[LEE]

I spoke to Bubble earlier today, and chatted to him about his forthcoming marathon run.

Here is the first part. There'll be more next week.

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LEE: Hiya Bubble. How are you?

Bubble: I’m good. No, actually that’s a lie, I’ve never ached so much in my life!

L: You’re doing a lot of training then for the run?

B: Yeah, I’ve been going down the gym. It’s a ‘mare. I ache in places I never knew I had places.

L: You’re working out every day?

B: Yeah. The gym have been really good. They’ve given me free membership until the run and two personal trainers. They’re helping me a lot.

L: You said you’re really busy at the moment. Is that just with the training?

B: Yes, but I’m moving house as well and it’s a nightmare. The people have left it in an awful state and I’ve got to get builders in and supervise all of that. I didn’t think when I said yes to this, I thought I could just turn up and run. But you can’t do that can you?

L: No not if you want to stand any chance of doing OK, or even finishing!!

B: Yeah, and I reckon I’m gonna get people stopping me all the way through as well. I should get them all to give money. I wish I could take someone round with me holding a bucket so we could bully people into giving money as we go along. It’d be too heavy though. Another good idea of mine that wouldn’t work!! I’ll think of something though.

L: I know what you mean about the gym. I used to go really regularly and I started going back again a couple of weeks ago and OMG can I tell that I hadn’t been for 2 years!

B: I can’t understand people who go to the gym for fun. I’m doing this cos I have to. My instructor said, ‘Just wait, after you’ve been coming regularly for a couple of months you’ll get really into it, and carry on coming’. ‘You obviously don’t know me,’ I said, ‘As soon as this is over, I’m gonna go back to my room, sit on the sofa and order take away pizza.’

L: …and Chips and takeaway Chinese!!.

B: Yeah, it’s worse cos I’m stopping smoking as well. I’ve cut down from 20 a day to 7, which is really good. I thought I’d have a quick cig before going in the gym this morning so I could last out the 2 hours I’d be there, but my instructor caught me outside and he told me off. He took the cigarette off me and said ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I felt like a school kid getting told off by a teacher.

B: Did you know that no other celebs have ever done anything for the MacMillan fund? I’m the first one.

L: I think that’s amazing cos they’re a really well known organisation and it’s a really good cause.

B: I know I was amazed. I asked them ‘Who else have you had doing things for you then and they said ‘No-one. We’ve asked loads of celebs in the past and you’re the first person who’s said yes’.

L: Good for you then? How much do you hope to raise?

B: I’ve got to raise £20,000. That’s a lot of money but I’ve got lots of people, like you guys, helping me out so hopefully I should do it.

L: That’s brilliant, well you have our support 110%.
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I've arranged to talk to him again next week so I can put your questions. Let me know what you want me to ask him.