The Great North Run once again attracted a huge field in 2026, with more than 63,000 runners making their way from Newcastle to South Shields. Alongside the elite athletes and everyday runners were a host of famous faces from television, football, broadcasting and entertainment.
But how did they get on, and how would your own finishing time compare?
Famous Faces on the Start Line
The official celebrity line-up included Chris Kamara, Ben Shephard, Joe Wicks, Richard Whitehead MBE, Peter Reid, Helen Skelton, Sophie Raworth, Jake Quickenden, Adele Roberts, Neil Grainger, Harriett Bibby and Joe McElderry.
Also taking part were Rachel Duffy, Sam Little, Reece Ward and Amanda Collier from The Traitors.
Among the best-known names on this year's start line was Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who completed the course in an official time of 1:57:35 while supporting homelessness charity Changing Lives.
A Strong Run from Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham's finishing time of 1:57:35 wasn't just an impressive achievement for a busy public figure. It also placed him inside the fastest quarter of all runners on the day.
To put that into perspective, a time of 1:58:47 or quicker was enough to finish in the top 25% of the field.
If you crossed the line in under two hours, you were among some very good company.
Celebrity Leaderboard: Who Finished Fastest?
One of the fun things about the Great North Run is seeing how well-known faces fare over the 13.1-mile course. This year's celebrity field included television presenters, athletes, football personalities, actors, musicians and reality TV stars, with some very impressive performances on show.
Leading the way was Paralympian and marathon legend Richard Whitehead MBE, who clocked a superb 1:23:54. Close behind was singer, TV personality and former reality TV star Jake Quickenden, finishing in 1:27:54.
The fastest broadcaster on the day was BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth, crossing the line in an impressive 1:48:17, while fitness coach Joe Wicks and X Factor winner Joe McElderry both dipped under the two-hour barrier with times of 1:59:49 and 1:59:21 respectively.
Television presenter Helen Skelton completed the course in 2:03:39, actor Neil Grainger ran 2:21:25, and long-time TV colleagues Ben Shephard and Chris Kamara crossed the finish line together in 2:34:31 and 2:34:32.
Further down the field, Traitors contestant Sam Little ran an excellent 1:36:24, while fellow Traitors star Rachel Duffy completed the challenge in 3:21:57. Former Sunderland manager, football pundit and player Peter Reid finished in 3:34:32.
Celebrity Results
| Celebrity | Known For | Finish Time |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Whitehead MBE | Paralympian and marathon champion | 1:23:54 |
| Jake Quickenden | Singer, TV personality and reality TV star | 1:27:54 |
| Sam Little | The Traitors contestant | 1:36:24 |
| Sophie Raworth | BBC News presenter | 1:48:17 |
| Joe McElderry | X Factor winner and singer | 1:59:21 |
| Joe Wicks | Fitness coach and creator of The Body Coach | 1:59:49 |
| Helen Skelton | TV presenter and broadcaster | 2:03:39 |
| Neil Grainger | Actor | 2:21:25 |
| Ben Shephard | Good Morning Britain and Tipping Point presenter | 2:34:31 |
| Chris Kamara | Football pundit and former professional footballer | 2:34:32 |
| Rachel Duffy | The Traitors contestant | 3:21:57 |
| Peter Reid | Former footballer, manager and pundit | 3:34:32 |
Interestingly, several of these celebrity performances would have placed them well above the average runner. Sophie Raworth, Sam Little, Jake Quickenden and Richard Whitehead all finished comfortably inside the fastest 10% of the field, while Andy Burnham's 1:57:35 placed him inside the fastest 25%.
This just goes to show that some celebrities are far more than occasional runners. Several of them recorded times that many club runners would be delighted with, while others demonstrated that the Great North Run remains an event where participation, fundraising and personal achievement matter just as much as finishing time.
An Emotional Finish for Chris Kamara
One of the most inspiring stories from this year's event came from Chris Kamara.
Kamara completed the race alongside his son Jack and long-time friend Ben Shephard, finishing in approximately 2 hours 34 minutes.
What made the achievement even more remarkable was the journey behind it. Kamara has spoken openly about relearning aspects of running after being diagnosed with apraxia, a neurological condition that affected his speech, balance and movement.
His performance was a reminder that running isn't always about chasing personal bests. Sometimes simply getting to the start line, overcoming obstacles and reaching the finish is the biggest victory of all.
It's a good reminder that every finish time has a story behind it.
How Did Your Time Compare?
Here is how various finishing times ranked against the overall Great North Run field in 2026:
- Under 1:23:17 = Top 1%
- Under 1:36:05 = Top 5%
- Under 1:43:55 = Top 10%
- Under 1:54:42 = Top 20%
- Under 1:58:47 = Top 25%
- Under 2:19:21 = Faster than the median runner
- Under 2:43:27 = Top 75%
- Under 3:07:45 = Top 90%
Only 2.7% of runners finished in under 1 hour 30 minutes.
The median finishing time was 2:19:21, meaning half the field finished faster and half finished slower.
So if you broke two hours, you were comfortably ahead of the middle of the field. A sub-1:45 run placed you close to the fastest 10% of all participants. Even finishing inside three hours put you ahead of the majority of runners.
The Elite Athletes Were Flying
At the front of the race, American athlete Zouhair Talbi claimed victory in the men's race with a stunning 59:47.
Brigid Kosgei won the women's race in 1:06:15.
In the wheelchair races, David Weir secured his tenth Great North Run title in 43:06, while Mel Woods won the women's wheelchair event in 50:19.
Those performances are incredible, but for most runners they are not the most meaningful comparison.
A far better measure is how you performed against your own expectations, your previous results, your age category or the amount of training you were able to complete leading into race day.
Your Result Is More Than a Number
Celebrity comparisons are fun and it's always interesting to see how famous faces get on over 13.1 miles.
But your finishing time is only one part of the story.
Perhaps it was your first half marathon.
Maybe you were raising money for charity.
Perhaps you were returning from injury, supporting a friend, chasing a personal best or simply enjoying the experience of running one of the world's most iconic events.
The crowds, the atmosphere, the weather and the hills all play a role in shaping the day.
That's why every Great North Run medal tells a different story.
So, Who Did You Beat?
Did you finish quicker than Andy Burnham's 1:57:35?
Were you ahead of the event median of 2:19:21?
Or were you running around the same pace as Chris Kamara and Ben Shephard at approximately 2 hours 34 minutes?
Whatever your result, completing 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields is something to be proud of.
Whether you crossed the line in 70 minutes or 3 hours 30 minutes, you're part of a community of thousands who took on the challenge and reached the finish.
And that's worth celebrating.