.
Money raised for Radio 1’s Longest Ride with Greg James for Red Nose Day could help fund vital projects supporting people facing incredibly tough times, both here in the UK and around the world, helping to put food on plates, provide safe places to sleep and support people who are at risk of poverty and harm. At a time when life can feel harder than ever, this challenge is about coming together and turning collective effort into real, positive change.
To support Greg, go to comicrelief.com/ride
