Six extreme celebrity health challenges as Jamie Laing begins ultra marathon

Jamie Laing has begun his ultra marathon to raise money for Comic Relief, specifically for charities that help people suffering from mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

The former Made in Chelsea regular and BBC Radio 1 presenter has set off towards the northern city of Salford - a journey that'll see him run the equivalent of five ultra-marathon distances and take him a total of five days.

"I haven't run properly since school, so to be faced with this challenge is pretty overwhelming, but I know the listeners will get me through!" he shared ahead of the challenge. "I just have to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. I'm running from London to Salford to encourage conversations and awareness around mental health, anxiety and depression - something I have suffered with myself in the past. I wouldn't be where I am today without the help of others, so I want to thank everyone in advance for their support and donations."

Laing isn't the only celebrity to have taken on an extreme health challenge in order to raise funds and awareness of important issues. From running 30 desert marathons in 30 days to cycling 300miles on a Raleigh bike, here's the stars who have pushed their bodies to the limit for very important reasons.

Spencer Matthews completed 30 marathons in 30 days

Fellow former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews made history last year by completing a record-breaking and incredibly tough 30 marathons in 30 days in the Jordanian desert where temperatures exceed 40C.

"I DID IT!!! I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT!! 30 DESERT MARATHONS IN 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS… ALL ON SAND," the dad-of-three wrote after completing the extreme challenge. "I am now a Guinness World Records holding endurance athlete - the first and only person to successfully run this many back-to-back marathons in these extreme conditions. Just over 42.2km or 26.2 miles, every single day."

Having made £342,508 in funding for Global’s Make Some Noise who help small charities across the UK, Matthews urged more people to donate following his extreme challenge.

The journey had a huge impact on his body too with Matthews revealing he lost two stone while he was doing the 30 marathon challenge. The Made In Chelsea star said the exercise was "quite extreme" and he was burning as much as 7,000 calories a day while running in the heat.

Paddy McGuinness cycled 300 miles on a Raleigh Chopper

Last November TV and radio presenter Paddy McGuinness completed an incredible charity bike ride for BBC Children In Need with the fundraising total exceeded £9 million.

The extreme challenge saw McGuinness, 51, travel 300 miles from Wales to Scotland on his dream childhood bike, a Raleigh Chopper, which was painted in the colours of the charity’s mascot, Pudsey.

After crossing the finishing line the Radio 2 presenter, also known for Take Me Out and Top Gear, said he was "absolutely physically broken" but also "the happiest person around" after the BBC Radio 2 ultra endurance cycle challenge, which saw him travel through three nations and eight counties.

In order to prep for the extreme challenge McGuinness trained with champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who also joined him for part of his journey.

Vernon Kay ran 115 miles in four days

Back in 2023 Vernon Kay raised more than £4m after completing a gruelling ultra marathon challenge for BBC Children In Need.

Kay, who presents Radio 2's mid-morning show, was challenged to travel on foot from Leicester to his home town of Bolton in just four days, seeing him clock up over 115 miles.

The broadcaster first set out from Victoria Park in Leicester and crossed the finish line four days later at Bolton Wanderers' football stadium.

Speaking to Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 he said: “I’m absolutely exhausted... there is nothing in the tank." He went on to joke: "Is there anyone here who can replace a knee?"

Kay, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, became emotional as he reflected on the incredible feat.

"It’s been one of the most painful and joyous experiences I’ve ever had. We’ve met some brilliant people who’ve donated all they can," he said of the challenge.

"Just one foot in front of the other, that’s what it was. And we had a great team pushing me along, motivating me. Thanks to the gang."

Sophie Ellis Bextor danced for 24 hours straight

In 2021 Sophie Ellis Bextor completed her 24-hour Kitchen Disco danceathon, raising more than £800,000 for Children in Need.

The Murder on the Dancefloor singer began her danceathon, inspired by her Kitchen Disco video series, on at the BBC Radio Theatre and completed the challenge an entire day later.

The singer was overcome with emotion as she was reunited with her husband Richard Jones, their five sons towards the end of her stint and they danced with her as she performed her hit Take Me Home.

"Sophie's done it!" a message on her Twitter account read. "After 24 hours of dancing, that's an incredible total to finish on - and with the entire family too, in true Kitchen Disco style. Well done Sophie and thank you so much for all your support during a marathon."

To help get her through the challenge, Ellis Bextor was joined by a range of famous faces both in the theatre and virtually, including Simon Pegg, Rick Astley, Tony Blackburn, Gemma Collins, Belinda Carlisle, Natalie Imbruglia, Tamsin Outhwaite, and Michael Ball.

Sophie's Kitchen Disco originally became a huge sensation during the lockdown of 2020, lifting people's spirits as they joined her, dancing and singing in their own kitchens across the UK.

Rylan Clark, Oti Mabuse and Emma Willis spent three days climbing Cairngorm mountain

In 2023 former Big Brother hosts Rylan Clark and Emma Willis joined forces with ex Strictly professional dancer Oti Mabuse to raise money in a Red Nose Day challenge which saw them climb the snow-capped summit of Cairngorm mountain.

The celebrities told of the freezing conditions they had to face while tackling the Scottish mountain climb for Comic Relief. "When we got to camp, I fell to my knees and I felt like crying at the end of the day one; day two is even more walking," Mabuse said.

Battling 70mph winds, and aches from three days of hiking, the trio relied on crampons and ice axes to navigate the final metres of the climb.

Thankfully despite the difficulties the group managed to reach the summit of the mountain, which is 4,085ft (1,245m) above sea level.

The following year Willis joined other celebrities including Giovanna Fletcher, Angela Scanlan and Sara Davis to embark on a four-day trek in the Indian Himalayas for the breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!

Mollie King cycled 500km (311 miles) for Comic Relief

Last year Mollie King tackled a huge endurance challenge to raise money for Comic Relief. The Saturdays star cycled from London to Hull, a journey of roughly 500 kilometres, stopping at some of the UK’s most iconic cities along the way.

King was inspired to undertake the gruelling fundraising project after her father, Stephen King, died of a brain tumour in 2022, just days after she gave birth to her first child.

Read more about celebrity health:

• What you need to know about Red Nose Day 2025 explained (Yahoo Entertainment, 6-min read)

• Richard Branson reveals why he won't use the word 'longevity' (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)

• Princess of Wales, Lauren Laverne and more on how cancer changed their lives (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)