DAY ONE DONE - Olly Murs completes day one of brutal 400km endurance challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
Multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs has completed day one of his 400km challenge to mark Soccer Aid for UNICEF’s 20th Anniversary. Across Monday to Friday this week, he’ll run, row and ride his bike from Manchester’s Old Trafford to London Stadium with no clue what the route will throw his way each day…
- Crossing the first finish line this evening, Olly Murs completed the first of five relentless days tackling some of the UK’s most demanding terrain, making 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.
- Heart Breakfast’s Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston revealed this morning that today would be Olly’s steepest day of the week before he set off cycling and then running his way to Edale.
- This Morning’s Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley waved him off live from the studio whilst Jake Quickenden saw him off at the start line from Old Trafford.
- Just as he was about to set off, John Bishop surprised him and cycled alongside him as he headed out of the city.
- For more information and to donate to Olly’s challenge visit www.socceraid.org.uk/challenge
Monday 11 May: Today, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, has completed day one of the toughest five of his life as he takes on a gruelling 400km Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge.
With his route for the day only being revealed live on Heart Breakfast this morning, Olly set off from the start line at Old Trafford after John surprised him and a crowd of cheering well-wishers, live on This Morning before he headed out of the city.
Speaking as John departed and left him to face the rest of the day, Olly said: “Ah Bish is amazing. He’s someone I’ve got to know really well over the last 15 years, I just love him to bits. He’s such a genuine guy – and he’s funny. Definitely someone I needed for the first half of this!”
John added: “I came out because I love Olly, I love Soccer Aid, I love what it stands for, I love the work that UNICEF does – and it’s a nice opportunity to support it and support him and to hopefully get a few miles in in the morning so I don’t have to go to the gym this afternoon!”
He also joked: “There’s no other reason I’d come to Old Trafford!”
It was an uphill struggle for Olly who headed south through Manchester and Stockport on his bike, before ditching his two wheels at Glossop. What followed was a very steep stretch – a lung-busting run across the Kinder Scout plateau, tackling the Peak District’s highest point via the ancient Doctor’s Gate path before finishing at the Pennine Way to complete his first, and steepest, day in Edale.
Speaking from today’s finish line, Olly said: “That was a hard day. That was the hardest thing I’ve done pretty much all my life. And I’ve got to do that for another four days! The hardest part was coming down Jacob’s Ladder and that sounds ridiculous because you think going down is going to be easy but my knees are so sore. Just as I got to the bottom I could feel every operation in every step. I had to stop. It feels alright now but whether that will swell up overnight, I don’t know.”
Thinking about the reason behind why he’s taken on such a tough challenge, Olly said: “I hope people are watching it, backing it, getting behind it, donating and getting involved. It’s driving me on every time I take a step, or if I feel something in my hamstring or if my calves hurt and I’m thinking ‘No, Olly, come on, keep going.’”
Before he heads to bed for the night, Olly pondered what might be ahead tomorrow: “That phone call in the morning with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden… I don’t know what they’re going to pull out of the bag tomorrow – but all I know is that we haven’t got out of the peaks yet; we’re still here! But I’m up for this challenge. That’s why I signed up. I’m here to complete it, whatever it is. So Theako, Amanda, bring it on! Let’s do this!”
It was only the first of five punishing days that will see Olly 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. However, 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.
With seven caps under his belt, 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.
As a new dad himself, 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 Primo Hub in northern Bucharest, a play, learning and parenting project set up in partnership with UNICEF in Romania. The Pipera Primo Hub supports Ukrainian children, who have been displaced by conflict, and Romanian children, providing them with access to quality education services, therapeutic music and creative 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.
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, ‘Olly Murs: Steps Into The Unknown’, 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 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.
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.
SOCCER AID FOR UNICEF
Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2026 will take place on Sunday 31 May at the London Stadium and will be broadcast live exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Over the last 20 years, Soccer Aid for UNICEF has united millions of people and raised over £121 million to support UNICEF’s vital work helping children grow up safe, healthy and able to play.
Right now, children around the world are facing devastating crises – from global aid cuts, war and climate change to hunger and disease – threatening their childhoods and their right to play.
The money raised from this year’s campaign could help UNICEF provide life-changing support for a child, like clean water and nutrition, vital vaccinations, or the opportunity to learn, so every child can get the best start in life.
Donations are open for Olly Murs: Into the Unknown – for more information and to donate, visit socceraid.org.uk/challenge
Soccer Aid for UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service
SOCCER AID FOR UNICEF PARTNERS
Soccer Aid Productions Limited
The multi-stakeholder project of Soccer Aid for UNICEF is run by Soccer Aid Productions, a collaboration between UNICEF UK and Triple S Events which is part of the Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group.
UNICEF UK
UNICEF partners with communities, organisations, local and national governments to improve children’s lives. Across more than 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works 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. It also promotes and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. It is a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.
ITV Social Purpose
ITV’s Social Purpose is about using the power of ITV to shape culture for good, through using creativity and scale to inspire positive change in the world, and to nurture a responsible and inclusive working environment. ITV’s social purpose encompasses four priorities – better health, diversity and inclusion, climate action and giving back, all with their own measurable goals. For more information go to itvplc.com/socialpurpose
Initial
Initial, part of Banijay UK, has been the producer of all 14 Soccer Aid shows since its inception in 2006. Experienced in making premium entertainment and ambitious reality programmes, credits include hit shows such as Celebrity Big Brother (ITV), Big Brother (ITV), Last One Laughing (Prime Video), 99 To Beat (ITV & Fox), Total Wipeout and Tenable.
Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group
The Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group is a full-service sports and entertainment group operating in multiple industry sectors and countries. As a long-standing and expert agency with highly experienced personnel, it offers a range of services, including: talent management, event management, commercial rights exploitation, financial & legal advice, PR consultancy, social media & digital production, contract, transfer & negotiation management and crisis management services. The Group represents some of the highest-profile sporting professionals in the UK, as well as renowned personalities in the entertainment industry. Triple S has also been responsible for some of the biggest sports entertainment TV events in the UK.
About Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is an independent philanthropy that works with a range of partners including governments, NGOs and multilateral institutions to create large-scale change which is locally owned to help build a world where all children can flourish. CIFF has over $4 billion actively invested in programmes in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on: tackling climate change, improving health and nutrition, and promoting opportunities and choice for women and girls. For more information, please visit www.ciff.org
ITV’s This Morning & Heart
Watch This Morning weekdays from 10am on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player and listen to Heart via the Global Player app, the official Heart app, at heart.co.uk, on smart speakers or DAB digital radio.
The event will be supported by Soccer Aid for UNICEF partners Adidas, Norqain and Chery.