Famous Faces Line Up For Simplyhealth Great North Run
A whole host of well-known faces have been pounding the streets, putting in the miles in preparation for this year's Simplyhealth Great North Run on Sunday 9th September. 57,000 runners are registered to take part including stars of stage and screen.
Chart-topping singer-songwriter, Olly Murs, is taking on the iconic half marathon for the first time after being inspired by television coverage of last year's event. Olly is running for local Essex charity Brainwave while sister Fay is supporting Mind.
Local girl Scarlett Moffatt of Gogglebox and Saturday Night Takeaway fame will be running for the Angel Trust, a charity that provides community support in Darlington and County Durham.
These first-timers will undoubtedly receive some start line tips from regulars including BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth, model turned presenter and fitness author Nell McAndrew and former Sunderland defender Michael Gray.
The musical theme continues with theatre actor and singer Lee Mead, also making his Great North Run debut, the return of Kaiser Chief's keyboardist Nick ‘Peanut' Baines and star of Jersey Boys, local lad Ryan Molloy, who is not only running but planning to stop on route to belt out a Frankie Valli favourite with long term Bands on the Run supporters The Commandments.
George Rainsford who plays Ethan Hardy in Casualty was the first famous face across the finish line last year, he is returning for another shot at victory and bringing along a host of colleagues from the popular Saturday night medical drama.
The world of sport will be well represented with a number of Commonwealth Games and Olympic medallists covering badminton, rowing, boxing, gymnastics and ice hockey, all taking their place on the iconic start line.
Last but by no means least, a number of small screen stars, television and radio presenters, comedians and authors will be taking on the 13.1 mile challenge, including; Tony Audenshaw (Bob Hope in Emmerdale), Philippa Tomson (Good Morning Britain reporter), Vicky Pattison (I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here), Pete Wicks (The Only Way is Essex), and Terry Deary (Horrible Histories).
For a full list of celebrity runners visit greatrun.org/north. The Simplyhealth Great North Run will be broadcast live on BBC One from 09.30 – 13.30, with a highlights programme from 17:00-18:00 on BBC Two, Sunday 9th September.
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