Prominent Celebrities, Including a Perceived Idler, Set to Participate in the London Marathon for a Second Time
In 2025, the London Marathon will be an unforgettable event, packed with celebrities lacing up their running shoes for the UK's second-largest annual road race. Famous faces like Harry Judd, Romesh Ranganathan, and Alexandra Burke will join forces with 50,000 other dedicated runners, aiming to fundraise and chase their personal goals on April 27.
The London Marathon, a 26.2-mile footrace through the capital, is no small accomplishment. Even those who have already conquered the marathon distance, like Spencer Matthews, recognize the grueling training it requires. With a week left before race day, here's a rundown of celebrities to keep an eye out for on Sunday:
Lisa McGrillis - Actress McGrillis has been hitting the pavement in preparation for the marathon, running to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation in memory of her friend's husband. After the race, she'll film the second season of Disney Plus' Rivals, in which she plays Valerie Jones.
Lisa shared on Instagram her training regimen, revealing she runs for her friend Mary's late husband, Nigel. She also took on the challenge of valiantly prepping her body for the high-waisted 80s costumes of her Rivals character, admitting that instead of shedding pounds, she's been indulging in plenty of food.
Harry Judd - You may recognize McFly drummer Harry Judd from his years spent in the popular band, but since then, he has transformed into a running influencer (runfluencer?). He completed the London Marathon twice before and is once again joining the race to support The Children's Trust.
Last year, Harry finished the marathon in under three and a half hours, though he hopes to improve on his time this year. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Judd also excelled at Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, winning the competition with his professional partner, Aliona Vilani.
Romesh Ranganathan - Stand-up comedian Romesh was once known for being "lazy" when it comes to running, but he has done a complete 180 on his outlook. He will run to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust, hoping to better his 2024 time of 6 hours and 30 minutes.
In an interview with Runners World, Romesh explained that running was inaccessible to him when he was growing up, feeling elite and unrelatable. However, he has since discovered that running is for everyone, and he plans to complete the London Marathon in under five hours this year.
Alexandra Burke - X Factor winner Alexandra Burke will be running the London Marathon in support of Diabetes UK and the Melissa Bell Foundation, which she created in honor of her late mother and soul singer. In the weeks leading up to the race, she completed the London Half Marathon with a strong performance.
After the marathon, Alexandra will focus on her role as Valerie Jones in series two of Rivals. In an interview with New! Magazine, she revealed that she hopes to expand her family but intends to conquer the London Marathon first to honor her mother's legacy.
Joel Dommett - Comedian Joel Dommett, who hosted The Masked Singer, will return to the London Marathon. Last year, he ran in an aerodynamic piranha suit, completing the race in 5 hours, 19 minutes, and 19 seconds. Joel has pledged to support Brain Tumour Support UK this year, aiming to complete the marathon in under three hours along with Harry Judd.
There are many other celebrities participating in the London Marathon, such as Craig Parkinson, who will run for The Samaritans, and Kelly Brook, who will run alongside her husband, Jeremy Parisi. Keep an eye out for these famous faces as they work towards their personal goals in the 2025 London Marathon!
- Actress Lisa McGrillis, ready for the London Marathon, will run in memory of her friend's husband, preparing for both the race and her role in the second season of Rivals.
- Celebrity runner Harry Judd, probably training hard for the marathon, aims to better his past time of three and a half hours, showcasing his dedication to running and helping The Children's Trust.
- Comedian Romesh Ranganathan, Formerly known for his aversion to running, challenges his past self by preparing for the London Marathon to support Teenage Cancer Trust, aiming to complete the race in under five hours.
