Greg James was ‘overwhelmed’ with emotion as he completed his Comic Relief challenge on Friday, raising an incredible £3.3million for charity.
The BBC Radio 1 presenter crossed the finish line in Edinburgh on Friday morning after an exhaustive week cycling 630 miles (1,000km) on a tandem. He has been joined by the likes of Prince William and lingerie-wearing Jamie Laing, but as he reached the finish line, the victory was all his.
Speaking to Radio 1, Greg, 40, burst into tears and said: ‘I can’t believe it’s done! I couldn’t see, I just kept bursting into tears at everyone I saw. Please, let me get off this bike.
‘It feels amazing to complete that, to have done that amazing, to have pushed through it all, to be part of an amazing team, to have raised so much money, and to have finished!’
He added: ‘It’s been such a struggle at times but everyone has got me through it. The thing I will remember the most is the joy of seeing everyone. There was so much joy on that whole journey.’
His latest Red Nose Day challenge was even more poignant this time around as his father ‘Big Al’ is currently ill in hospital after suffering a stroke.
‘My dad is hopefully watching me swear on the news,’ Greg quipped.
‘He loves rugby so much. He would love to be here at Murrayfield. This is an iconic place. All these people have turned up…’
He added: ‘I am overwhelmed by the whole thing. Thank you to everyone for following this.’
With spectators at Murrayfield Stadium cheering him on, Greg was met at the finish by his BBC colleagues Vick Hope and Jack Saunders and raised a fist in the air triumphantly.
Greg told the hosts: ‘The thing I want to continue is what I’ve seen across the whole country… I’ve been through England, Scotland, Wales. What I’ve seen is the spirit of everyone coming together and being great and having a nice time. And please treat everyone you see like a minor celebrity on a tandem, okay?
‘Wave at people. Be good to people. And if you can make someone’s day you should, because it’s been the biggest privilege to do this.’
Greg, who kicked off the gruelling cycle last Friday in Weymouth, was notably joined by the Prince of Wales after calling out the royal in a previous episode of his radio show.
Speaking during the challenge, the Prince told him: ‘What you’ve done is set an example about helping out. That’s the thing. It’s volunteering some of your time, putting yourself through a bit of pain at the same time, and supporting others.
‘It’s something we do very well in this country, but we don’t really shout about it enough.
‘This challenge helps everyone see that. And it’s an amazing team effort. Huge well done, Greg.’
On having the unexpected company of a royal tandem buddy, Greg called it an ‘incredible surprise’.
‘I’d joked when I recorded a recent radio show with him that he was very welcome to turn up and do a stint on the tandem, but I didn’t think he’d actually call my bluff,’ he admitted.
‘I can’t believe the impact of this daft challenge so far, and it’s just beyond my wildest dreams that I’d get trusted to carry the future King around on a big, long tandem.
‘Completely bizarre, but so kind of him to spend some time amplifying our message of making sure we look after the most vulnerable people in society.’
‘He didn’t have to jump on and stare at my back for 40 mins,’ he joked. ‘But I’m so grateful that he did. Unforgettable.’
‘Now, if you’ll excuse me,’ he concluded. ‘I have to get back on my bike.’
Greg had recently told Metro that this would likely be his last mission for Red Nose Day, having now taken part in three.
Describing the mission as ‘absurd’, the broadcaster said that it is ‘a real privilege’ to be asked to ‘shoulder the burden’.
‘I’ve spent the last eight years making sure everyone else does them and convincing other people to do them. I thought it was about time that instead of being in the warm studio, I get out there and actually do one as well.’
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