Gladiators stars to return for Junior and Mini Great North Run
Stars of the UK hit show Gladiators will once again be the official starters for this year’s AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great North Run, taking place on the city’s Quayside on Saturday 6th September 2025.
With just over 6 months to go until the annual festival of fun running returns, the 2025 AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great North Run is close to sell-out, and looks set to be the UK’s biggest children’s running event with 12,000 youngsters taking part.
The stars of the TV show Gladiators are sure to ramp up the excitement amongst children and parents alike as they ring the bell to set runners on their way around the Mini and Junior courses, before meeting young runners at the finish line for high fives and photos.
Alex Gray (Apollo), who started last year’s AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great North Run said;
“The Gladiators team are delighted to be involved in the AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great North Run. Encouraging movement and staying active is something we deeply care about so we can’t wait to see all the young runners taking on the challenge. If you haven’t sign up already – what are you waiting for!”
Stay tuned to find out which two Gladiators will be joining us at the Etihad Campus, with an announcement to follow in the weeks leading up to the event!
Once again, the Junior & Mini runs will take place as a standalone Saturday event before the Great North Run on Sunday 7th September, giving the stars of the future their own chance to take centre stage on “SUPER SATURDAY”.
Younger runners (aged 3-8 yrs) will take on a fun and energetic 1.5k dash - they must be accompanied by an adult so parents be warned, can you keep up? Older runners (aged 9-15 yrs) can tackle a supercharged 4k challenge with the Junior event. It’s set to be a thrilling weekend of running action and celebrations the whole family can get involved in.
There’s still time to enter the 2025 fun at greatrun.org/events/junior-mini-great-north-run/
The 2025 AJ Bell Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, will be broadcast live on BBC One and in over 169 territories around the world, showcasing the best of the region nationally and internationally.