TCS London Marathon Celebrities running the 26.2-mile event on Sunday 2 October 2022

As the final countdown starts with tapering weeks being planned next month we highlight some of the key names from entertainment towing the line in London.

Stars from the worlds of film, music, TV and sport are taking on the challenge of running the 2022 TCS London Marathon on Sunday 2 October as reported from the London Marathon Media hub.

Among the famous faces is award-winning actor Cynthia Erivo, who is also a renowned singer, songwriter and guest judge on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Londoner Erivo knows what it takes to complete a marathon, having run the TCS New York City Marathon in 2016 – but this will be the first time she has tackled her home-town marathon.

Erivo won a Tony Award in 2016 for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple and a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album the following year. She was also nominated for both Golden Globe and Academy Awards for her portrayal of American abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet.

Acclaimed film and TV star Stephen Mangan will also be on the Start Line. Mangan – who has most recently appeared in BBC drama The Split and provided the voice of the eponymous character in Postman Pat: The Movie – will be raising money for Marie Curie.

Other celebrities taking part include McFly drummer Harry Judd and radio DJs Chris Stark and Reece Parkinson. Reality TV star Mark Wright will also be hoping to make the Start Line this year after injury prevented him from doing so in 2021.

The full list of famous faces preparing to take part on Sunday 2 October is:

Sam Bird: Jaguar TCS Formula E driver

Dr Rangan Chatterjee:British physician, author, television presenter and podcaster

Emon Choudhury: BBC Two’s 2020 Race Across the World winner 

James Cracknell: double Olympic rowing gold medallist

Cynthia Erivo: actor and singer

Chris Evans: radio and television presenter

Jenni Falconer:radio and TV presenter

Harry Judd: musician

Stephen Mangan:actor

Danny Mills: pundit and former England footballer

Greg O’Shea: 2019 Love Island winner and Irish Olympian

Reece Parkinson:radio and TV presenter

Chris Stark:radio DJ

Iwan Thomas MBE: TV presenter and former GB Olympian

Helen Thorn: comedian, podcaster and one half of Scummy Mummies

Stephen Warnock:former England footballer

Mark Wright:TV personality