I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sent Sara Cox a good luck message all the way from the jungle in Australia on Thursday.
The presenting duo, who are preparing to host another series of the hit ITV show this Sunday, said they had heard how amazing she has been doing on her Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children In Need and wished her the best of luck.
Dec, 50, said: ‘Hello Coxy. It’s Ant and Dec here. We are in Australia, but news has reached us of the amazing job you are doing.
Ant, 49, chimed in: ‘Yeah! We have heard that you are doing a fantastic job. Keep up the work, and very best of luck and lots of love.
Ending the clip with positive words of encouragement, Dec added: ‘Loads of love. Keep it up!’
During Radio 2’s Breakfast Show, Sara’s sister Dot and other family members also surprised her during the fourth day of her challenge.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sent Sara Cox a good luck message all the way from the jungle in Australia on Thursday
The presenting duo, who are preparing to host another series of the hit ITV show this Sunday, said they had heard how amazing she has been doing on her Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children In Need and wished her the best of luck
A delighted Sara said: ‘That was a lovely surprise. I thought, we need better security – who is this running towards me? That was perfectly timed, just as soon as I’m starting to hurt. Pain’s really tiring. It was a real boost, thank you so much!’
Dame Judi Dench offered her encouragement to Sara, saying: ‘Sara, I hear you are doing an incredible journey for Children in Need, and so I hear you are going through God’s own country.
‘And, as it’s my county, I am sending you love, and I hope they are very kind to you up in Yorkshire. Good luck and well done. How brilliant.’
While football legend Alan Shearer also sent in a message of support for Sara: ‘I just wanted to wish you all the best for your Great Northern Marathon Challenge.
‘135 miles in five days is an amazing effort. I’d love to be there to support you in person, but Pudsey Bear moves quicker than me these days! Good luck!’
The messages of support came as Vernon Kay, 51, revealed to Sara, 50, live on Radio 2 that she had raised an incredible new total of £2,680,747 for BBC Children In Need.
He told listeners: ‘Listening to Sara struggle, I must admit I started to get those old flashbacks.
He continued: ‘But getting through the pain barrier is part of why people donate to Children in Need.
Dec, 50, said: ‘Hello Coxy. It’s Ant and Dec here. We are in Australia, but news has reached us of the amazing job you are doing’
Ant, 49, chimed in: ‘Yeah! We have heard that you are doing a fantastic job. Keep up the work, and very best of luck and lots of love’
Ending the clip with positive words of encouragement, Dec added: ‘Loads of love. Keep it up!’
‘You’re putting yourself in an uncomfortable position, and people think “Well, I’m really glad it’s you and not me”. She’ll get through it, though, she’s got Northern grit flowing through her veins!’
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Scott Mills, 51, revealed the moment she had crossed the £2million mark on Radio 2’s Breakfast Show.
An elated Sara Cox said: ‘That is the best news, you absolute legends! Over £2 million!
‘That’s going to make so much difference, thank you for every penny! Everybody works so hard, everyone giving up their hard-earned cash, thank you – we’re grateful for every penny, it really helps!’
After completing her hilliest day yesterday, an amazing crowd of 2000 locals in Richmond greeted Sara on Wednesday evening as she limped over the finish line.
Along the route, Sara had a heartwarming appearance from friend Gethin Jones, 47, and a 40-strong tractor salute.
Now, Sara has taken on her longest day yet, which sees her on foot for over 12 hours from Richmond all the way to Ripley.
Sara set off early in the morning on Thursday from Richmond by the local Mayor, Carl, and horn-player Steven.
Meanwhile, Dame Judi Dench also offered her encouragement to Sara, saying: ‘Sara, I hear you are doing an incredible journey for Children in Need, and so I hear you are going through God’s own country,’
She continued: ‘And, as it’s my county, I am sending you love, and I hope they are very kind to you up in Yorkshire. Good luck and well done. How brilliant’
Meanwhile, Jude, 20, a member of The One Show’s Challenge Squad, also bravely joined her on day four of her Great Northern Marathon Challenge.
Jude, an ambassador for the charity Shine, was born with spina bifida, a condition that severely affects his mobility.
Doctors once told his parents he might never walk, but through multiple surgeries and sheer determination, Jude has embraced sport at every opportunity.
Sara began the gruelling 135-mile Great Northern Marathon Challenge from the Kielder Forest on Monday morning.
The expedition, which is Radio 2’s longest-ever BBC Children In Need Challenge and is set to take five days, kicked off with the star surrounded by locals as well as a more unique bunch of supporters.
At the starting line, the star was encouraged by a local bagpiper, and she was then met with Alpacas when she reached Northumberland.
Speaking ahead of the challenge, Sara said: ‘I’m feeling good. I’m feeling more relaxed than I have been for weeks because I’ve been so nervous in the buildup, but now we are actually here and we’re going to do it, I feel good, thanks…
‘I mean, the rain is not great. There’s a lot of heavy drizzle, it has paused momentarily, but my toes are already soggy.’
The messages of support came as Vernon Kay, 51, revealed to Sara, 50, live on Radio 2 that she had raised an incredible new total of £2,680,747 for BBC Children In Need
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Scott Mills, 51, revealed the moment she had crossed the £2million mark on Radio 2’s Breakfast Show
An elated Sara Cox said: ‘That is the best news, you absolute legends! Over £2 million! That’s going to make so much difference, thank you for every penny!’
Jude, 20, a member of The One Show’s Challenge Squad, also bravely joined Sara on day four of her Great Northern Marathon Challenge
Jude, an ambassador for the charity Shine, was born with spina bifida, a condition that severely affects his mobility
After months of intensive training, Sara headed off while carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack weighing only 270 grams.
The mission is to get Pudsey to Pudsey in Leeds by Friday – a symbolic journey carrying BBC Children In Need’s iconic mascot from border to heartland.
Covering 135 miles on foot across four counties – Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire – Sara’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge marks Radio 2’s longest-ever challenge in terms of duration.
She will only be relying entirely on her own feet – whether walking or jogging, with no other means of transport, such as bikes or cars, on the mission.
A BBC TV crew will follow Sara’s journey every step of the way for an exclusive behind-the-scenes appeal film.
Sara Cox: Every Step of the Way for Children in Need is set to air on BBC One on November 19 at 8pm.
