BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans has admitted he is unprepared for an intense charity challenge he will take on in five weeks' time. The broadcaster will be cycling across all four UK nations in aid of BBC Children in Need.
The challenge covers nearly 400 miles through Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, and his native Wales, making it the longest distance ever attempted in a Radio 2 fundraising challenge. The five-day ride starts in Glasgow on Monday, November 9, and finishes in Cardiff city centre on Friday, November 13, arriving just in time for Children in Need's BBC broadcast.
Presenter admits fear over 'unfamiliar territory'
Speaking on the red carpet at the BAFTA Cymru Awards 2026 on Sunday, October 4, where he was the host for the evening, Owain told WalesOnline that the challenge was "unfamiliar territory" and that he was feeling "unprepared."
He said: "I am taking on the longest Children in Need challenge that Radio 2 has ever done: 400 miles from Glasgow, Northern Ireland, to the north of England, down then through Wales. Finishing, of course, in Wales, which is where I wanted to finish."
"I've got five weeks to get ready for it, and I'm not athletic. I was the boy in school who'd get my mother to write sick notes for me. So there's a certain element of fear involved, because this is very unfamiliar territory for me, but that's what makes it a challenge."
Teases 'familiar faces' along the route
The presenter continued: "I'm feeling, at the moment, unprepared, because when you look at the terrain and the duration that I have to travel, it's a lot. But I have got some time, so now I've just got to get ready and get on that bike and get moving up some hills."
He teased that audiences may spot some "familiar faces" during the challenge, but the Children in Need team haven't told him who. Owain said: "You will absolutely see some familiar faces along the way. None that I know of yet, actually, because they're keeping them top secret from me, but they are definitely going to surprise me to keep me going."
Second Children in Need challenge
This is Owain's second challenge for BBC Children in Need. In his previous position as a BBC weather presenter, and after a viral clip of him drumming to the BBC News theme tune, Owain took part in BBC Breakfast's Drumathon in 2021, performing for 24 hours and raising more than £3.8m for Children in Need.
When the challenge was announced, Owain said: "When I said yes to this challenge I knew it would push me well outside my comfort zone. It's going to be tough, demanding, and probably a little daunting at times but I'm ready to give it absolutely everything I've got."
"Sara [Cox], Paddy [McGuiness], and Vernon [Kay] have achieved some truly extraordinary things for BBC Children in Need over the years so I've got a lot to live up to. Hopefully I'll have the incredible support of Radio 2 listeners behind me from start to finish."
"Together we can make a real difference for children and young people across the UK, helping to make sure they have someone by their side when they need it the most."
Listeners can track Owain's journey via BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds throughout the week, while a BBC television crew will accompany him to document the experience for a BBC One film, scheduled for broadcast in November.
