Shirley Ballas, Ed Balls, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Dan Walker, Anita Rani, Dani Dyer, Alexander Armstrong and Osi Umenyiora take on Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief
The Bigger Red Nose Climb sees intrepid celebrities attempt the mighty African peak
In 2009 a group of celebrities climbed Africa’s highest mountain to raise money for Comic Relief.
Now, a decade later, nine more stars are hoping to follow in their footsteps and reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.
This film follows Strictly judge Shirley Ballas, former MP Ed Balls, Countryfile’s Anita Rani, Dani Dyer of Love Island fame, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Pointless host Alexander Armstrong, NFL star Osi Umenyiora and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock as they battle against tough terrain, freezing night temperatures, altitude sickness and exhaustion on their eight-day trek.
TV Times rating: ****
Before they set off, TV Times asked Anita and Dan, both 41, how they’re preparing for the hike of a lifetime…
Why did you say yes to this challenge?
Anita: It’s an amazing opportunity to climb Kilimanjaro, and to do it for Comic Relief is win-win. I’ve trekked a bit but never climbed anything like this.
Dan: I watched the documentary 10 years ago and thought, what an amazing thing to do to raise money. When the call came through, I couldn’t believe it. My first thought was, ‘Sign me up!’
How have you prepared?
Anita: I haven’t had time to train, but I squeeze in a run whenever I can. I’m not as fit as when I did Strictly [in 2015] and was training like an athlete.
Dan: In my physical, I was told I was in good shape but have weak thighs. I like to think it’s because I’m 6ft 6in and my incredibly large muscles are stretched out! I’ve been walking in my boots on a treadmill at full incline and in an altitude chamber.
