Greg James' Gruelling Comic Relief Cycle Challenge
Radio 1 DJ and television host Greg James is currently undertaking a demanding cycling expedition for Comic Relief, leading up to Red Nose Day. The event, dubbed Radio 1’s Longest Ride, involves him covering an arduous distance of 1,000 kilometres over eight days. His journey commenced in Weymouth and will traverse through Wales, the Midlands, and the North of England, culminating in Edinburgh on Friday, March 20, which coincides with Red Nose Day.
Daily updates on his progress are being broadcast on Radio 1 and BBC One's Morning Live, airing each weekday at 9.30 am. This initiative follows in the footsteps of previous Morning Live hosts Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton, who participated in a 24-hour roller-skating challenge for the same charity last year.
Greg James' Relationship History with Ellie Goulding
Before his current marriage, Greg James was in a relationship with renowned pop singer Ellie Goulding. The pair met at one of Goulding's live performances and dated for approximately two years. In August 2010, Goulding publicly confirmed their romance during an interview with GMTV host Emma Bunton.
However, their busy professional schedules reportedly made it difficult to maintain the relationship. They decided to part ways just before the Christmas season in 2012, with Goulding moving out of their shared London apartment. Reflecting on the breakup, Goulding later described it as "unexpected", stating, "You might be with someone you think you know everything about, then it takes just one thing to throw it all into the wind," as reported by CloserOnline.
Following their split, Ellie Goulding married art dealer Caspar Jopling in 2019, and they welcomed their first child in 2021 before separating. Earlier this month, Goulding gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Iris, with her new partner, Beau Minniear.
Marriage to Journalist Bella Mackie
Greg James has been happily married to journalist and author Bella Mackie for seven years. Interestingly, it was Mackie who proposed to him in February 2018. James announced the engagement several months later via Instagram, sharing a photo and writing, "This is Bella and in February she asked me to marry her. I said yes immediately because she is the smartest, funniest and most beautiful person I’ve ever met."
He humorously added, "The only problem is she loves staying up into the early hours drinking as much as I do and this is not conducive with 5am alarms. That said, it’s been quite a year." After their wedding, James posted images on social media, expressing, "Bella and I got married and it was the most incredible day of my life. I think it was up there for her too. She is the best thing ever and I feel like I might actually burst with happiness."
Bella Mackie, also from London, has worked for publications such as VICE and The Guardian and has authored several novels. She adopted the surname Mackie to differentiate herself from her father, Alan Rusbridger, who served as editor-in-chief of The Guardian from 1995 to 2015.
Greg James' Candid Views on Family Pressures
In addition to his broadcasting career, Greg James has written children's books and published an autobiography titled All The Best For The Future last year. During the promotional tour for his book, he faced numerous inquiries about whether he and Bella plan to have children.
In response, James posted a blunt video message on Instagram addressing the topic. The clip began with a question: "Should you have kids or not?" James stated, "This is no pressure on you to have kids. You might think there is. But there isn't. You don't have to have kids if you don't want to."
He revealed that the section of his book discussing parenthood has "really resonated" with readers, admitting, "I feel the pressure. I have felt the pressure." James explained, "Because my sister had kids, my friends are having kids, the world says you should have them. I never, it never crossed my mind when I was growing up to go 'oh, I might not have kids'. I just always assumed I'd be a dad because nobody said to me 'you don't have to'. I'm here to tell you, you don't have to."
He emphasised, "You can have a great life with kids. You can have a great life without them. I think that's it." Making his stance clear, James continued, "My number one thing is, and I don't know if this is controversial, if you don't know and you've discussed it properly with your partner or whoever you want to have a kid with, if you don't know, I think it's best not to. There are loads of s*** parents around and you don't want to be another one. That kid deserves people who are really up for it."
Concluding his message, he urged people to "stop asking people flippantly" about having children, insisting, "Let's cut that out," and adding, "keep your f***ing beaks out, okay?"
Greg James remains a prominent figure in British media, balancing his professional commitments with personal advocacy on social issues.
