Dan Burn will perform the prestigious starting duties at this weekend’s Great North Run

Former Blyth Spartans youth talent Dan Burn has been officially unveiled as this year’s Great North Run race starter.

The Newcastle United club captain will do the honours at the 45th iteration of the world-famous event on Sunday, and joins a veritable roll call of local heroes who have performed starting duties since it first began in 1981, including Sting, Ant and Dec, Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer, Mark Knopfler, Jill Scott, and Steph Houghton.

After helping England reach the semi-finals of this summer's World Cup, Burn is representing not only Newcastle but the Three Lions on the iconic starter’s platform, and will be responsible for setting 63,000 runners on their way, marking the biggest Great North Run yet.

Sir Brendan Foster, Founder of the Great North Run and President of The Great Run Company, said: “This year for us is huge in so many ways – it’s our 45th anniversary and the biggest ever Great North Run with 63,000 runners taking on the famous course from city to sea. We needed someone big for this big moment, so we made a big signing… Big Dan Burn!

“The Great North Run is about regional pride, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and a shared love and passion for the region. Dan epitomises all of this. Since the first event, we’ve seen countless special moments. Kevin Keegan, as England captain, was our first celebrity runner back in 1981, running the course in a split shirt representing both Newcastle United and Sunderland. It seemed also a fitting tribute to Kevin by inviting Newcastle United, and Dan as current captain, to start the race this year as we remember Kevin’s impact on the game across the region.”

Burn himself added: “It's an honour to be starting the Great North Run on the milestone 45th occasion. I’m so excited to see all 63,000 of you on Sunday. I’d like to wish everyone running all the best of luck!”

The 2026 AJ Bell Great North Run will once again will be broadcast live on BBC One in the UK, and to over 170 countries worldwide.

The event will feature some of the world’s leading athletes competing at the front in the elite Men’s, Women’s, and Wheelchair athlete races, before 63,000 runners take on the 13.1 mile course, spurred on by over 200,000 spectators lining the streets in support as the region comes together.