A stellar line up of celebrities are all set to join the start line of the world’s most famous half marathon on Sunday 13 September. From football legends to Paralympians, Traitors to TV faves, runners taking part in this AJ Bell Great North Run will be rubbing shoulders with a host of familiar faces including;
Football personality Chris Kamara will be joined by TV host and close friend Ben Shepherd
The UK’s favourite fitness coach Joe Wicks
Paralympian Richard Whitehead MBE
Football manager, pundit and former player Peter Reid
BBC Morning Live presenter Helen Skelton
BBC Traitors season 4 stars Rachel Duffy, Sam Little, Reece Ward, Amanda Collier
Singer and TV personality Jake Quickenden
BBC news anchor Sophie Raworth
Radio presenter and influencer Adele Roberts
Actors Neil Grainger and Harriett Bibby
Singer Joe McElderry
Since 1981, the world’s greatest half marathon has a long tradition of attracting famous faces to take on the13.1 mile course from Gateshead to South Shields. Over 45 years the event has connected people from all walks of life through a shared sense of belonging, resilience and achievement.
With the 2026 staging THE biggest ever Great North Run with 63,000 runners taking on the famous city to sea route, the event continues to create milestones and moments that will stay with people for life.
Over 200,000 spectators are expected to line the streets in support, cheering, and willing on runners as the region comes together in true Geordie style. Following in the footsteps of 1.4 million before them, the event is expected to generate over £25M for charitable causes across the weekend ensuring its impact stretches far beyond the finish line.
The 2026 AJ Bell Great North Run will once again will be broadcast live on BBC One in the UK and to over 170 countries world-wide. It will feature some of the world’s leading athletes competing at the front in the elite Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair athlete races, before the masses take to the very same streets.
