London Marathon 2024: How to watch on the BBC, elite runners, route, start time
Plan your viewing of the 2024 London Marathon with insights on how to watch via the BBC, featuring elite runner highlights, route details, and start times for one of the world’s most iconic running events.
On Sunday, April 21, more than 50,000 runners will attempt to complete the 26.2 kilometers of the London Marathon.
While generating millions of pounds for charity, the audience will cheer on those who are running in fancy dress or who have world records they wish to break.
The action begins live on the BBC at 08:30 BST.
Who is competing in the top divisions?
There are twenty competitors in the elite women’s race and forty-three in the men’s.
Becky Briggs and Alice Wright of Great Britain will compete in the women’s race following their marathon performances at the 2022 European Athletics Championships.
Anya Culling, Rachel Hodgkinson, Helen Gaunt, Mhairi Maclennan, and Lucy Reid are joining them.
Tigst Assefa, the new world record holder from Ethiopia, Brigid Kosgei, Ruth Chepngetich, and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir from Kenya, and Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the winner of the 2020 London Marathon from Ethiopia, will all be present.
Their goal is to surpass Kenya’s Mary Keitany’s 2017 time of two hours, 17 minutes, and one second, which stands as the fastest time ever posted by a woman in a non-mixed gender marathon. This is the lone world record for women.
Emile Cairess, who made his debut at the London Marathon last year and finished third among Brits, is back in the men’s division. Callum Hawkins, who placed fourth in the World Championships, is beside him.
Both Mahamed Mahamed and fellow countryman Marc Scott, who won bronze in the 3,000 meters at the 2022 World Indoor Championships, will be competing in their first marathons.
Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya and Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia, the winners of the New York City Marathon, will be the main competitors in the elite men’s event.
David Weir, the most decorated athlete in the history of the event with eight wins overall, will be competing in the wheelchair races for the 25th time in a row.
At the London Marathon, wheelchair and able-bodied races will have equal prize money.
Which way is it?
The 26.2-mile course that crosses London hasn’t much changed since the inaugural marathon in 1981.
Greenwich Park is the starting point of the marathon, and runners will cross the finish line on The Mall.
It features a number of well-known London locations, such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Canary Wharf, and Tower Bridge.
Which well-known people are participating?
Many well-known faces will be among the racers, as in past London Marathons, and they will all be fundraising for different organizations.
Actor Phil Dunster from Ted Lasso, comedian and TV host Romesh Ranganathan, and Golden Globe winner Ruth Wilson will all be making their marathon debuts.
Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick, who star in EastEnders, will be competing as Honey and Jay, respectively.
Other athletes from various sports backgrounds will compete as well, such as Winter Olympian Aimee Fuller, former Wales rugby union player Shane Williams, and 2022 Commonwealth karate gold champion Joe Kellaway.
Disability advocates Danny Crates and Richard Whitehead will be two of the hundreds of attendees.
Other well-known people are F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham, former Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston, and drummer Harry Judd of McFly.
Pace Setter: Play some inspirational running music by Harry Judd.
How to watch the BBC London Marathon
See the complete coverage of the day, including the major race, on the BBC.
The finish line cameras on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport app, and the BBC Sport website will allow viewers to see friends and relatives finish their marathon. A live stream of the runners crossing Tower Bridge will also be available.
The BBC Sport website will include comprehensive live text commentary, and the BBC Sport social media networks will provide additional coverage.
TV network:
BBC One, 08:30–14:00
BBC Two, 14:00–15:00
More coverage on the BBC Sport app and website, as well as BBC iPlayer
08:20–15:00: elite competitions
Camera on the Tower Bridge, 11:30–13:30
13:00–18:00: cameras at the finish line
Standouts:
BBC Two, 18:00–19:00
When does it begin?
Wheelchair races at 09:05
09:25 Women of distinction
10:00: masses and elite men
For more information, visit https://sportzbiz.co.uk/