2017 Virgin MoneyLondon Marathon Celebrities

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Vassos Alexander

Juliet Aubrey

Marcus Bean

William Beck

Nick Bright

Mark Chapman

James Cracknell

Rob Deering

Chris Evans

Jenni Falconer

Sean Fletcher

Quinton Fortune

Helen Glover

Christopher Harper

Katie Hopkins

Lucy Horobin

Nina Hossain

Ashley James

Matt Johnson

Gwilym Lee

Bobby Lockwood

Danny Mills

Chris Newton

Leon Ockenden

Jamie Peacock

Jonathan Pearce

Gilles Peterson

Jessica Ransom

Sophie Raworth

Pamela Relph

George Riley

Adele Roberts

Scouting for Girls

Keith Senior

Baasit Siddiqui

Kevin Sinfeld

Heather Stanning

Paul Tonkinson

Chrissie Wellington

Shane Williams

Sian Williams

Adam Woodyatt

Vassos ALEXANDERCharity: BBC Children in Need

Vassos is best known as the sports presenter on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. He has also worked on BBC Radio 5 Live as a presenter, reporter and commentator and on BBC television, BT Sport and Eurosport.

Juliet AUBREYCharity: Women for Women International

Juliet won a BAFTA for Best Actress in 1994 for her portrayal of Dorothea in a BBC adaptation of Middlemarch. Since then she has gone on to take lead roles in many highly acclaimed films including Welcome to Sarajevo, Iris, The Constant Gardener and Still Crazy. On TV she has appeared in Primeval, Hunted and Five Daughters.

Marcus

BEANCharity: NSPCC

Marcus has been one of the UK’s most popular celebrity chefs since he won Iron Chef UK on Channel 4 in 2010. Self-taught, Marcus only started cooking when he found himself fed up with chefs at the pub he was running. After winning Iron Chef UK, Marcus went on to become a regular chef on ITV’s This Morning. He has also appeared on Good Food’s Market Kitchen, Channel 4’s What’s Cooking and Drop Down Menu. He is also a regular host on the BBC Good Food shows which tour the country. Virgin Money Giving fundraising link: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MarcusBeanchef

William

BECKCharity: Bloodwise The Welsh-born actor is best known for starring in the long-running BBC drama Casualty as consultant Dylan Keogh. William has also appeared in another BBC drama, Robin Hood, as well as a string of other major British TV shows. He has had roles on the big screen too, starring in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch in 2000 and Goal II: Living the Dream.

Nick BRIGHTCharity: Heads Together

Nick is one of the best-known voices of BBC Radio 1Xtra, the urban music digital radio station. He started presenting the early breakfast show on the station and can now be heard in a primetime 10am slot on weekday mornings. Nick also takes his DJing skills across the globe and has also started to make appearances as a television presenter. He should know a thing or two about running as his partner is Great Britain’s heptathlon star Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Mark

CHAPMANCharity: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Mark is one of the rising stars of BBC Sport. He presents Match of the Day 2 on Sunday nights, as well as the corporation’s Rugby League and NFL coverage. He is also one of the main sports presenters on BBC Radio 5 Live. This year he released his second book: The Love of the Game: Parenthood, Sport and Me which followed up his 2010 release: Heroes, Hairbands and Hissy Fits: Chappers’ History of Modern Football. Mark has run the London Marathon twice before, in 2008 and 2010.

James CRACKNELLCharities: Headway and RNLI James is a double Olympic gold medallist and multiple rowing world champion. He won gold as part of Great Britain’s coxless fours team at both the Sydney Olympics in 2004 and in Athens four years later. Following his retirement from rowing, James has presented sport on ITV and Channel 4. He has also taken on a string of charity challenges including covering 1,400 miles from Britain to Africa in 10 days by rowing, running and cycling, finishing the South Pole Race and riding a rickshaw for 60 hours from London to Edinburgh alongside friend Ben Fogle.

Rob DEERINGCharity: Parkinson’s UK Rob is a popular comedian and running podcaster. He was the host and writer of Out to Lunch on BBC Radio 2 and has hosted 99 Things to Do Before You Die on Channel 5. He has also won celebrity editions of The Weakest Link and Celebrity Mastermind. Rob hosts a podcast alongside fellow comedian and runner Paul Tonkinson called Running Commentary.Virgin Money Giving fundraising page: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobDeering

Chris EVANSCharity: BBC Children in Need Chris is one of the UK’s most famous presenters and currently hosts The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. He shot to fame in the 1990s as the host of Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast and then TFI Friday which he also presented when it returned to British TV last year. Chris has also presented Top Gear and The One Show on the BBC in recent years.

