Eddie Izzard 'Delighted' After Raising More Than £1m For Sport Relief With 27 Marathons

'The hardest thing I've ever done.'

Comedian Eddie Izzard said running 27 marathons in 27 days was "the hardest thing I've ever done".

He thanked everyone for their support after raising more than £1 million for Sport Relief.

The 54-year-old completed his gruelling challenge, a tribute to the 27 years Nelson Mandela spent in prison before becoming the first black president of South Africa, by running two marathons on Sunday.

Comedian Eddie Izzard completes his 27th marathon at the government's Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa
Comedian Eddie Izzard completes his 27th marathon at the government's Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa
AP

Izzard crossed the final finish line under a giant statue of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg to cheering, applause and chants of "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie".

"It's been the hardest thing I've ever done and I'm very tired," he told the BBC.

"Thank you to everyone who has donated. This was tough so don't do this at home."

Today I ran an 84km (56 mile) double marathon in 11 hrs 5mins & a 90km Comrades length marathon in 11 hrs 50 mins pic.twitter.com/8OdaRiikpZ

— Eddie Izzard (@eddieizzard) March 20, 2016

If you missed this - you need to see it!@EddieIzzard - 27 marathons in 27 days.

WOW.https://t.co/lTYkCjysNP pic.twitter.com/RZOZIfHSkz

— BBC Get Inspired (@bbcgetinspired) March 20, 2016

Bloody well played @eddieizzard what an utterly brilliant and bonkers achievement. #27marathons27days #SportRelief

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 20, 2016

He celebrated moments later by swigging Champagne from the bottle.

Over the 707-mile route he battled through dehydration, heat exhaustion and sunstroke.

He was forced to take an unscheduled rest day on the fifth day of the challenge, which meant he had to complete two marathons on the final day.

The actor attempted the same feat in 2012 but was forced to stop due to health issues after marathon number four.

Izzard said: "This has been a long project but with the help of 'Team 27' I did it. Thank you so much to everyone who donated.

"I always knew I'd be back. When I didn't make it in 2012 I knew I'd be back. I can't stand upright, I have a huge blister and I'm exhausted. But I'm delighted."

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