Greg James Cycles Through Burton on Epic 1,000km Red Nose Day Challenge

Residents around Burton may have spotted a familiar face on two wheels today - as Greg James cycled through the area during his enormous charity challenge for Comic Relief.

The BBC Radio 1 breakfast presenter is currently attempting his toughest feat yet: cycling 1,000 kilometres across the UK in eight days for Red Nose Day.

And yes - he’s doing it on a tandem bike.

Spotted in Burton today

Greg passed through several parts of Burton during today’s leg of the ride, including Rosliston, Stapenhill, along Newton Road to Newton Solney and then on to Repton and Willington.

We happened to catch a glimpse of him ourselves as he pedalled past just outside The Sump. Despite the distance still ahead of him, he looked in good spirits as he rolled through town.

Along the route, locals waved and cheered him on - always nice to see Burton giving someone a friendly send-off, especially when they still have hundreds of kilometres left to go.

A 1,000km journey across Britain

Greg set off from Weymouth on 13 March, beginning a demanding journey that takes him across Wales, through the Midlands, and up to the north of England.

If everything goes to plan, he’ll reach the finish line in Edinburgh on 20 March - Red Nose Day itself.

By the end, he’ll have cycled 1,000km, making it the longest distance ever attempted by a Radio 1 Comic Relief challenger.

Back in the saddle (despite saying “never again”)

Greg has taken on charity challenges before — including a famously gruelling one in 2018. At the time, he reportedly said he wouldn’t be doing another one.

But for Comic Relief, he’s clearly changed his mind.

This year’s ride is raising money for projects that help people eat, sleep and feel safe, providing quick, local support for those who need it most.

Not riding alone

Although Greg is doing the pedalling, he won’t be alone for the whole journey.

Various surprise guests are joining him at different stages along the route - sharing the saddle and helping keep morale high as the miles rack up.

Because when you’re cycling 1,000km on a tandem, a bit of company probably helps.

Want to support Greg’s ride and help raise money for Comic Relief?
You can donate here 🚴‍♂️