London Marathon 2021: Which celebrities are taking part?

The London Marathon's taking place this weekend and as well as professional athletes, many celebrities have announced they'll be making running it in support of charities close to their hearts.

England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, theatre star Carrie Hope Fletcher and TV presenter and TOWIE regular Mark Wright are a few names from the list of famous faces preparing to run on Sunday (3rd October).

Wright will run his first-ever London Marathon for Flora’s Get Town’s Active campaign, aimed at inspiring people across the UK and Ireland to live a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Carrie Hope Fletcher, star of Cinderella the Musical and marathon newbie Carrie Hope Fletcher, will also be joining Wright on the start line.

The musical theatre actress is running to raise money for two charities Alzheimer’s Research UK and Papyrus, a charity focused on the prevention of young suicide.

Former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss will make his second appearance this year, running to raise money for the Ruth Strauss Foundation - a charity he set up in memory of his wife Ruth, who died of cancer in 2018. He made his debut in 2013 when he ran alongside Ruth.

Famous faces running the London Marathon this year

Stars get ready to cross the finish line

EastEnders stars Stevie Basaula, Toby-Alexander Smith and Tanya Franks will compete to be the fastest EastEnder at this year’s London Marathon. They are running for Samaritans, Women’s Aid and Alzheimer’s Research UK respectively.

Former Blue Peter presenter and actor Peter Duncan will also run on Sunday for the fifth time. He has previously completed it in each decade - 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2012.

Duncan is raising money for the charity Clothe Me – Thank You, a scheme that gives people in need access to vouchers redeemable in charity shops.

Other famous faces taking part in the London Marathon include:

• Dick n Dom presenting duo Richard McCourt (Alzheimer’s Research UK) and Dominic Wood (British Dyslexia Association)
• The Avant Garde Vegan chef Gaz Oakley (WWF)
• Scummy Mummies comedy duo Helen Thorn (Women’s Aid) and Ellie Gibson (Borne)
• YouTube star and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Saffron Barker (Make-A-Wish Foundation)

Olympians running the London Marathon

As well as celebrities, there are many sports stars taking part.

Liz McColgan, who won the London Marathon in 1996, returns to the streets of London for the first time since 2007.

We will also see many Olympic medallists making an appearance, including:

• Chris Newton – three-time Olympic silver and bronze medallist (cycling)
• Dani Rowe – Olympic gold medallist (cycling)
• Elana Meyer – South African Olympic silver medallist (athletics)
• Hannah Macleod – Olympic gold and bronze medallist (hockey)
• James Cracknell, double Olympic gold medallist (rowing)
• Joanna Rowsell – double Olympic gold medallist (cycling)
• John Collins – Team GB rower at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (rowing)
• Stephen Batchelor – Olympic gold medallist (hockey)
• Zola Budd – former South African 5,000m world record holder (athletics)

More sports stars running on Sunday include Ironman triathlete Lucy Charles, ex-England football players Danny Mills and Stephen Warnock and Former England rugby league stars Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Keith Senior.

The London Marathon will force roads to be closed from Friday 1st to Monday 4th October. Find the full list of the roads which will be closed over Marathon weekend.

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