Greg James is on day seven of his mammoth 630-mile tandem bike ride challenge for Red Nose Day.
The Radio 1 DJ has raised almost £2.2million for Comic Relief with donations continuing to pour in.
Greg was given some royal support on Tuesday as the Prince of Wales joined him for a stretch of the ride.
He began the eight-day ride in Weymouth, Dorset, on Friday and is aiming to finish in Edinburgh on Friday, 20 March.
Follow the latest updates below...
Greg pushes through knee pain as Comic Relief nears £2.4m
17:24 , Tina CampbellGreg has revealed he is struggling with a painful knee as the challenge nears its end, admitting the issue started on day two and has worsened since.
He said his left knee began “pinging” early in the ride and has become increasingly uncomfortable despite attempts to adjust his pedalling.
“I can’t wait to see you all,” he said. “Up here with the sun over this beautiful country, it’s pleasant — but down below the waist, things aren’t good.”
Greg added that while he has been dealing with “a lot of pain in the buttocks”, it is his now swollen knee causing the most concern.
Despite the discomfort, he insisted the challenge — which has raised £2.4 million so far — remains firmly on track.
“The donations are the headline, not my stupid knee, which will recover,” he said. “The pain is completely worth it.”
He added that the support from the public has helped keep him going, describing the fundraising total as “the best painkiller” as he pushes towards the finish line.
Greg arrives in Scotland
16:35 , Tina CampbellHe set off in Weymouth and now Greg has crossed into Scotland, having just conquered his steepest hill yet to get there.
“I'm shaking, but I'm good,” he said of the achievement.
Adding: “The whole thing is so strange. I'm lost for words, I really am.”
150km to go!
14:13 , Tina CampbellThe finish line in Edinburgh is drawing nearer, with Greg now just 150km to go.
Giving him a much-needed boost today was his older sister Catherine, who couldn’t be prouder.
She said: "I've seen him grow up from being my sappy little brother to this incredible person he’s become today. And we’re really proud of everyone who’s come out to support, it’s been amazing.”
Jamie Laing joins Greg on tandum dressed
13:11 , Tina CampbellOne year on from his own Comic Relief challenge, a scantily clad Jamie Laing joined Greg James on the tandem.
The former Made In Chelsea star lost a forfeit after Radio 1 listeners hit a donation target, leaving him cycling in bridal underwear.
Jamie joked that putting it on made him “feel alive”, but admitted his “nips” were out in the cold.
Greg admits he's putting on a 'brave face' while dad in hospital
12:11 , Tina CampbellGreg’s dad has never been far from his thoughts as he continues to put foot to pedal.
Earlier this month, he revealed on social media that his dad, Alan Milward – affectionately known as “Big Al” – had suffered from a stroke, but said that he would still be undergoing his Red Nose Day challenge.
He told BBC Breakfast: "My dad is very ill, he fell ill a couple of weeks ago and is still in hospital."I'm very fortunate that I'm surrounded by - I have an amazing wife, an amazing dog.
"My sister and my niece have come up here to Sunderland, that's my little safety net.
"I feel very fortunate about that, and it's making me sad because I'm also very, very sad, but I'm having to brave face it a bit and be like, 'Yay, Comic Relief'.
"But I'm also remembering what it would be like for people who don't have that support, and that's what's really spurring me on."
He continued: "It actually makes me quite emotional when I see primary school kids coming out and waving and having flags and red noses and signs and stuff."Because I go, 'That's what it's all about' - everyone clubbing together and doing a nice thing."
Even the road signs were pulling for him...
Greg pulls over to celebrate new total
09:59 , Lisa McloughlinGreg was forced to pull over mid-ride to take in the latest fundraising total, visibly overwhelmed by the moment.
Spotting a pair of small white dogs nearby, he ran over in excitement, nearly scooping them up as he processed the news.
“Thank you. I feel like my heart's gonna burst with joy at what is happening so far,” he said.
So caught up in the emotion, the presenter even apologised for swearing on air, a rare slip for Greg.
New total update: £2,235,087
09:56 , Lisa Mcloughlin
Greg feeling 'depleted' and 'teary' going into day 7
09:15 , Lisa McloughlinGreg James has returned to the tandem bike for day seven of his endurance challenge, admitting he is feeling “depleted” as he heads into the penultimate stretch.
