Children In Need 2022: Scott Mills raises £1 million in 24-hour treadmill challenge

BBC Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills has raised more than £1 million after completing his 24-hour treadmill challenge for Children In Need.

The Great Scott TreadMills Challenge was launched at 8.20am on Wednesday and finished at 8.30am on Thursday.

Mills walked, jogged and ran for the full 24 hours — even recreating his famous Strictly Come Dancing “crab dance”. Mills told BBC Breakfast that he was “in a world of pain” after walking through the night.

At the time of writing, Mills had raised £1,072,449 for BBC Children In Need. His gruelling challenge was broadcast live on Radio 2, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds for the full 24 hours.

To help encourage him to keep going, Mills was joined in the BBC Radio Theatre by Sam Ryder, Tim Vine, Olly Murs, Joe Wicks, Lemar, Greg James, Simon Brodkin, Jamie Laing, Olympic race walker Tom Bosworth, Gaby & Billy from DIY SOS, and Joel Corry.

Tom Grennan, Gemma Collins, Louis Theroux, Suzi Ruffell, Georgia Toffolo, some of the cast of The Lion King, Nick Grimshaw, Stephen K Amos, some of the cast of the Bob Marley musical, Marisha Wallace, Mark Watson, Aurie Styla, Drag Queens Bonk & Pasty, Shazia Mirza, Strictly’s Joanne Clifton and Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington also lent their support.

His efforts were soundtracked by music guests B*witched, Marisha Wallace, Tom Walker, Jack Savoretti, Hot Chip, Mel C, with the London Contemporary Orchestra performing Chariots of Fire at the end.

Speaking to fellow DJ Zoe Ball afterwards, he admitted that he’d had some concerns at around 3:56am that he might not make it.

“I can’t believe that’s over, I’ve done it,” he said. “It’s so incredible. I’ve done a few of these things in the past for Radio 1, but this is next level.

“I didn’t expect it to be this much money just because of how things are at the moment. So I’m just shocked and I’m in shellshock right now that I’m not walking. You’re holding me up. I suggested a stretcher if I made it this far.”

To donate, visit www.bbc.co.uk/scott.