Hobbit Feet for Charity

BBC Radio 1 presenter Jamie Laing has revealed the unexpected toll of his grueling five-day ultra-marathon challenge for Comic Relie f— swollen, painfully inflamed feet that he likened to those of a Hobbit.

The former Made in Chelsea star pushed his physical limits, running an astonishing 150 miles (241km) from London to Salford. His efforts raised an impressive £2 million for the charity, with supporters cheering him on as he crossed the finish line on Friday (21 March).

However, the triumph came at a cost. Sharing an update on Monday (24 March), Laing posted a picture of his battered feet, complete with a blackened toenail, and admitted: “My feet are so swollen!!! They’re battered and my toenail is about to fall off. They look a little bit like Hobbit feet. One thing for sure, they aren’t looking pretty.”

Despite the painful aftermath, Laing was met with an outpouring of support from fans and celebrity friends alike. Davina McCall expressed sympathy, while fellow BBC Radio 1 host Greg James kept it short with a dry, “No thanks.” Meanwhile, one fan humorously compared his swollen feet to pregnancy symptoms, quipping, “It’s giving 3rd trimester.”

Laing, 36, had never run more than 3.1 miles before taking on the challenge, making his achievement even more remarkable. He was greeted at the finish line by his wife, Sophie Habboo, alongside his BBC colleagues Greg James, Vick Hope, and Jeremiah Asiamah.

An emotional clip shared on his Instagram showed the moment Laing realized the impact of his efforts, breaking down in tears as he saw the fundraising total. “Thank you everyone, thank you so much, thank you for digging deep, that is unbelievable,” he said, overwhelmed with gratitude.

The challenge coincided with Red Nose Day’s 40th anniversary show, filmed in Salford, which helped raise an overall £34 million for the cause. The broadcast featured a star-studded lineup, including a reunion of The Inbetweeners cast as Oasis, a Gladiators sketch, and a surprise appearance from The Traitors star Linda Rands.

While Laing’s feet may need time to recover, his marathon effort left a lasting impact — both on his body and on the lives of those helped by Comic Relief’s fundraising.