Speaking on Radio 1’s Matt & Mollie, the presenter said the emotional toll was beginning to catch up with him.
“I feel quite teary today,” he said.
“Everything is bubbling up a little bit - I've had to put everything to one side for ages, to get ready for this.
“And I spoke to my mum this morning, asking if she'd heard from dad, and she said: 'He was trying to ring Producer Amy in the night', because he wanted an update on the challenge but didn't want to disturb us?”
James went on to reveal he has not had a proper conversation with his father in weeks following his stroke.
“I haven't spoken to dad in ages. I haven't had a proper conversation with him in three weeks because he's had a stroke.
“And I was like, 'What's happening? Is his brain muddled?'”
His producer Amy reassured him on air, saying: “We had a lovely chat. Alan's doing very well. And we spoke about WhatsApp voicenotes and how it works for a little bit.”
Reflecting on the moment, James added: “That's dad doing dad things. I don’t know.
“Everything is a lot. And I genuinely have been cheered up by all of this, but I'm pretty done.
“And I understand why people are messaging saying I'm really there, but I'm not. You don't want to fall at the last hurdle.”
Jamie Laing faces lingerie forfeit in bid to raise £150k for Greg's tandem challenge
09:10 , Lisa McloughlinBBC Radio 1 listeners have been set a fundraising challenge: raise £150,000 by 9.30am and Jamie Laing will join James on the tandem bike wearing lingerie.
The forfeit stems from a long-standing pact between the pair, after James previously donned a wedding dress and ran 5km to support Laing during his earlier endurance effort.
At the time of writing, donations had reached £1,671,875, meaning the total must hit £1,821,875 by the deadline for Laing to carry out the challenge.
Urging listeners to dig deep, James said: “Get it happening,” before adding: “I really need everyone to club together. I don't wanna leave Sunderland until it's got to £2m.
“I'm serious. I'm going rogue and I don't care, because I'm so broken. I really wanna get these donations massive, because it's such a great cause.
“This pain is totally worth it. What I'm going through in my head this week is totally worth it. Because it's for the greater good.”
Greg gets cheered on by students at York university
Wednesday 18 March 2026 16:00 , Ekin KarasinGreg takes a breather
Wednesday 18 March 2026 15:30 , Ekin KarasinGreg praises Arielle Free for her help on the bike
Wednesday 18 March 2026 15:01 , Ekin Karasin“I've gotta say - aside from the Olympian and Tour De France winner Geraint Thomas, Arielle Free is most in sync with me,” he said.
“Absolutely motoring for the last half an hour. A life of dancing has done that for Arielle's thighs.
“She's light as a feather and as powerful as an ox. The perfect ratio.
“We have flown through the last 45 minutes, after I had a real wobble - a literal wobble - on the top of a hill, where I had to pull over and collapse.”
He added: We're keeping going, I've been able to get some pals on the back which has given me a boost physically and mentally.”
DJ Arielle Free joins Greg on the bike
Wednesday 18 March 2026 14:20 , Ekin KarasinThe Scottish DJ and broadcaster, 37, joined her friend James on the back of the bike for some much-needed support.
Free will help him keep going as they head through North Yorkshire.
'He looked broken': Colleague shares concern
Wednesday 18 March 2026 13:45 , Ekin KarasinRadio 1 presenter Katie Thistleton said: “Yesterday was the first day that I really saw it on his face, I saw it in his eyes - he looked broken, he looked so tired.
“At the very end we were listening to him and he was making some moans and groans (not moaning as in complaining, he doesn't do that).
“I just looked at him and thought, ‘oh wow, he's finding this really hard’, but he's so positive he doesn't let it show.
“He's just a machine, I've never seen anything like it. York to Sunderland, that's madness!”
'My legs are like lead': Greg powers through the hills
Wednesday 18 March 2026 13:20 , Ekin KarasinGreg reacts to hitting £1.5m
Wednesday 18 March 2026 13:00 , Ekin Karasin“No! 1.5 million! To celebrate, I'm going to lie down in this pub car park,” the radio host quipped.
“That is amazing, that is making all the pain and the heavy concrete legs worth moving.
“Thanks so much, 1.5 million is incredible. If that was the final total I'd be over the moon, but unfortunately for me, and fortunately for the adventure and story that everyone seems to be enjoying, I'm getting back on that bike.
