From Mark Wright to Chris Evans and Cynthia Erivo, which celebrities are running the London Marathon 2022?-Rebecca Sayce and Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

They’re up for the challenge! (Picture: ITV/Getty)

The London Marathon is upon us, with thousands of runners expected to take to the streets in a bid to complete the mammoth raise while raising vital funds for charity.

After months of training, the 2022 event is here, and there’s a chance you might recognise some of the participants.

From comedians to award-winning actors, Olympic gold medalists, and reality stars, here’s which celebs will be running this year’s London Marathon.

Stephen Mangan

Stephen joins a whole host of famous faces (Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

Actor, comedian, presenter, and writer Stephen Mangan will take part in this year’s London Marathon raising money for Marie Curie UK.

Posting to Twitter, he said: ‘For reasons I’ve yet to fully understand I’m running the London Marathon next week.

‘I’m raising money for @mariecurieuk please sponsor me if you can. It’s an incredible charity. THANK YOU.’

He took part in the marathon back in 1999, completing it in 3 hours and 33 minutes.

Harry Judd

The McFly member will take on the marathon in aid of a children’s charity (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

McFly singer Harry Judd will be taking on the challenge of the London Marathon for the Children’s Trust.

He ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon back in April for the first time alongside 12,000 other runners.

Speaking about the experience, he said: ‘It was amazing. Honestly, I had so much fun. Great crowds, great weather – a perfectly organised event with loads of great charities being supported today and loads of money raised, and hopefully loads of PB’s smashed. All in all, it was brilliant!’

Chris Evans

Chris Evans is swapping the headphones for training shoes (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Swapping his headphones for running shoes, radio and television presenter Chris Evans will embark on the 26.2-mile race.

It marks the eighth time the star has taken part in the marathon, with him last running in 2021.

He logged his best time in 2016 when he completed the route in four hours and 39 minutes.

In 2019, he rain in aid of Dementia Revolution.

Mark Wright

Mark is back in action (Picture: Joe Pepler/PinPep/REX/Shutterstock)

Former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright is running this year’s marathon with FLORA for its Get Towns Active campaign.

He was set to take part in last year’s London Marathon, but had to pull out due to an injury.

‘At the time, it was devastating. I had done quite a bit of training and I was really looking forward to it and I went on the day and saw the atmosphere,’ he told The Mirror.

‘I am nervous about getting injured every time I go out for a run or when I do a session. I’m nervous that I’m going to get injured.’

Tyler West

Tyler is somehow juggling the marathon with Strictly! (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Spotify)

Taking a break from Strictly, Kiss FM DJ Tyler West will embark on the London Marathon this weekend in support of charity UK Youth.

Posting on Instragram, the presenter said: ‘So excited taking part in this years @londonmarathon for @uk.youth a charity that aids youth organisations all over the UK.

‘I’ve been helped by youth work growing up and worked in it myself. For many young people it’s a lifeline.’

Taylor Headley will also be raising money alongside West for the charity.

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia is a London Marathon newbie (Picture: REX)

Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo will join the famous faces at this year’s event.

This will be the first time she has tackled her hometown marathon, though so is no stranger to running as she previously completed the TCS New York City Marathon in 2016.

After completing the course, she went on to embark on back-to-back performances as Celie in The Color Purple on Broadway.

Helen Thorn

The podcast host is running it with her buddy (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Comedian Helen Thorn – known for hosting the Scummy Mummies podcast – will be running the marathon with co-host Ellie Gibson.

Swapping the microphone for their running shoes, after starting training during lockdown.

Helen will be running in support of Women’s Aid, a charity supporting women and children to get out of abusive relationships, saying she feels ‘even more passionate’ about the cause now after there was a spike of abusive relationships during the pandemic.

Chris Stark

Ahead of his Capital debut, Chris Stark is taking on the marathon (Picture: PA)

Chris Stark – who recently announced his departure from BBC Radio 1 – joins other music stars also digging out their trainers in aid of a good cause.

This is by no means Chris’ first charity event, as he’s previously taken part in 24-hour radio broadcasts in aid of Comic Relief.

Greg O’Shea

Greg O’Shea is taking it very seriously (Picture: ITV)

Love Island’s Greg O’Shea – who appeared on the show in 2019 – actually spent over 10 years training and working in the intensity of rugby, and he’s using that mindset to help him power through the marathon.

