Leeds 10K: Famous faces who lent their support

The famous faces were all hoping their television profile would help boost fundraising.

Ms Atkinson, who starred in the soap Hollyoaks before entering the jungle in the reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, was running in support of children's charity Sparks.

She said: "It's a fantastic day, there are so many amazing stories here – at the start we met a young boy called Thomas who had suffered a rare form of cancer, but he came through that and meeting him was such an inspiration.

"I was running for Sparks because my nephew was diagnosed with meningitis, he survived, and it is thanks to children's medical research that they can get through."

Ms McAndrew has taken part in the event before but this year had to stop along the way to interview runners for a television programme.

She said: "I was very nervous – this is such an important event and I was desperate to get it right and make a programme that Jane's family will be happy with.

"There is a really good atmosphere on the course, a good mix of people going for a good time and those running for great causes.

"There are some amazing stories out there – people who survived cancer.

"One lady had a big operation only months ago."

Matthew Wolfenden, who plays David Metcalfe, son of Eric Pollard, in Emmerdale, said he was honoured to be able to support the Jane Tomlinson appeal as well as his personal charity, Leukaemia Research.

"It was brilliant – I did it two years ago and would have run again last year but had to pull out due to an injury," he said. "The course has changed, there are more hills and it is a bit tougher."