The 2024 London Marathon on BBC One Sunday 21 April

The 2024 London Marathon will take place on Sunday 21 April, and viewers can tune in to BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app to follow the action live. The coverage will begin at 8:30 am BST, with the wheelchair races starting at 8:50 am, the elite women at 9:00 am, and the elite men and masses at 9:40 am.

This year’s marathon will see over 50,000 runners taking on the 26.2-mile course through the streets of London, each with their own motivations and reasons for participating. An elite few will be looking for world records, some will opt for working up a sweat by running in fancy dress, most will just be aiming to complete the course – all of them though will be cheered on by enthusiastic crowds and will be raising millions of pounds for charity.

Among the elite runners are Great Britain’s Becky Briggs and Alice Wright, joining a field of 20 athletes in the women’s race, and 43 athletes in the men’s race. The men’s field includes Emile Cairess, Callum Hawkins, and Marc Scott, while the women’s race features Ethiopia’s new world record holder, Tigst Assefa, and Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich.

The wheelchair races will see the return of Britain’s David Weir, an eight-time winner and the most decorated athlete in the event’s history. Weir will be competing in his 25th consecutive London Marathon.

Celebrities taking part include Romesh Ranganathan, Ruth Wilson, Phil Dunster, Emma Barton, and Jamie Borthwick, who will be running as their respective characters Honey and Jay from “EastEnders”. Other notable participants include McFly drummer Harry Judd, former Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston, and F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham.

The BBC’s coverage will include finish line cameras, allowing viewers to watch their friends and family complete the marathon. There will also be a stream of the runners crossing Tower Bridge, and full live text commentary on the BBC Sport website, along with additional coverage on BBC Sport’s social media channels.

With a mix of elite athletics, human interest stories, and charity initiatives, the London Marathon promises to be a captivating event, showcasing the endurance and spirit of thousands of runners and the support of the cheering crowds.