The team of celebrities taking on Sport Relief: The Heat Is On – a gruelling 100-mile expedition across the Namib Desert – have made it to the finish line.
All of the famous faces taking part – including Nick Grimshaw, who had to pull out at the end of day one and miss the entirity of day two from heat exhaustion – trekked across the brutal landscape for four draining days, reaching the end on Thursday.
The whole group – Frankie Bridge, Rob Rinder, Samantha Womack, Karim Zeroual, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Louise Minchin and Radio 1 DJ Nick – pushed themselves through the final 13 mile leg on bikes in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, to reach one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world: the Eduard Bohlen on the Skeleton Coast.
Completed it, mate! The team of celebrities taking on Sport Relief: The Heat Is On – a gruelling 100-mile expedition across the Namib Desert – have made it to the finish line
Over the past four days, they have been guided by their own navigation skills and faced exhaustion in the blistering sun.
They took on the 19 highest sand dunes on earth and encountered deadly desert wildlife, as they crossed the world’s oldest desert, all in the name of Sport Relief.
Each celeb signed up to the Namibian expedition of epic proportions to help break down the stigma of mental health and raise money for mental health services.
![Too hot to handle! On Tuesday, Nick Grimshaw had to miss out on the second day of the trek, as he succumbed to the extreme conditions due to heat exhaustion [pictured with Judge Rinder]](https://i1.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/25/18/25185346-8043487-image-a-1_1582654528311.jpg?resize=634%2C423&ssl=1)
Too hot to handle! On Tuesday, Nick Grimshaw had to miss out on the second day of the trek, as he succumbed to the extreme conditions due to heat exhaustion [pictured with Judge Rinder]
Tough! All of the famous faces taking part trekked across the brutal landscape for four draining days, reaching the end on Thursday
Nick said, on completing the task: ‘There are lots of times in my life where there are things I haven’t wanted to do and I just haven’t done them. This challenge has made us all pull together, I am so glad I did this.’
After having to pull out of the challenge two days ago, Nick lamented the situation saying: ‘I’m absolutely gutted not to be with the team today. I was mentally prepared for it but the medical team have decided I need to miss today.
‘I got pulled by the medic just 2k from the finish line and treated for heat exhaustion. I’d been drinking, eating, resting regularly but it came on so quickly.
Congrats! The whole group – Frankie Bridge, Rob Rinder, Samantha Womack, Karim Zeroual, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Louise Minchin and Radio 1 DJ Nick – pushed themselves to the limit
The end in sight: They traveled the final 13 mile leg on fat bikes in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, to reach one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world – the Eduard Bohlen on the Skeleton Coast
Nick said, on completing the task: ‘There are lots of times in my life where there are things I haven’t wanted to do and I just haven’t done them. This challenge has made us all pull together, I am so glad I did this’
‘I feel much better today and I’ll be fine but they have advised that my body needs to recover so I can re-join the challenge.’
The rest of the team trekked on foot through the desert for more than eight hours, battling temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius.
As the team completed the task on Thursday, Judge Rinder said: ‘I am elated, overjoyed and thrilled. It’s a real pleasure and delight to be able to share in this physical and mental challenge that means so much to each person here. I am confident people at home will give generously.’
Frankie said: ‘It’s been a huge rollercoaster of emotions and I am so happy we reached this point. Raising awareness and funding for mental health issues is what has kept me going every day’
Done! The team completed the task on Thursday, celebrating at the shipwreck
Judge Rinder said: ‘I am elated, overjoyed and thrilled. It’s a real pleasure and delight to be able to share in this physical and mental challenge that means so much to each person here. I am confident people at home will give generously’
Karim added: ‘That was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is also by far my proudest achievement to date.
‘I have grown as a person and I am proud to be playing a small part in helping to raise awareness of the issue of mental health. It feels like a great achievement to finish as there are so many moments where I wanted to throw the towel in.
‘I pushed myself and I will treasure and cherish this experience for ever.’
Actress Samantha said: ‘I am broken physically, my toenails are literally hanging off, bruises all over legs with sunburn. I thought I was coming here to do a physical challenge, but it has given me so much time to think.
Karim added: ‘That was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is also by far my proudest achievement to date’
He went on: ‘I have grown as a person and I am proud to be playing a small part in helping to raise awareness of the issue of mental health’
Krishnan said: ‘We have shown so much courage over the last few days and the group has really surprised me. Every single person has managed pull it out the bag in such extreme circumstances’
‘It’s been a bit overwhelming, even Krishnan who is used to extreme situations has been in tears.
‘I am beyond proud of what we have all achieved here. I am so happy; my body is broken but my heart is full.’
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise said: ‘I am utterly broken. It’s going to take me a long time to recover from what we have done over the last four days but I am so, so proud of everyone and of our reasons for doing this.’
Actress Samantha said: ‘I am broken physically, my toenails are literally hanging off, bruises all over legs with sunburn. I thought I was coming here to do a physical challenge, but it has given me so much time to think’
She went on: ‘It’s been a bit overwhelming, even Krishnan who is used to extreme situations has been in tears. I am beyond proud of what we have all achieved here. I am so happy; my body is broken but my heart is full’
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise said: ‘I am utterly broken. It’s going to take me a long time to recover from what we have done over the last four days but I am so, so proud of everyone and of our reasons for doing this’
Krishnan said: ‘We have shown so much courage over the last few days and the group has really surprised me.
‘Every single person has managed pull it out the bag in such extreme circumstances.’
Frankie concluded: ‘It’s been a huge rollercoaster of emotions and I am so happy we reached this point. Raising awareness and funding for mental health issues is what has kept me going every day.’
The Heat Is On: Sport Relief airs on 11th March on BBC One at 8PM.
You can donate here.