Jenni FALCONERCharity: Cancer Research UK Popular TV and radio presenter Jenni is no stranger to the London Marathon with 2017 set to be the sixth time she has run the race. Jenni made her name by presenting travel shows Holiday and How to Holiday and for being the main presenter of Entertainment Today on GMTV for eight years. She is currently a popular DJ on Heart Radio every morning between Sunday and Friday and is a regular contributor on This Morning.

Sean FLETCHERCharity: Heads Together Sports presenter Sean returns to the London Marathon once again and this year he will be running for Heads Together, the Virgin Money London Marathon’s Charity of the Year. Sean began his career at the BBC and was one of the main sports presenters on its rolling news bulletins and BBC Breakfast before joining Sky Sports in 2011. He spent three years at Sky before being recruited to be the sports presenter on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Sean also presented the daytime game show Rebound on ITV and co-presents the BBC2 series, The Food Detectives.

QuintonFORTUNECharity: Manchester United Foundation South African international Quinton spent seven years at ManchesterUnited winning 3 Premier League titles with the Red Devils between 1999 and 2005. In total he made 126 appearances for United in a seven-year spell, scoring eleven goals. He also appeared for South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 World Cup before going on to have spells at Bolton, Brescia and Doncaster Rovers.Virgin Money Giving fundraising page: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Quinton

Helen GLOVERCharity: Brain and Spine Foundation Helen is one of Britain’s most decorated sportswomen and, along with Heather Stanning, is one half of a great Olympic double act. The pair won gold medals in the coxless pairs at last summer’s Rio Olympics making them back-to-back Olympic champions as they repeated their feat from London 2012. Now the pair will be going head-to-head as they are both running this year’s London Marathon. Helen, who has been the number one ranked rower in the world since 2015, also has three World Championship titles, five World Cup wins and three European titles to her name.

Christopher HARPERCharity: NSPCC

Christopher is currently making Coronation Street viewers’ blood boil with his portrayal of the sinister Nathan who is at the centre of a child grooming storyline in the ITV soap. The 39-year-old joined Coronation Street at Christmas, arriving on the cobbles by way of training at Bristol’s Old Vic and a number of theatre and TV roles, including playing Victoria Wood’s screen son in Housewife 49 and Cecil Beaton in the revival of Upstairs Downstairs.

Katie HOPKINSCharity: The National Brain Appeal

Katie is one of Britain’s best known newspaper columnists and radio presenters. She shot to fame when she appeared in the 2007 edition of the BBC show The Apprentice and turned down a place in the final. Her outspoken views on the show attracted attention and soon she was appearing on other reality shows such as I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Big Brother. She is now a radio presenter on LBC and a columnist for the Daily Mail.

Lucy HOROBINCharity: Global’s Make Some Noise

Lucy is the co-presenter of the popular drivetime slot on Heart London alongside Jason King. The pair also present the Heart breakfast show.

Nina HOSSAINCharity: Whizz-Kidz

Nina has been a TV news presenter since 2001 when she started on BBC London News. In 2004, Nina moved to ITN where she has presented news bulletins across the ITV schedules. She is currently the co-presenter of the ITV Lunchtime News and the sole presenter of ITV London News. Away from news, she has presented the BBC1 show Hard Spell.

Ashley JAMESCharity: Cancer Research UK

Made in Chelsea star Ashley made her debut at the London Marathon in 2016 – and enjoyed it so much she is back this year. Ashley has many strings to her bow: model, presenter and DJ. She currently DJs on Hoxton Radio and has fronted modelling campaigns for George swimwear.

Matt JOHNSONCharity: Macmillan Cancer Support

Matthew is a British television presenter and personality from Wales, best known for presenting in the interactive ‘Hub’ on ITV’s This Morning between 2010 and 2013 and for co-hosting Channel 5’s OK! TV. He has also presented The National Lottery Draws and has been a reporter for Surprise Surprise.

Gwilym LEECharity: Bloodwise

Gwilym is best known for playing DS Charlie Nelson in the ITV drama Midsomer Murders, a part he played for three seasons. He has also appeared in Land Girls, Ashes to Ashes and Fresh Meat. He will soon be appearing in the Sky drama Jamestown about the first English settlers as they establish a community in the USA.

Bobby LOCKWOODCharity: Great Ormond Street Hospital

Children’s Charity

Bobby has made a seamless transition from child star to adult actor in recent years and returns to the Virgin Money London Marathon for a second time after making his debut last year. Essex-born Bobby made his name playing the lead role of Rhydian in the hit CBBC series Wolfblood which he starred in for three series. He has since gone on to star in ITV’s Lewis and in the BBC3 comedy Uncle. He also has a part in this year’s highly-anticipated film Dunkirk.

