The 2026 TCS London Marathon was a starry affair once more (Picture: Backgrid/Karwai Tang/Instagram)
The TCS London Marathon is back, meaning the runners can train no more as they take the long journey to the finish line, joining record-breaker Sabastian Sawe on the other side.
Over 1.1million people applied to take part in this year’s event, breaking a record, but just 59,000 of them actually secured a place.
Among them are some huge names, including Cynthia Erivo, James Norton, Alexandra Burke, Jack O’Connell, Joe Wicks, and even Daddy Pig.
And, naturally, in true celebrity fashion, marathon day hasn’t been without its high emotions and dramas for some.
Proving to be a family affair for Tilly Ramsay, marathon day saw her dad, Gordon Ramsay, on hand with words of encouragement.
Last night, he posted: ‘Wishing this incredible young lady all the very best for tomorrow as you attempt your first ever London Marathon love you so much Dad [sic]’.
Gordon Ramsay was full of support for daughter Tilly (Picture: Instagram)
The presenter shared a sweet moment with her parents at the sidelines (Picture: Instagram)
Sister Holly and her husband, Adam Peaty, were also in attendance (Picture: Karwai Tang)
Then, writing ahead of the run, he added: ‘Such a proud dad today watching my little girl @tillyramsay run her first ever marathon !!!! Thx to @flora and everyone who supported @feeding_britain on her incredible journey. Go get em kiddo !!’
Mum Tana also commented: ‘You got this Tils x’
Strictly Come Dancing star Tilly has been documenting her training on social media, including the meals she’s been making to fuel her body.
She also completed her first Ironman last October, a long-distance triathlon that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run.
Again, it was a team effort, as dad Gordon and mum Tana took part, too, with Tilly writing that ‘crossing that finish line was an unforgettable moment’ of ‘pure joy and a few happy tears’.
‘So grateful to share this moment with the most inspiring people, especially my Mum and Dad’, she added. ‘We trained together, pushed each other, and all crossed that line! I couldn’t ask for better role models or race-day companions!’
Harry Judd had a panicked start to the day after forgetting his race bib (Picture: Instagram)
…thankfully, his family came to the rescue! (Picture: Instagram)
The McFly drummer was all smiles after picking up his medal (Picture: Karwai Tang)
The day got off to a rather chaotic start for McFly drummer Harry Judd, who was left panicking after forgetting the one thing he really needed this morning – his bib.
Taking to Instagram, he told his followers: ‘Really great start to the marathon day. I was about four stops into my journey to Greenwich and realised I had forgotten my bib number, my race number… so that’s good!’
Fortunately, his family came to the rescue, with Harry’s wife Izzy and their kids meeting him in the car, seven-year-old Kit handing him his bib, meaning all his hard training thankfully wouldn’t be for nothing.
The route will also likely have been somewhat familiar to the long‑time running enthusiast this year, after Harry clocked an impressive 3:15 in 2025. Beating his previous time, he finished in 3:05 today.
Elsewhere on marathon day, former X Factor star Alexandra was inundated with support from her showbiz pals, stepping up to the starting line after performing at last night’s Britain’s Got Talent semi-final.
She wrote on Insta: ‘I never take it for granted that I’m able to move my body and do things that challenge me!’, raising money for the Melissa Bell Foundation and Parkinson’s UK.
Cynthia Erivo totally smashed her personal best time (Picture: Karwai Tang)
The Wicked actress was assisted away from the race after finishing in 3:21 (Picture: Karwai Tang)
Daddy Pig ran with the help of trainer Joe Wicks (Picture: Bob Grey/Backgrid)
Does he blend in enough? (Picture: Benjamin Gilbert for London Marathon Events/Shutterstock)
As for Wicked actress Cynthia, fans were in awe of how she crushed it, especially since she juggled training while playing 23 roles in Dracula in the West End. She’s fundraising for The King’s Trust and Shameless Fund.
Tracking her via the London Marathon app, X user @ShannaTofficial wrote: ‘The fact Cynthia is doing the London Marathon and she was training for it along with doing Dracula is insane!’
@PDLassiter said she was ‘running beautifully’ and her fans are ‘so proud’.
‘cynthia erivo has been running the london marathon for 43 minutes and she’s already about to pass 6 miles. that’s 7 minutes per mile. WOAH’, added @vibridgerton.
She first completed the race in 2022 with an impressive time of 3:35, shaving 20 minutes off her previous personal best. This year, she finished proudly with a stellar time of 3:21.
Another participant who captured everyone’s attention is, of course, Daddy Pig of Peppa Pig cartoon fame.
Strictly pro Nikita Kuzmin is fundraising for Diabetes UK (Picture: Instagram)
He reunited with 2021 partner Tilly after they collected their medals (Picture: Karwai Tang)
Alexandra Burke was raring to go (Picture: Instagram)
The character signed up in aid of the National Deaf Children’s Society, following the storyline of Peppa’s younger brother, George, having moderate hearing loss in one ear. He’s hoping to raise £54,000, which is £1 for every deaf child in the UK.
Taking part in both the show and in real life, a runner put on a specially designed costume for the marathon, sending the internet wild with theories about who could be inside – some even speculated that it was Harry Styles, who is known to be a keen marathon runner.
Daddy Pig’s official coach and trainer has been the nation’s PE teacher, Joe, who is running alongside the exhausted star, who was pictured struggling just a couple of miles in.
As for the other human participants, though, they’re also keen to raise awareness for their charities this weekend, with many having personal connections to the causes.
For example, Happy Valley actor James signed up for his first marathon to fundraise for Breakthrough T1D, following his own diagnosis of type 1 diabetes at age 22.
‘I’ve never run a marathon before. The idea of running 26 miles in one go has always seemed like a crazy idea. It still does,’ he wrote previously on Instagram, admitting that he was both excited and a ‘little apprehensive’.
Sir Mo Farah gave the crowd a wave following a dramatic weekend after the I’m A Celebrity final (Picture: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
Spencer Matthews adds the 2026 London Marathon to his list of endurance challenges (Picture: Antony Jones/Getty Images for The Turmeric Co.)
Sir Ben Ainslie fundraised for young people in STEM (Picture: Karwai Tang)
Skins actor Jack O’Connell was among many who applied for the first time (Picture: BBC)
‘However, the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for this incredible charity makes it more than worth it,’ he insisted, aiming to raise £100 for every mile run before completing in 4:29.
Strictly pro Nikita Kuzmin ran for Diabetes UK, too, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Ukraine at 13 and since declaring it his ‘superpower’.
‘So honoured to be representing a cause that means so much to me,’ he posted on marathon eve, with co-star Katya Jones and Strictly viewers throwing their full support behind him. Nikita clocked in at 4:19.
Furthermore, Sinners actor Jack applied for the marathon for the first time in support of Alzheimer’s Research UK, four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie supports the education charity he helped launch to inspire young people through sailing and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths), and The Traitors series 2 winner Harry Clark raises money for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE).
Other famous faces you may have spotted in the crowd today include Spencer Matthews, Ore Oduba, AJ and Curtis Pritchard, Tony Adams, Dame Laura Kenny, Alastair Cook, Kitty Scott Claus, and Laura Doddington.
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