The annual London Marathon was getting underway on Sunday with BBC One dedicating almost six hours of coverage to the massive sporting event
09:02, 26 Apr 2026Updated 09:50, 26 Apr 2026
Gabby Logan presenting the BBC’s coverage of the London Marathon(Image: BBC)
With almost 60,000 people taking part in the 2026 London Marathon, this year’s event is the biggest yet.
So it’s little wonder that BBC One is dedicating almost six hours of coverage to the world famous sporting event which sees people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities pounding the streets of the capital to raise money for some very worthy causes.
Gabby Logan began the coverage of the 46th London Marathon on Sunday, April 26 at 8.30am and among the commentators giving expert analysis are Andrew Cotter, Steve Cram, Paula Radcliffe and Tanni Grey-Thompson.
“Over the next few hours we will follow every step, every triumph and every tear,” Gabby promised as the opening footage played out of some of the competitors in training.
Scheduled until 2pm, many of the usual Sunday daytime shows switched to BBC Two including Breakfast, which moved across to the second channel halfway through the programme, and Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
Millions of viewers are tuning in to watch the London Marathon(Image: BBC)
Just minutes into the BBC coverage of the London Marathon, viewers were taking to social media to air their thoughts on the event. As scores of good luck messages were sent to the runners, the viewers at home also agreed it was must-watch TV.
One said: “Always a tv highlight of the year.” A second posted: “Love watching the London marathon. Such a great tradition here.”
Another said: “Love the #LondonMarathon . So many amazing people supporting great causes. Always wonderful examples of humanity, determination and support against the backdrop of beautiful London.”
A fourth added: “Best wishes to all this year’s runners about to set off in the @LondonMarathon. I was waiting way back at the start 43 years ago at the 3rd Gillette #Londonmarathon. Amazing to have been part of the #BBC coverage running down the Mall. Happy memories.”
Gabby chatted to those taking part(Image: BBC)
The 46th London Marathon features both the women’s and men’s elite races, which were won last year by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and Sabastian Sawe of Kenya, respectively. There’s also the wheelchair races which saw Swiss athletes Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner triumph in 2025.
As well as the elite races, millions more take part to raise funds for charities close to their hearts with many running the 26-mile course in fancy dress while others aim to shatter all kinds of world records.
Among those taking part this year are brothers Jordan and Cian Adams whose mother Geraldine was diagnosed with familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) when she was just 47, and died at 52 in 2016. After genetic testing, Jordan and Cian learned that they also carry the gene.
Jordan Adams is running the London Marathon with a fridge strapped to his back
Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Saturday, Jordan, who was 15 when his mother was diagnosed, explained: “I am a carrier. I have a 99.9% chance of getting familial FTD. It’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when.
“And I just want do as much as I can in the time that I have to help those living with dementia, those impacted by it, so that I leave this world, hopefully in a better place when dementia does take my life.”
They will take on the London Marathon, with Jordan running with a fridge strapped to his back, before tackling another 32 marathons in Ireland to honour their mum’s Irish roots.
“We set a monetary goal to try and raise a million pounds before we die of dementia,” Jordan said.
London Marathon is on BBC One on Sunday, April 26 from 8.30am to 2pm