Olly Murs heads Into The Unknown in brutal 400km endurance challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF

Multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs is dropping the mic and lacing up his trainers to tackle ‘one hell of a run, row and ride’ in 400km challenge to mark Soccer Aid for UNICEF’s 20th Anniversary. Across five relentless days, he’ll run, row and ride from Manchester’s Old Trafford to London Stadium with no clue what the route will throw his way each day.

• Starting on Monday 11 May, Olly Murs: Into The Unknown will see the multi-platinum singer take on five relentless days tackling some of the UK’s most demanding terrain as he runs, rows and rides his way from Manchester’s Old Trafford, where Soccer Aid first kicked off two decades ago, to London Stadium, home of this year’s landmark match.    

• With seven caps under his belt since 2010, Olly is no stranger to stepping up for Soccer Aid but has been inspired to go the distance this year following a visit to see UNICEF’s work in Romania. 

• As a new dad himself, Olly wants to play his part in supporting UNICEF’s work to make sure that every child can grow up safe, healthy and able to play. 

• For more information and to donate to Olly’s challenge visit www.socceraid.org.uk/challenge 

• Heart Breakfast will feature the exclusive first radio interview with Olly whilst ITV’s This Morning will feature the exclusive first TV interview (today, Tuesday 28 April), alongside ‘first-look’ content of his training and recent trip with UNICEF – fans will also be able to track Olly’s progress as he joins This Morning and Heart for live updates each day.    

• Every donation made to Olly’s challenge – and Soccer Aid for UNICEF – will be doubled by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, up to £6million. 

• The epic challenge will also be captured for a one-off special primetime documentary on Friday 29 May at 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. 

• The event will be supported by Soccer Aid for UNICEF partners Adidas, Norqain and Chery. 

London, 28 April 2026 – From Monday 11 May, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, will step away from the mic, into his sport kit, and out of his comfort zone as he takes on a gruelling 400km Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge.  

Over five punishing days, Olly will tackle some of the UK’s toughest terrain as he runs, rows and rides his way from Manchester’s Old Trafford stadium, where Soccer Aid first kicked-off 20 years ago, to London Stadium, home of this year’s landmark match.   

Announcing the brutal challenge today, Olly admitted he’s going to need to “dig deep” as he is being told next to nothing about the direction that he will take and will only discover the day’s route moments before he sets off. It means he’ll have no clue when he’ll be scaling the steepest peaks, biking the most brutal uphill climbs or facing his long-held fear of deep water, until he’s standing on the start line each day. 

Speaking about the epic challenge, Olly said: “I’m so nervous about this challenge but at the same time determined to complete it for Soccer Aid for UNICEF. I’ve been a part of the Soccer Aid family for so long, it’s only right that I step up for the 20th anniversary year. I’ve never done anything of this magnitude before and the fact most of it is unknown, makes it even more unnerving! I’m not a massive water fan so I’m not looking forward to the rowing parts. The thought of me on my own in a little rowing boat really freaks me out!  

“Having had children since I last took part in Soccer Aid for UNICEF, my perspective on life has really changed. Raising money that can help children grow up safe, healthy and able to play means a huge amount more to me now and will play a massive part in my motivation for the challenge as I take on each day. Despite the unknown, I just hope I can dig deep, do everyone proud and raise ridiculous amounts of money for UNICEF.” 

Olly first laced up his boots for Soccer Aid for UNICEF back in 2010. Now over 40, a veteran of the game, and with a knee injury to endure, he’s entering unchartered territory with the uncertainty of what lies ahead, combined with the unforgiving landscape, that will push Olly to his limit. He’ll need every ounce of stamina he can muster and all the support he can get to reach the finish. 

Across the week, audiences can follow Olly’s journey live on ITV’s This Morning and on Heart as he shares daily updates from cross-country terrain, relentless roads and daunting stretches of open water ways.  

