Radio 1 star hits £1.6m by end of 'hardest day'
North NewsRadio 1 DJ Greg James has been greeted by cheering crowds as he completed the fifth day of his 630-mile (1,000km) tandem bike ride challenge for Comic Relief.
He said it had been "the hardest day, by far" and admitted: "I'm absolutely the most exhausted I've ever been."
Crowds of people (and their dogs) greeted James as he pedalled into Keel Square in Sunderland, among them his sister and niece.
He will continue via Newscastle and Northumberland on Thursday as he heads over the Scottish border to Galashiels. His cycling challenge, which began in Weymouth and ends in Edinburgh, has already raised more than £1.6m for Comic Relief.
"I don't know how I'm in Sunderland," James said.
"I feel so completely drained, but so energised by everyone and seeing my family here as well!"
The 40 year-old was played a message from the cast of season two of Last One Laughing as he rode into the region, leading him to quip: "Hearing Bob Mortimer as I cycle through the North East feels right."
Earlier in the day, Radio 1's Katie Thistleton asked listeners to bring their canine chums to Keel Square to welcome the DJ turned cyclist to the North East with a "dog salute.
James told BBC Radio Newcastle's Anna Foster: "I really do love the North East.
"It's a very special place for me because I love a lot of the music that's from around here, and I started doing radio here."
Asked about the current state of his "undercarriage", James said: "Today is the first time that I can exclusively reveal that there is some damage that I am monitoring closely."
He is due to conclude the Longest Ride challenge in Edinburgh on Friday, which is also Red Nose Day.
So far he has been joined by several famous faces, none more so than the Prince of Wales on Tuesday.
