A BBC presenter has completed his 'most ludicrous' challenge for Comic Relief yet, vowing "never" to cycle through part of Somerset again.
BBC Radio 1 DJ, Greg James, cycled roughly 50 kilometres of road through Somerset during day one of Radio 1's The Longest Ride, which began in Weymouth on Friday, March 13.
James, 40, was taking on the 1000km challenge on a tandem (two-seater) bicycle, which saw him joined by a variety of guests over the eight days that followed, including a royal one, as Prince William hopped on for a 40-minute spell in Yorkshire.
READ MORE: BBC presenter stops at Somerset farm shop during challenge
READ MORE: RECAP: Greg James passes Somerset in Comic Relief challenge
During his time in Somerset, he and his filming crew made several stops, including one for food. James pulled in at Kimbers' Farm Shop near Wincanton and chatted to locals, including a postman.
He ended Day one in Bristol, where he stayed the night.
WATCH Greg James cycling in Somerset for Comic Relief:
Speaking to BBC Radio One after completing the first day of his challenge, Greg said: "That was a very, very difficult day. I'm very relieved that I don't have to do day 1 again.
"I will never cycle where I've just cycled ever again.
"I'm sorry to Weymouth, Dorchester, Bruton, Shepton Mallet, I'm sorry to all of you. I'm never coming to see you again, that is it," he joked.
Crowds of people gathered in Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Friday morning to watch James cross the finish line, eight days after he set out from Weymouth on a two-seater tandem bicycle.
He was piped into the stadium on Red Nose Day by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes & Drum band, and was cheered over the final few metres by a crowd who had come to watch the moment.
After dismounting from his bike, the DJ turned to the crowd and punched the air, before becoming visibly emotional as he hugged and spoke to BBC colleagues.
Shortly after, it was confirmed that his ride had so far raised more than £4 million for Comic Relief.
Speaking with the Press Association after crossing the finish line, James said it was “difficult” to put his feelings into words.
“I feel very overwhelmed,” he said.
“I feel extremely proud that the challenge connected with so many people, that this daft idea we cooked up months ago worked as an adventure, and got people hooked and got them to think about their communities and who their support network might be.”
He said anything in the realm of a few £100,000, half a million or a million was “a mighty sum”, but that £4 million in donations felt “crazy”.
“It was a very joyful eight days apart from the pain. I will look back on it with great pride, but it felt so happy cycling through all those places," Greg said.
“Everyone was so warm and so generous, and I guess at the end of it all, I want people to treat everyone like they just treated a minor celebrity on his tandem for the last eight days, because that warmth and that love was really quite special.
“But I’ve got too much of it now. I’m full up, so give it to somebody else.”
For more information about Radio 1’s Longest Ride, and to donate go to: comicrelief.com/rednoseday/challenges/greg/
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