The epic challenge will also be captured for a one-off special documentary on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player as viewers can watch every moment from Olly’s epic challenge on Friday 29 May at 9pm, produced by Initial TV (a Banijay UK company). 

The documentary forms part of a special brand new week of Soccer Aid for UNICEF programming from Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 31st May, including the brand new documentary, Soccer Aid: More Than Just A Game, which takes a special look back at the illustrious legacy of Soccer Aid for UNICEF as the match celebrates a milestone 20 years. 

Olly has been inspired to take on the unknown and raise as much money as he can for children around the world, following his recent trip to Romania to see UNICEF’s work and the vital difference funds can make to ensure children grow up safe, healthy and able to play. Olly visited the Pipera Primero Hub in northern Bucharest, a play, learning and parenting project set up in partnership with UNICEF in Romania. The Primero Hub supports Ukrainian children, who have been displaced by conflict, and Romanian children, providing them with access to quality education services, therapeutic music and sport sessions, so they continue to learn, play and thrive. The Primo Hub also delivers sessions developing the parenting skills of community members, as well as strengthening and expanding the competencies of educators. 

During the trip, Olly met Oksana, who was a teacher in Ukraine, and her 5-year-old daughter Alisa. Oksana now works as an educator at the Pipera Primo Hub and Alisa attends sessions too. Oksana shared with Olly how the Primo Hub has helped Alisa become more confident, and given them the opportunity to build a network of Ukrainian friends in Romania. One of Alisa’s passions is dancing, and Olly got the chance to join Alisa and her classmates in their daily ‘dance break’ at the hub. Since leaving Ukraine in 2022, Oksana’s family home has been destroyed and her apartment has also been hit and damaged by a missile. She spoke to Olly about her worry for her family who still live in Ukraine, but that she has no regrets with her choice to leave, to protect Alisa from the impact of conflict. 

Reflecting on the trip, Olly said: “The Primo Hub was amazing and the kids I met were so happy to be there. It was great to see that they had a safe place to go. Somewhere to play, to dance, to be happy and enjoy being kids.  It was emotional hearing from the mothers about what they had been through leaving Ukraine. Being a new parent myself, I get it, kids come first no matter what, but I can’t imagine how tough that would have been for them. Thankfully the Hub offers them a place they can relax and where their children can flourish. Seeing the kids enjoying themselves was something very special. That memory is what will get me through this challenge. “ 

Dr Philip Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer for UNICEF UK, said: “We’re so grateful to Olly for taking on this epic challenge in support of Soccer Aid’s 20th anniversary. Over the years, Soccer Aid for UNICEF has raised over £121 million – and we want to keep going. Thanks to investment in vaccines, nutrition and maternal healthcare, more children than ever have survived to their fifth birthday. But for the first time this century, that progress is being reversed. Across the world, children are facing the devastating effects of cuts to global aid, relentless conflict, climate change, hunger and disease. By donating to Olly’s challenge, supporters can be confident their contribution will help UNICEF reach the children most affected – giving them the chance to grow up safe, healthy and able to play.” 

The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) has committed to double every donation received up to £6 million, for this Soccer Aid for UNICEF campaign. CIFF’s matched funding will go directly towards the Child Nutrition Fund, tackling challenges such as severe forms of malnutrition and anaemia and helping children to get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy and able to play. 

Olly will also be returning to play in this year’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF match, as a veteran of the game having first taken part in 2010. The match will air live and exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on Sunday 31st May. 

To follow along, find out more and donate to UNICEF and Olly Murs: Into The Unknown for Soccer Aid now, visit www.socceraid.org.uk/challenge 

ENDS 

For more information or interview requests, please contact: 

UNICEF UK Media team at [email protected] or 0208 375 6030 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Olly Murs: Into The Unknown for Soccer Aid – challenge route: 

Olly will start his challenge at Old Trafford and finish at London Stadium with the route being revealed each morning. 

About UNICEF  

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.

United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).

For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.