He gained his place in the London Marathon with Alzheimer’s Research, running in honour of his late grandmother and wanting to raise funds so ‘other families don’t have to struggle like mine did.’

However, he wasn’t aware of the mammoth task he was taking on at first.

‘I knew I wanted to do a marathon, signed up, got my place and then I thought, “Hold on, how do you even train for it?”,’ he said.

‘I mean, I’ve been a professional athlete, I went to the Olympics which is the pinnacle of sport, but I have absolutely no idea how to train for this!’

Danny Mills

The Leeds United star is raising money for a cancer charity (Picture: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

The former Leeds United defender is running to raise funds for the Bobby Moore Fund.

He first ran the marathon for the charity in 2016, but has been long-distance running for several years now.

‘I’ve been involved with the Bobby Moore Fund and the cancer research stuff that they do, which is fabulous, for some time,’ he told Daily Star Sport.

‘I’ll be running for them, doing my bit, seeing what I can do. For anyone that fancies doing it, London is amazing, and I want to put New York on that list as well, as a box ticker.’

Stephen Warnock

Stephen is taking to the streets again after completing the virtual marathon (Picture: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

The former footballer ran in the virtual London Marathon in 2020, and now he’s doing the real thing.

He previously ran the virtual 40 Virgin Money London Marathon around Liverpool to raise money for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.

Gary Rowett

The Footie boss is running for a charity helping those in the cost of living crisis (Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Millwall boss Gary Rowett is running the London Marathon in aid of the Lions Food Hub.

Organised by former Lionesses goalkeeper Kelly Webster and others, the charity was set up in the middle of the pandemic to help those in need in the Bermondsey area, and has become increasingly important during the cost of living crisis. 

Iwan Thomas

The sprinter has even found time for a pint mid-race! (Picture: Harriet Lander/Getty Images for National Lottery)

The sprinter turned distance runner and open-water swimmer is no stranger to a marathon.

In fact, he’s such a pro that he’s previously been known to stop for a beer during the event!

‘The last couple of years I’ve actually had a pint during the London Marathon. All the crowds were so great, and there are all these lads going, “Go on, Iwan!” and waving their beers at me,’ he once told the Guardian.

‘This year it was a woman. She said, “Come on, Iwan!” and I stopped and said, “Can I have a bit of that?”, and she said, “You’re joking, right?” and everyone around her started laughing. So I nicked her pint of lager, downed half of it and carried on.’

James Cracknell

James is a pro when it comes to marathons now (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

James Cracknell has completed his fair share of marathons too, in fact, he took part last year.

The rowing champion actually beat his own personal best in 2021, with a mighty impressive time of 2:43:12.

It was wondered whether he had run the ‘perfect’ marathon thanks to his skilled pacing and how he was able to execute his performance on the day.

Tom McEwen

The athlete is doing it for someone special (Picture: BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)

The athlete is running the marathon for his granny, as he shares on his fundraising page.

‘My family and I are currently living through the impacts of Dementia. My granny has deteriorated over the last few years to the point where she can no longer recognise her own family members,’ he wrote.

‘I want to try to do everything I can to help prevent this happening to other families,’ he added, as he is running for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Sam Bird

Sam is running for a charity close to his heart (Picture: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

Sam is running for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a charity the racing driver says is close to his heart.

His fundraising page explains: ‘Established for over 30 years, SMA UK are a charity that supports, campaigns and advocates so that everyone affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy can access the best care, services and treatments, and benefit from continued research.’

Reece Parkinson

Reece credits running for helping him through his diabetes (Picture: Jim Dyson/Redferns)

Presenter Reece has previously spoken about his love for running and how he believes it helped him build up resilience after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

‘Thank God I was running – I think that’s what saved me,’ he previously told Men’s Health.

He ran his first marathon a few years ago, which was a big jump from the 14-mile run he did before.

‘Looking back now, it sounds crazy to jump from one distance to another so quickly, but that’s the mood I was in. When you’re feeling low, you make decisions you wouldn’t usually make,’ he shared.

Eventually, Reece’s marathons became ultramarathons and he started filming a documentary on ultrarunning.

Sophie Raworth

The journalist is no stranger to a marathon (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Journalist Sophie Raworth is another keen runner.

She ran her first London Marathon back in 2011, and actually collapsed two miles before the finish line.

But, by 2017, she had completed all six World Marathon Majors.

In 2021, Sophie ran and completed the London Marathon for the fourth time.

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