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Documentary takes viewers inside Billy’s bid to become the youngest ever double leg amputee to complete an IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii
Exclusive behind-the-scenes access brings all the up-close and personal drama of Billy’s colossal challenge for Red Nose Day
Money raised could help people facing the toughest times of their lives by providing food, essential healthcare and safe shelter for people here in the UK and across the world
Red Nose Day returns on Friday 21 March
To donate and support Billy visit www.comicrelief.com/billyironchallenge(opens in new window)
Wednesday 12 March: Billy Monger The Race is on for Comic Relief follows Billy Monger in his bid to become the youngest ever double leg amputee to complete an IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, for Red Nose Day.
Not content with becoming only the third ever double leg amputee to complete the IRONMAN World Championship course, Billy, with his insatiable appetite for breaking records, has a World Record in his sights too.
Airing on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 19 March at 9pm, the documentary takes viewers trackside for Billy’s year-long training, as he prepares for his biggest ever challenge to help raise life-changing funds for Comic Relief.
With intimate and exclusive behind-the-scenes access and personal interviews, audiences will witness Billy’s immense dedication to his intensive training programme as he readies himself for the ultimate test of mind, body and spirit. Once on the start line in Kona and with the nerves kicking in, a 140.6-mile course – comprising a 2.4-mile open water swim, a 112-mile bike ride in fierce crosswinds, and a 26.2-mile marathon in the Hawaiian heat – stand between Billy and the finish line. With strict cut-off times for each discipline, Billy has no second chances, no special treatment, and no guarantees.
Even with 12 months of intense training and preparation, Billy couldn’t anticipate all the challenges he would face over the 140.6-mile course. Over the journey, he battled jellyfish stings, damage to his run socket, torrential rain and more.
The documentary also highlights Billy’s dedication to raising funds for projects supported by Red Nose Day donations. With so many people facing the toughest times of their lives, money raised by Billy’s challenge could help provide food, essential healthcare and safe shelter for people here in the UK and across the world.
Viewers will hear from those whose lives have been helped by Comic Relief-funded projects, gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of Billy’s remarkable efforts. They include The Running Charity, who Billy visited whilst training for his mammoth challenge. The Running Charity uses the power of running and fitness to support young people who are experiencing homelessness by combining running with skilled youth work and vital community services.
Billy Monger said: “There were moments of doubt, moments of exhaustion, and even a run-in with a jellyfish or two. But as soon as I crossed that finish line, it was all replaced by an overriding feeling of euphoria. Knowing the money raised will help those facing their own struggles, like the young people supported by The Running Charity, pushed me through the toughest times. These grassroots services are so important, especially when things are so difficult for so many people right now. Any donation you can make to Red Nose Day will make such a difference. It means so much, thank you.”
Throughout the documentary, Billy is bolstered by the unwavering support of his family. His mum Amanda, dad Bobby, and sister Bonny are by his side every step of the way, offering constant encouragement – reminding viewers of how the power of love and support can help overcome some of life’s toughest challenges.
Reflecting on his journey, Billy shares how the experience brought his family even closer together. In particular, he grew closer to his dad, who played a key role in helping him train for the challenge. Billy said: “We really bonded through this, and he became my rock during the hardest parts of the journey. It was amazing to share this with him."
Billy’s sister, Bonny Monger, was cheering Billy on every step of the way. She said: “It was no small feat for Billy, but his drive to help others never wavered. Despite injuries and unpredictable weather, he pushed on, fuelled by the belief that coming together to support those in need is more important than ever. We’re all so proud of him and what he’s been able to achieve.”
Watch Billy Monger: The Race is on for Comic Relief on Wednesday 19 March at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. To donate and support Billy, visit www.comicrelief.com/billyironchallenge(opens in new window).
ENDS
ASSETS AVAILABLE • Images (opens in new window)– featuring stills of Billy’s training in the UK and Hawaii as well as challenge imagery • Trailer(opens in new window)
PRESS PREVIEWS • Billy Monger: The Race is on for Comic Relief is available to watch now on BBC Previews(opens in new window)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Lauren Long, PR Officer
0207 820 2500
l.long@comicrelief.com(opens in new window)
www.comicrelief.com/media-centre(opens in new window)
Out of hours enquiries: 0207 820 2444
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is back on Friday 21 March 2025.
From hip shakers, cake bakers and joke makers to Red Nose wearers, t-shirt buyers and sofa-sitting givers, it’s that time of year to come together to support people in the UK and across the world who are facing the toughest times of their lives.
This Red Nose Day, there’s lots to be excited about as we begin to celebrate Comic Relief hitting the big 4-0 in 2025. With your help over the past 40 years, we’ve raised over £1.6 billion, supported over 100 million people, and had a great time doing it. So, this March, let’s all go big to help put food on plates, roofs over heads, keep little ones safe, and support families affected by conflict. Because when we all do a little something funny for money, giving gets bigger and bigger.
There are lots of ways to take part in Red Nose Day. Visit www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window) or follow @comicrelief on social media to find out more.
Red Nose Day is an initiative of Comic Relief.
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief is a UK charity that uses the power of entertainment and popular culture to work towards a vision of a just world free from poverty. We raise money to support organisations that are closest to the communities who can make change happen. We support work that will tackle the impact of poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change in the UK and around the world.
Since launching in 1985, we have raised over £1.6 billion thanks to the huge generosity and kindness of the public and our partners. For more information on our work, visit www.comicrelief.com(opens in new window) or follow @comicrelief on X (opens in new window)(formerly Twitter), Facebook(opens in new window), Instagram(opens in new window), LinkedIn (opens in new window)and TikTok (opens in new window)for the latest content and news.
Comic Relief is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730).
About Billy Monger
Few people embody triumph over adversity as much as Billy Monger.
A promising young racing driver, Billy Monger was critically injured in a high speed collision while racing in Formula 4 which left him with both legs amputated. Despite the severity of the injuries, Billy Whizz, as he is nicknamed, refused to give up on his racing career, lobbying motorsport’s governing body to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race along- side each other.
On his return to racing he went on to score podiums in British F3 and win the famous Pau Grand Prix in European F3 and is currently still setting his sights on achieving his dream of racing in Formula 1.
Billy’s incredible return to motorsport after his tragic accident that left him with both legs amputated was a huge moment across the world of sport. But his dedication, irrepressible self-belief and determination, in the face of unimaginable adversity, to get back behind the wheel of a racing car has shown him to be an inspiration to all athletes, disabled and non-disabled alike.
He won the BBC Sports Personality Helen Rollason Award and had a BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary made about his incredible return to racing. In 2021 he completed a challenge for Comic Relief raising over £3million for charity. He is currently a presenter and pundit for Channel 4's coverage of the Formula One and Paralympics and Formula E on TNT.
About the IRONMAN World Championship
Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship® triathlon has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots. The 2021 edition of the event took place in St. George, Utah in May 2022, becoming the first location to host the event outside of Hawai`i since its origins in 1978. After a two-year hiatus from Hawai`i due to COVID, the race returned to Kailua-Kona in 2022 and for the first time took place as a two-day event. The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race continued with the two-day format but with two different host locations and dates (Nice, France in September and Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i in October), to allow for a dedicated world championship race for women and dedicated world championship race for men. The cumulative event hosted over 4,000 athletes embarking on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. In 2024, the women will rotate to Nice, France while the men return to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i for their respective world championship host locations. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship(opens in new window).
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group(opens in new window).
