A Sport Relief celebrity challenge has been moved from Mongolia to Namibia because of concerns over the coronavirus in neighbouring China.
Seven stars, including Frankie Bridge, Karim Zeroual, Nick Grimshaw and Samantha Womack, were due to take part in \'On Thin Ice in Mongolia\' next week but will now undertake a "gruelling four-day, 100-mile expedition" across the Namibian Desert.
Nick admits that he is unsure whether the sudden change will make the challenge "better or worse".
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The 35-year-old radio DJ told his BBC Radio 1 listeners: "It\'s still great to do it. However I can\'t work out if it\'s better or worse."
The challenge, which also features Rob Rinder, Louise Minchin and Krishnan Guru-Murphy, has been renamed \'Sport Relief: The Heat Is On\'.
Comic Relief interim chief executive Ruth Davidson said: "After closely monitoring travel advice, we have decided to relocate our international fundraising challenge, which starts this weekend.
"We had previously been looking at a range of locations and challenges and we think that the Namib Desert expedition is a fitting alternative.
"We are extremely grateful for our team of celebrities who have not wavered in their passion and determination to want to take on a challenge for us, which is extraordinary in itself."
The challenge, which will raise awareness and fundraise for mental health awareness, will see the team start at the source of the Kuiseb River and travel on foot and on bike towards the Skeleton Coast. They will scale the highest sand dunes in the world in temperatures up to 30C.
A BBC One documentary following the fundraiser will be shown in the run up to Sport Relief on March 13.
The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has now risen above 2,000.
31 December 2025 - 3:27 AM
