Jamie Laing has done many wild things in his career but this time, he went further than ever before. The 36-year-old TV personality took on a challenge that most wouldn't dare: running five ultra marathons in five days for Comic Relief. As he pushed his body past the breaking point from London to Salford, supporters lined the streets.
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What started as a charity mission soon turned into something far more personal. For Jamie, this wasn’t just about running—it became a week that tested everything.
Jamie Laing’s Red Nose Day ultra marathon raises over £2m
The Made in Chelsea star undertook an extraordinary challenge for Comic Relief. Over five days, he ran five ultra-marathons from London to Salford, covering a staggering 150 miles. The event, named the Comic Relief Ultra Marathon Man challenge, raised more than £2 million for charity.
Laing admitted to never having run more than 5 km (3.1 miles) before this event. Despite the intense physical and emotional toll, he completed the journey with an outpouring of support. On day three, he confessed to listeners that he feared he might 'quit,' but was motivated by the cause and the encouragement from fans, reports BBC.
Speaking at the finish line, Laing said:
At one point I thought I was down and out. Mentally I was gone, physically I was broken. I didn't have anything left in me.
Something pulled me out. The last kilometre was the most euphoric thing I've ever had.
With more than £2 million raised and national attention drawn to Comic Relief’s causes, Laing expressed how the experience had changed him.
It's made me more vulnerable, thankful, grateful. It's made me realise humans are amazing and that life is beautiful.
Laing—who has been open about his own mental health struggles and living with anxiety in his 20s—ran the ultra marathon in support of those struggling with mental health. He said:
I didn't know who to turn to. I'm running to raise money for people who are affected with loneliness, anxiety, depression, OCD, insomnia, whatever it may be.
Adding to the spirit of fun and encouragement, fellow Radio 1 presenter Greg James joined Jamie on the final day, running alongside him in a wedding dress after a fundraising milestone was met.
Wife Sophie reveals Jamie doubted himself daily
While fans watched Jamie power through his challenge, his wife Sophie Habboo revealed a more vulnerable side of the presenter. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she said that Laing had confessed 'every day' that he didn't think he could finish the run. She wrote:
Despite you telling me every day that you couldn’t do it, and despite every part of me wanting to tell you to stop, I knew you would complete it because once you put your mind to something you don’t give up, and you didn’t give up.
Habboo, who married Laing in 2023, met him at the finish line in Salford.
Her emotional tribute continued:
Your bravery, honesty, vulnerability and kindness are all things I see in you every day but now everyone else gets to see that side of you too and I couldn’t be more proud.
His best friend was notably missing from the action
While many people turned up to support Laing, one name was notably missing amongst the cheering crowd: Spencer Matthews. Once considered Jamie Laing’s best friend and co-host of the podcast 6 Degrees, his absence at Jamie’s Comic Relief finish line didn’t go unnoticed.
Although Spencer did share a supportive Instagram story, he did not attend in person. Fans were quick to point out the distance between the two, especially since Spencer had previously completed 30 marathons in 30 days and might have been expected to show up.
Speculation around their friendship started back in 2023, when Spencer revealed on his own podcast that he wasn't invited to Jamie and Sophie's UK legal wedding, however he did attend their wedding in Spain later on. He said:
I was not invited to this part of Jamie’s wedding...
He admitted to being 'pi**ed off' by the snub and said he would have 'flown to Japan' to attend.
While they later addressed the issue on Jamie's podcast, the tension seemed unresolved. The end of their podcast 6 Degrees in November and Spencer’s low-key response to Jamie’s latest milestone have only added to rumours of a lingering fallout.
As reported by Mirror, a source said:
Jamie’s run is perhaps the biggest thing he will ever do in his life – surely he must be missing his friend.
How is Jamie Laing doing after his run?
Indeed, the run was probably the biggest and most challenging thing Laing did and it came with some serious physical consequences too. Laing opened up about the painful reality of the run, revealing some graphic details on his wife’s NewlyWeds podcast. He said:
I had chafing on the worst part you can have chafing, on my p*nis there I said it, so I had to Vaseline that up.
The radio host also described swollen feet, black toenails, and intense blisters. He said:
My feet hurt, I’ve got blisters on my feet one of my toenails has gone black which is not a pretty sight.
He shared on Instagram, adding that they looked like 'hobbit feet.’
Sophie revealed that Jamie was in such pain she couldn’t even sleep in the same room as him. She said:
His knee is so swollen. I’m actually not sleeping in his room because he needs to stretch out his legs. I was in his room this morning and he was crying his eyes out.
Laing had already been dealing with shin splints and hip pain even before the challenge began, calling the entire feat 'completely wild.’
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Sources used:
BBC: Jamie Laing's Comic Relief challenge raises more than £2m
The Standard: Jamie Laing told wife every day he could not do Comic Relief marathon challenge
Metro.co.uk: Jamie Laing reveals painful injury to penis after gruelling £2,000,000 marathon
Mirror: Real reason for Jamie Laing and Spencer Matthews feud after Comic Relief snub