“And I'll just keep going, because I've got to get to Sunderland today. That's today and we'll worry about the day after, the day after.”
New total update: £1,529,351
Wednesday 18 March 2026 12:40 , Ekin KarasinGreg left speechless by celebrity message
Wednesday 18 March 2026 12:15 , Ekin KarasinGreg's confession: 'This is a bit of a wake-up call'
Wednesday 18 March 2026 11:40 , Ekin Karasin“You've come to me at a time of a great hill. This is a bit of a wake up call. You're not done yet, boy,” James said in a message to fans on Wednesday morning.
“”Oswaldkirk is beautiful but my god is it hilly.
I got to day five yesterday and thought, 'I can do three more, can't I?!' But this is very, very steep and very, very long. My legs are incredibly heavy. And that's not me bragging. They feel like lead.
“One of the great things is people coming up and saying hello. But if you're going up a slow hill, they can actually have a conversation with you while they're walking.”
Greg gets sweet surprise from his best friend
Wednesday 18 March 2026 11:20 , Ekin KarasinChris Martin sends hilarious message of support
Wednesday 18 March 2026 11:00 , Ekin KarasinThe Coldplay frontman claimed he’d been trying to join James for a bike ride for weeks and couldn’t get through to him.
“Hi Greg, it's Chris here. I'm a bit confused. I'm with my BMX just outside Bristol,” he joked.
“You said to meet me for a bike ride. I've been waiting here for about three weeks. Where are you?
“What do you want me to do? I want to help you on your bike ride. But I'm in my shorts, I've run out of sandwiches. I might get the train back to America.
“Wherever you are, I love you and I send you so much goodwill. You must be quick on your bike because I can't seem to catch you.”
The gruelling route on day 6
Wednesday 18 March 2026 10:41 , Ekin KarasinGreg's emotional tribute to his dad as he sets off on day 6
Wednesday 18 March 2026 10:20 , Ekin KarasinJames requested Coldplay’s song Paradise be played on radio 1 in tribute to his father, who is recovering from a stroke.
The presenter is journeying from York to Sunderland on day six, covering a colossal 145km with a total elevation of 4559ft.
Before he set off, he asked for the iconic Coldplay track to be played.
"I started to cry there, in a nice way. I was doing up my little shoes and I got a message from my mum, who said: 'I'll tell dad later that you played it for him,’” he said on air.
"The exact memory was turning round and seeing him sway to this song, saying: 'I think this is my favourite one.'"
He then gave an update on his father’s condition.
"He knows this is happening. My mum said dad's fighting hard as well, so he's doing his own challenge this week,” he said.
“This is quite cool: He walked with a frame up the corridor yesterday, which is amazing. He'd love to be on a bike, so I'm gonna make the most of being on a bike. You don't know what life is gonna throw at you, do you?
"You're only a couple of bad bits away from your life completely going wrong. It can happen like that.”
Prince William joins Greg's tandem cycle
Wednesday 18 March 2026 09:58 , Ekin Karasin
The Prince of Wales made a surprise appearance alongside James for the charity bike cycle on Tuesday.
William joined the broadcaster in South Yorkshire, just north of Doncaster, hopping onto the tandem bike as James reached the halfway point of his 1,000km journey from Weymouth to Edinburgh.
The unexpected royal boost came after four demanding days in the saddle, with James having already covered nearly 500km.
The pair cycled together through the countryside as the future king offered encouragement — and extra pedal power — at a pivotal moment in the challenge.
Praising the effort, William said: “What you’ve done is set an example about helping out. It’s volunteering some of your time, putting yourself through a bit of pain and supporting others.
“It’s something we do very well in this country, but we don’t shout about it enough.
“This challenge helps everyone see that. It’s an amazing team effort. Huge well done, Greg.”
Go Greg!
Wednesday 18 March 2026 09:52 , Ekin Karasin
Good morning and welcome to our live blog on Greg James' epic 630-mile Comic Relief cycle challenge.
We will be bringing you all the highlights as the Radio 1 DJ rides a tandem bike 1,000 km through England, Wales and Scotland.
James is being joined by a host of special - and even royal - guests and will complete his endurance mission in Edinburgh on March 20.
