EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders is planning a first for the show, as it will air real-life footage of actor Jamie Borthwick completing the London Marathon in character as Jay Brown.
The soap will include scenes of Jay running the 26.2 miles course in April to honour the legacy of brain tumour victims, including his wife Lola Pearce-Brown, played by I'm a Celebrity... star Danielle Harold.
When the show's bosses first considered having Jay take part in the iconic run, they suggested the actor could take to the streets for real. Borthwick responded enthusiastically, agreeing to take on the task after having already ran the marathon in 2019 on behalf of Dementia Revolution, in support of former co-star Dame Barbara Windsor.
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Borthwick will be joined by EastEnders co-star Emma Barton, who plays Honey Mitchell, with both actors participating in the London Marathon on behalf of charities separate to their characters.
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Viewers will be able to see Jay and Honey training for the marathon on April 21, with the soap airing footage of the stars running around the streets of London followed by a BBC camera crew.
"I'm really pleased to be taking part in the London Marathon. EastEnders is a London show and, as far as I'm aware, we've never shown it before on screen so I'm really excited to be a part of it. Although, I swore I would never run it again after the last time!" Borthwick said in a statement given to Digital Spy.
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As for EastEnders' executive producer Chris Crenshaw, the soap's boss said they're "thrilled" to incorporate the annual event into the soap to celebrate Lola's legacy.
"The London marathon is a landmark occasion in the capital, and therefore we're thrilled to celebrate our city and offer our viewers a never-before-seen glimpse of the momentous day through the characters of Jay and Honey as they take part in the event," Clenshaw said.
"Lola's death had a profound effect on the residents of Walford and this storyline will continue to follow her loved ones as they attempt to come to terms with her death and honour her legacy."
Borthwick is no stranger to taking on sporty endeavours and stepping out of his comfort zone. The actor took part in the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 Christmas special, winning the competition special with his professional dance partner Nancy Xu.
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
