We are thrilled this year that Stephen Webb, hairdresser and Gogglebox TV personality who has been a long-time supporter of The Not Forgotten, is running the London Marathon to raise money for our work.
With just one month to go before the big day on April 27th, we caught up with Stephen to chat about his connection to The Not Forgotten, his running journey and what is motivating him to keep training.
Stephen is a hairdresser with two salons in East Sussex, but you might also recognise him from the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 show Gogglebox. Stephen shot to fame on the cult show when it launched in 2013, and appeared in it for ten years alongside his ex-husband Daniel Lustig, before leaving in 2023. “Gogglebox connected people, people connected with the things we said, and people feel like they know us. It was a real privilege to be part of for so long. Though it did mean I spent ten years sitting on a sofa for a living! Now I’m enjoying being more active!”
More importantly to us, Stephen has also been a long-standing supporter of The Not Forgotten, attending many of our events over the years and talking at length to our veterans, volunteering at station collections and even competing on the celebrity edition of Channel 4’s quiz show The Million Pound Drop where we were his nominated charity. He has raffled copies of his autobiography as a fundraiser too.
“Like the rest of the country, I’ve got a little bit of a crush on the old WW2 boys and girls. I’ve always had the utmost respect for that generation. I adore them.”
Stephen’s own grandad William Turner joined the Royal Artillery in 1941 and was assigned to the 71st Anti-Aircraft Brigade in Kent defending the south coast and military installations around Dover. Tragically on 9 November 1942 his post suffered a direct hit from a cross-Channel shell and William was killed along with ten others.
“My nan brought up nine children on her own on a widow’s pension. That generation had backbone, it really resonates with me. I’m blown away too when I talk to those who have fought for our country in more recent conflicts. I just feel honoured to be in their presence.” He says he just feels “at home” at The Not Forgotten and loves being accepted into the veteran community. “In a world which has gone a little bit mad with political correctness veterans are all a bit cheeky! The camaraderie is lovely to watch and be a small part of.”
Stephen was due to run the London Marathon for The Not Forgotten in 2024, but with a couple of months to go he broke his ankle whilst competing in ITV’s Dancing on Ice and had to defer his place. As a result, he is doubly excited about this year’s race!
“I’m picturing myself running down the Mall at the end”, he says, “With all the Union Jacks flying, Buckingham Palace behind me - how patriotic and British! Just to be part of something that iconic for the day. I’ve watched the Marathon every year, I usually position myself at mile 10 and mile 21 either side of the river. Cheering for people, giving them a boost. So many people I know who’ve done marathons have said that’s what gets you round, the crowds and the atmosphere.”
He believes the discipline of the training for a challenge event like this is incredibly beneficial. “We all need that discipline. Otherwise I would just sit on the sofa and watch TV. Some days you really don’t want to go out, but you have to push yourself. I really didn’t want to go out earlier today but I got myself out and ran four miles and feel really good for it."
"One day in January I even went out for a run in a full-on storm – I was ‘feeling it’ so I just went for it! I ran 13 miles…. then had to admit defeat in the weather and stop. I then warmed up with a coffee in a café then got a taxi home!”
Stephen has always run a little – “for exercise really; I’ve done a couple of half marathons over the years.” But he really got into running properly during the 2020 Covid Lockdown. “I went out every Sunday as it was the only thing I could do and ended up getting a little bit obsessed.”
Having got a place in the Marathon, he realised he had to up his game even further. “When you get into something like this you have to make it your life, your priority.” He’s certainly made it a priority so far, even fitting some treadmill training in when on a recent trip to India.
He’s also raised an amazing £1,600 so far towards his £2,000 target.
“I’ve got 286,000 followers on Instagram – while I’m out doing half marathons in training, each of them could give me just £1 and we’d raise so much…”
Want to help Stephen reach that goal? Please support the passion and admiration he has for our country’s veterans by adding any donation, large or small, to his fundraising page.