Danny MILLSCharity: Cancer Research UK

Former England and Premier League footballer Danny is now one of the most respected football pundits, appearing regularly on BBC radio and TV. Danny won 19 caps for England, including playing all five games at the 2002 World Cup, and was part of the Leeds United team that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001. He also won the League Cup with Middlesbrough in 2004 and had spells at Norwich City, Charlton Athletic, Manchester City, Hull City and Derby County.

Chris NEWTONCharity: Anthony Nolan

Chris is a multiple world track cycling champion and triple Olympic medallist. He is also the fastest celebrity to have finished the London Marathon, clocking a speedy 2:45:10 in 2014. Chris won a bronze medal in the team pursuit at the 2000 Olympic Games and a silver medal in the same discipline at the 2004 Olympics. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Chris competed solo and won a bronze medal in the points race.

Leon OCKENDENCharity: Wellchild

Leon has become well known for playing Will Chatterton in Coronation Street. Before that the Cornwall-born actor had made his name playing PE teacher Hector Reid in the BBC drama Waterloo Road and as Serge De Bolotoff in ITV’s Mr Selfridge.Virgin Money Giving fundraising page: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LeonOckenden1

Jamie PEACOCKCharity: Sue Ryder Wheatfields

Rugby league star Jamie captained both England and Great Britain during a stellar career that saw him become one of the most successful players in Super League history. Jamie represented both Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos during his career winning nine Super League championships and four Challenge Cups. He won Super League’s Man of Steel award in 2003. Jamie is now Head of Rugby at Hull Kingston Rovers.Virgin Money Giving fundraising page: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jamie-peacock-Darryl-Peacock

Jonathan PEARCECharity: The Lily Foundation

Jonathan has got one of the most recognisable voices in football. He has been part of the BBC Match of the Day commentary team since 2004 and before that was the voice of Channel 5’s international football coverage. Before that Jonathan made his name on radio as part of Capital Gold Sport. Away from football, Jonathan also provides the commentary for Robot Wars. Jonathan will be running his sixth London Marathon all for The Lily Foundation, the charity he helped set up in memory of his niece Lily who died of mitochondrial disease aged eight months.

Gilles PETERSONCharity: The Steve Reid Foundation

Gilles is one of the most respected DJs of his generation as well as being the owner of the record label Brownswood Recordings. The French-born music aficionado made his name DJing on radio stations such as Kiss FM and in clubs around the country. He was then recruited by BBC Radio1 in 1998 and spent 14 years on the station before moving across to BBC Radio 6 Music. He also broadcasts an internationally syndicated worldwide show across seven European countries.

Jessica RANSOMCharity: Bloodwise

Jessica is best known for her role as medical receptionist Morwenna Newcross in the popular ITV drama Doc Martin. She has also appeared as Mary, Queen of Scots in the children’s TV programme Horrible Histories.

Sophie RAWORTHSophie is not only one of the country’s most recognisable newsreaders, she is also a passionate marathon runner. She has already taken part in the Tokyo Marathon in February this year and 2017 will be her sixth Virgin Money London Marathon. She has also signed up for the Chicago Marathon in October which will mean, once the year is over, she would have completed the entire Abbott World Marathon Majors series: London, New York, Boston, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo. Sophie is the current BBC News at One presenter and also regularly appears on the BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten.

Pamela RELPHCharity: Arthritis Research UK

Pamela is a two-time Paralympic gold medallist – the first rower to ever achieve that feat. The two gold medals came in the mixed coxed fours at London 2012 and Rio 2016. As well as her Paralympic gold medals, Pamela also won four world titles. She announced her retirement from rowing earlier this year.

George RILEYCharities: Joseph’s Goal and The Steve Prescott

Foundation

A well-known sports broadcaster from Leeds, George presents the sport on BBC Radio 5 Live, Channel 5’s Football League highlights show, as well as commentating on his two other loves, rugby league and snooker. This year will be George’s third London Marathon and seventh marathon in total.

Adele ROBERTSCharity: Heads Together

DJ Adele appeared in the third series of the reality TV series Big Brother before her career in music really took off. In 2012 she joined BBC Radio 1Xtra before becoming the host of BBC Radio 1’s early breakfast show between 4am and 6.30am. Adele has a keen interest in fitness and recently trained with a bodybuilder for a Radio 1 documentary.

