Great North Run 2025: Celebrities and local runners take to the streets of Tyneside as Red Arrows return to Newcastle

Local TV Sport

Daniel Wales reports as charity runners and famous faces take part in the 2025 Great North Run, as thousands cross the Tyne Bridge and make the iconic journey from Newcastle to South Shields.

Transcript

00:00Where last year's Great North Run was wet and windy, this year's brought heat and humidity to Tyneside,

00:06as once again upwards of 60,000 runners prepared themselves to take on the world's biggest half marathon.

00:12Crowds began gathering in Newcastle from about half past eight in the morning,

00:16with the thousands of participants all heading to their designated entry point.

00:19As usual with the Great North Run, the atmosphere has been energetic and vibrant.

00:24You can almost feel the adrenaline surging through the runners as they get underway.

00:28But, of course, the key is to not go off too early.

00:32Whether some listen to that advice is another matter, of course.

00:35But, with the masses setting off on their journey to the coast,

00:39let's go back to the start of the day, when some of the big names began to arrive at the start line.

00:46Preparing to get underway were boxer Tommy Fury, reporter Luke Edwards and content creator Joe Sugg.

00:52You know, I run all the time as a boxer and I just think, do you know what, if I'm running,

00:55I might as well come down and run an amazing event like this.

00:59It'd be good to tick off the box half marathon, so why not?

01:03If being in the North East, obviously it's the world's biggest half marathon, does that inspire you?

01:06Yeah, definitely. I think that's the reason why I'm here.

01:08I mean, it's such a big event, you know, and obviously to be in Newcastle, it's absolutely amazing.

01:12First time here.

01:13Like I said before, I'm looking forward to getting the run done and having a little look around the town.

01:16Most pressing question, what have you had for breakfast this morning?

01:18For breakfast? I've had a Squares bar, banana, black coffee and a crumpet with jam and honey.

01:22And are you running for anyone today?

01:26I'm running for everybody. I'm running for everybody.

01:29But, listen, I'm here with my brother and we just come out to do a good run today.

01:33That's my first one. George Colkin of the Athletics has been trying to get me to do it for about a decade.

01:39And I finally relented.

01:41Actually, it's been a shining beacon on the horizon for me because it's been a long, hard summer.

01:46A very stressful summer, I think, for anybody who covers North East football because of the man who has no name, Alexander Ethak Saga.

01:55So this has been quite a nice release to have this to focus on.

01:58I'm dreading it, but I'm really, really excited as well.

02:00Now, of course, you mentioned George Colkin has roped you into this and you're all running for this Bobby Robson Foundation,

02:04a man revered by the whole North East.

02:06And that seems quite appropriate given the event where he's at.

02:08Yeah, Bobby was the first Newcastle United manager when I first started covering Newcastle United.

02:13He was the manager. He was like a childhood hero for me from the 1990 World Cup.

02:18I got to know him on a personal level. Great, great man. Even better football manager.

02:22And I think if I was going to do it for anybody, it was always going to be in the memories of Bobby Robson.

02:26So I like to think that when I hit the wall about eight, nine miles, I'm going to have Bobby's voice in my head saying,

02:33you can do it, son.

02:34Oh, I'm so excited. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

02:36I feel like the weather is really behaving today.

02:39We've got a bit of sun coming out.

02:41It might be a little bit of rain later on, but I think by that point, it's probably needed.

02:44So we, you know, so it, but yeah, really looking forward to it.

02:47People here are great. The crowds are ready.

02:51Spirits are high, which is good.

02:52I've, I've, I have trained, but I am, I'm not going to put too much pressure on like a time.

02:59If I can get anywhere close to what I got last year at the Oxford half, I'll be delighted.

03:04But it's a bit more hillier here, I think.

03:07Oh my God.

03:07It's a bit more hillier.

03:08It's a bit more hillier here, I think.

03:11Most pressing question.

03:12What have you had for breakfast?

03:13Not enough is the answer.

03:14I'm a little bit worried.

03:15I got here and I was like, I, I, I woke up at a reasonable time, but I just had a couple

03:20of bits of sourdough bread.

03:21I've got some fuel on me, but I'm just hoping that there's going to be people in the crowd

03:26handing out sweets and things like that.

03:27And I think I'm going to have to survive on that.

03:29Soon, though, it was time for official starters Nick Pope and Jacob Murphy of Newcastle United

03:34to take their positions and get the run going.

03:44Stopwatchers were being started as the runners crossed the line, with Pope and Murphy on high-five

03:51duty for runners going past.

03:53Two miles into the course and across the time bridge, in Gateshead, supporters were lining

04:02the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of their loved ones taking part.

04:07Well, some runners will be done in around two hours, whilst others will take their time

04:11and soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the moment, which of course is what the Great North Run

04:16is all about.

04:18All the days and all of the nights of preparation have come down to this, making sure they get

04:22across the finish line, as well as, in many cases, supporting worthy causes.

04:27And perhaps to top it all off, after they were absent last year, the Red Arrows return

04:31for 2025 to once again create that iconic shot over the time bridge that so many love to see.

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