Tom Daley's Hell of a Homecoming: when is Comic Relief special on TV - date, UK time, channel and how to watch

Tom Daley dove to fame in 2008, aged 14, as Britain’s youngest competitor at the Beijing Olympics.

Since then, he has achieved a string of career successes, becoming the first British diver to win four olympic medals (one gold and three bronze).

Daley was spotted crocheting during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making a Team GB medal pouch, for his newly won gold medal, as well as jumpers and other clothing.

Daley is married to American screenwriter Dustin Black, and the pair have a three-year-old son.

You would think that after winning Olympic gold for the men’s synchronized 10 m platform diving event in July 2021, it would be about time for a rest.

But, this year Daley set his sights on another stupendous challenge, this time to be completed in the name of charity.

The Hell of a Homecoming challenge reads like the sort of cruel punishment a sadistic dictator would dish out, yet Daley took on this task voluntarily.

The gruelling endurance test takes Daley from Stratford to Plymouth, his hometown 290 miles away.

To get from A to B, Daley rowed, cycled, and swam most of the distance, before finishing things off with a breezy 30 mile ultramarathon on the final day.

He was met in Plymouth by hundreds of cheering fans, as well as his mum Debbie, and comedian and fellow fundraiser Eddie Izzard who ran with Tom for part of his epic journey.

Izzard has completed his own herculean challenges for charity in the past, most famously running 32 marathons in as many days - raising more than £280,000 in the process.

Daley completed his challenge in February - a spectacular feat, especially considering he had previously said that he had only run 18 miles in training.

Daley is joined by other celebrities pushing themselves to the limit to raise money for Comic Relief.

Radio DJ Jordan North attempted to row 100 miles along England’s canals from London to his hometown of Burnley.

Additionally, 22-year-old former racing driver and double amputee Billy Monger set out to walk, kayak and cycle 140 miles over four days.

Money donated to Comic Relief throughout the year goes towards projects in the UK and around the world to help support vulnerable people.

Hell of a Homecoming is part of Comic Relief’s programme of shows and will air at 9pm on 14 March on BBC One, four days before the three-hour Red Nose Day special on 18 March.

The special will  be repeated on BBC One for viewers in England at 11.25pm on 16 March.

You can also watch the programme on BBC iPlayer shortly after it is first broadcast.

Billy Monger’s Big Red Nose Day Challenge is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer, and Rowing Home With Jordan North will air at 8.30pm on 15 March on BBC One.

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