SCOUTING FOR GIRLSCharity: Alzheimer’s Society

Scouting for Girls burst onto the music scene in 2008 when their self-titled debut album went to number one in the UK album chart thanks to the inclusion of hit singles such as She’s So Lovely, Heartbeat and Elvis Ain’t Dead. The group have gone on to release a further three albums and a Greatest Hits and have sold more than two million records since forming. The band – Roy Stride, Pete Ellard and Greg Churchouse-Gold – are all running the marathon as part of a year of fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Keith SENIORCharity: The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust

Keith is widely regarded as one of the finest rugby league players of the Super League era. During a glittering career, he won every honour in the British domestic game, representing Sheffield Eagles and then Leeds Rhinos. He represented both Great Britain and England at international level and was named in the Rugby League World XIII on three occasions.

Baasit SIDDIQUICharity: Gem’s Cash for Kids

Baasit along with his dad Sid and brother Umar have become one of the most popular families on Channel 4’s hit show Gogglebox. Baasit ran the Virgin Money London Marathon for the first time last year and enjoyed it so much he is coming back in 2017.

KevinSINFIELDCharity: Prostate Cancer UK Kevin is one of the greatest players in English rugby league history. A one-club man, he captained Leeds Rhinos to seven Super League championships and two Challenge Cup wins. He holds the record as the highest points scorer in Leeds Rhinos history, he’s the highest points scorer in Super League history and the third highest points scorer in rugby league history. Kevin, who played 27 times for England and 14 times for Great Britain, also picked up a number of personal accolades during his glittering career. He won the Lance Todd Trophy in 2005, the Harry Sunderland Trophy in 2009 and 2012 and the Golden Boot in 2012. He finished his career by switching codes and playing rugby union for Yorkshire Carnegie.

Heather STANNINGCharity: Royal British Legion Industries

Heather is one of Great Britain’s golden brigade from the Rio 2016 Olympics where she won her second Olympic gold medal alongside Helen Glover. Heather also has two world titles, two European titles and four World Cup victories on her CV and, alongside Glover, formed one of the most successful ever British Olympic partnerships. Now the friends and former team-mates will go head to head in the Virgin Money London Marathon as both are taking part. Heather has now retired from rowing and returned to the Army.Virgin Money Giving fundraising page: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HeatherStanning

Paul TONKINSONCharity: Parkinson’s UK Stand-up comedian and DJ Paul is a runnerholic and hosts his own podcast, the Running Commentary, alongside friend and fellow marathon runner Rob Deering. Paul is a regular guest on TV comedy panel shows and he was the first breakfast show presenter of Xfm Manchester before taking over the drivetime slot. He has a monthly column in Runner’s World.

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Chrissie WELLINGTONCharity: Cancer Research UK and Epilepsy

Society

Chrissie is a four-time Ironman world champion and holds, or held, all three world and championship records relating to ironman-distance triathlons. She won the world championships in three successive years from 2007 to 2009. Chrissie could not start the 2010 world championship due to illness but regained her title in 2011. She is the first British athlete to have won the Ironman Triathlon World Championship and was undefeated in all 13 of her races over the Ironman distance.Virgin Money Giving fundraising page: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChrissieWellington

Shane WILLIAMSCharity: Velindre Cancer Centre

Rugby union legend Shane is Wales’ all-time leading try scorer, with his 58 tries in the red of his country also the fourth highest ever recorded by a single player in international rugby history. During a glittering playing career, Shane played in three World Cups, won two Six Nations championships and was named World Rugby’s player of the year in 2008. Shane was also part of three British and Irish Lions tours and is now a TV pundit.

Sian WILLIAMSCharity: Heads Together

Sian has been a journalist for more than 30 years, working for most of her career at the BBC where she was part of the Breakfast presenting team on BBC1. She is now the main anchor at Channel 5 news. Sian is also a mental health campaigner, working for charities like Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and is a mental health ambassador for ITN. The mum-of-five has written a book called Rise: A first aid kit for getting through tough times.

Adam WOODYATTCharity: The Air Ambulance Service

Adam is one of British TV’s most recognisable faces having played EastEnders’ Ian Beale for the past 32 years. He is the longest-serving and only actor to have appeared in the BBC soap since it first began in 1985 and has been involved in some of the show’s most memorable scenes. Adam has won five British Soap awards including one for Best Actor. He is running the Virgin Money London Marathon alongside his son Sam for The Air Ambulance Service. In a cruel twist of fate, after the pair had signed up for the London Marathon, Sam was hit by a car and needed to be taken to hospital by The London Air Ambulance. He needed a five-hour operation and was in a wheelchair for some weeks before he was able to start moving again. As his recovery speeded up, so did his determination to run the London Marathon alongside his dad and they will both be on the Start Line on April 23.