Children
in Need

We're With You Paddy

Each year, BBC Radio 2 do incredible work raising huge sums of money for Children in Need. This year, their big challenge is being undertaken on the iconic Raleigh Chopper. 

Beloved Radio 2 host, actor, comedian, and author Paddy McGuinness will be undertaking the endurance ride of his life. Paddy and his Chopper will pedal 300 Miles from Wrexham to Glasgow in just 4.5 days... Ouch! 

His journey will take him through 8 counties: Flintshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire. He’ll be stopping off at villages and towns along the way to meet as many Radio 2 listeners as possible. It’d be great to see Raleigh fans there too! 

Sign up to our Retro Raleigh newsletter to keep up-to-date with Paddy’s progress and for information on how you can show your support.  Or read the press release below

BBC press release

Paddy McGuinness, who presents on Radio 2 each Sunday morning (11am-1pm), will take on the ultimate endurance ride of his life by cycling through three nations, starting in Wales, travelling through England and finishing in Scotland.

As announced on Vernon Kay’s Radio 2 show this morning, Paddy will start his Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge during the Breakfast Show on Monday 11 November and will pedal almost 300 miles, starting in Wrexham. The route will take him through eight counties – Flintshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire - including a stop at Preston, where Radio 2 in the Park took place in Moor Park earlier this month – onto Westmorland, Cumberland, Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire, and he is aiming to finish at on Friday 15th November morning in Glasgow. But Paddy won’t be taking on this challenge on just any bicycle... he will attempt to complete the route on an iconic, BBC Children in Need customised and modified, Raleigh Chopper bike.

He’ll be passing through and stopping off at villages and towns along the way to meet as many Radio 2 listeners as possible as they cheer him on and help him to raise much needed funds that will help make life lighter for children across the UK. The need has never been greater as right now BBC Children in Need is only able to help one in eight of the organisations who ask for money.

Paddy says: “I’ll be cycling from Wrexham to Glasgow. That’s 300 miles, eight counties and three nations. ‘No likey, no bikey’ just isn’t an option! As a kid, I didn’t have much and used to be really jealous of my mates riding around on those bikes, so I’m really honoured to support BBC Children in Need by getting peddling to raise as much money as possible for the charity. After seeing Vernon’s incredible efforts last year... no pressure then!”

Vernon Kay, who raised over £6 million last year for BBC Children in Need with his Ultra ULTRA Marathon, says: “I know exactly what Paddy will be going through so I and the rest of our Radio 2 buddies will be supporting him every pedal of the way, especially up all those hills - ouch!”

Simon Antrobus, BBC Children in Need Chief Executive says: “Paddy is taking on an extraordinary challenge which will help benefit the lives of children and young people across the country who are facing significant challenges. Right now, the need is greater than ever, but with the support of the public we can continue to lighten the load for hundreds of thousands of children across the UK when they need it most. We’re encouraging Radio 2 listeners across the country to support Paddy by taking on their own fundraising challenge too – whether that’s by roller skating or cycling – I look forward to seeing everyone’s efforts! A huge thank you to Paddy for taking on this challenge, everyone here at BBC Children in Need wishes him the best of luck!”

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: “As with Vernon’s Ultra ULTRA Marathon last year, this is one man attempting to do an extraordinary challenge, not least as he’ll be on a bike which is designed for style not endurance cycling! We can only imagine how hard it is going to be for Paddy to cycle from Wales into England then onto Scotland over five days, so I’d like to thank him for agreeing to take on this mammoth challenge. I know the amazing Radio 2 listeners will do all they can to support him along the way!”

Paddy’s Ultra Endurance Cycle will be broadcast live on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, with video highlights and further coverage on Radio 2’s social media accounts. During the challenge, Radio 2 presenters will be broadcasting their regular shows whilst offering him lots of support, keeping him motivated and spurred on with messages from the listeners. He will also be joined on his arduous journey by a host of surprise guests to help keep him going.

A BBC TV crew will be following Paddy every pedal of the way for a behind-the-scenes documentary about his challenge featuring exclusive footage to be broadcast on BBC One later in November. A BBC Studios Entertainment production.

Listeners are encouraged to get behind Paddy with their own wheel-based fundraising challenges– and will be asked ‘how will you roll’? Anyone can choose to take part by cycling, scootering, go-karting, roller skating or blading, uni cycling or - if you’re Jeremy Vine - jumping on your Penny Farthing! Challenge yourself to help make life lighter for children and sign up at bbc.co.uk/Pudsey

Paddy’s Ultra Endurance Cycle follows in the footsteps of Vernon Kay’s Ultra ULTRA Marathon last year which raised over £6 million, which followed on from Radio 2’s previous 24 Hour challenges for BBC Children In Need - The Great Scott TreadMills Challenge in 2022 when he walked, jogged and ran for 24 hours on a treadmill raising over £1.3 million; Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco Danceathon in 2021 which also raised over £1.3 million; Joe Wicks’ 24 Hour PE Challenge in 2020 which raised over £2.5 million in 2020; and Rylan undertook his 24 hour Great Ka-RY-oke Challenge in 2019 which helped Radio 2 raise over £2m for the charity.