Vernon Kay heads to start of gruelling 115-mile challenge as Hollywood legend gives him backing

Vernon Kay is a mere hours off the start of his 115-mile charity challenge - and he's just received a boost from an actual Hollywood legend. The 49-year-old Boltonian is aiming to complete an Ultra Ultramarathon this week, starting in Victoria Park in Leicester tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

Travelling 115 miles over four days, he is aiming to finish the challenge at the Bolton Wanderers stadium on Friday (November 17) live on the Radio 2 Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. He posted on his Instagram stories earlier 'We are on our way', with a picture taken on a coach, although the exact route he will be travelling on foot has not yet been revealed.

But on Zoe's programme today (Monday) Vern spoke about how he would be conquering the summit of Kinder Scout in Derbyshire as part of the endeavour. Although he is in good shape, he said that he had felt a twinge in his knee on a run in Skegness today.

READ MORE: Rylan Clark leaves fans issuing demand as he tells them ‘not being funny’

READ MORE: Read more of today's top stories from the Manchester Evening News

Vernon said: "Skeggy was good, and then at the end of it, I had a little bit of a knee twinge. I thought, 'What's that, that's not said hello before'.

"I've had lots of aches and pains and lots of strains, but people have been looking after me and we've kind of come to an apex of disorder on my left side." He explained that he has a 'dodgy IT [iliotibial] band', an MCL [medial collateral ligament] that 'wants to come and play', I've got something wrong with the nerves in my toes... But apart from that, I'm alright."

Although the laundry list of physical concerns may put a lesser man off, Vernon was in high spirits. And if he needed an extra boost to get through the tough times,