Formula One commentator and former race ace Billy Monger has set his sights on a mighty goal for Comic Relief this year, pushing his limits by training intensively for an entire year to take part in the gruelling Ironman World Championships. Tune in tonight to watch Billy Monger: The Race Is On For Comic Relief, which captures his rigorous preparation for the punishing triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile open water swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon run under Hawaii’s scorching sun.
In his incredible journey that’s previously seen him raise a whopping £3 million for Comic Relief, Billy embarked on the awe-inspiring feat last October. Speaking to the Mirror about his training, he shared: “When I first started training, I’d not done any form of swimming, biking or running properly before. At first, they basically just didn’t want to injure me, even though we had just over a year to prepare for it. The main thing they said was ‘we can’t afford for you to get a big injury’.”
To tackle the marathon aspect of the challenge, Billy required a special new prosthetic, so he initially zeroed in on mastering his swim and cycle techniques, dedicating eight hours weekly to training, which eventually ramped up to 20 hours as the event drew nearer.
Billy expressed his amazement at the experience, saying: “It was a completely new world to me,” acknowledging the sweeping change from his normal routine. He explained, “I basically had to become a full-time athlete, but I wasn’t a full-time athlete because I was working, presenting and doing the Formula One bits and pieces.”
Billy was a rising star in go-karting before a devastating accident in 2017 resulted in the loss of both his legs at just 17 years old. Now 25, he’s a beloved presenter for Channel 4’s F1 coverage and the Paralympics, having been behind the wheel since he was three when his dad gifted him his first go-kart, reports the Mirror.
He was hailed as a promising young British driver, competing across the UK before joining the F4 British Championship. At only 17, he secured three podium finishes in his debut season in 2016. However, a horrific crash the following year abruptly ended his racing career.
During the Formula 4 championship race in April 2017, Billy collided with a stationary vehicle at a staggering 120mph. He was attempting to overtake another car, which obscured his view of Finnish racer Patrik Pasma’s slowed vehicle, leading to the catastrophic collision.
Billy was trapped in his car for over 90 minutes at the Derby racetrack before being airlifted to a hospital in Nottingham.
Despite numerous surgeries, doctors were unable to save his lower legs. His remarkable journey from the crash to his triumphant return was chronicled in the BBC documentary, Driven: The Billy Monger Story, which aired in November 2018.
Billy has gotten back behind the wheel after his accident and even graced several popular TV programmes. He was revealed as one of the celebrities in the BBC’s 2023 edition of Celebrity Race Across The World, joining forces with his sister Bonny – their early exit was a disappointment to fans.
Billy returned to our screens rocking the dance floor in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2024, where he waltzed with pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova.
Opening up about his motivation to join the dance show, Billy shared at the time that it was a tribute to the surgeon who played a critical role in saving his life: “Tom is one of many surgeons who looked after me when I needed it most. After my accident, we stayed in touch and they are part of my close network of people. His wife, Courtney, who will be coming to the show, is such a big Strictly fan.
“‘When I said I might be doing Strictly, she said, ‘You have to do it. I’ve come to Hawaii, so you need to do it’. She’s the person who made me think, ‘I’ve got to do this'”.