Radio 1 presenter Greg James swapped airwaves for Lincolnshire’s skies when he flew with the Red Arrows for BBC Children In Need.
The Breakfast Show host, who has been a fan of the team since childhood, described the experience as “the greatest thing” he’d ever done.
Pudsey – Children in Need’s bear mascot – was also present, joining engineers from the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team to learn how to prepare Greg’s jet for the sortie.
The very rare passenger flight was part of the “Challenge Yourself” theme for this year’s charity appeal.
It’s hoped Pudsey’s challenge to Greg, to fly with the team, will raise awareness and encourage others to do something extraordinary in aid of the good cause.
Greg said: “Whenever do you get an opportunity to do this – I’ve loved the Red Arrows ever since I can remember.”
Speaking before the flight at the team’s Lincolnshire base of RAF Waddington, he added: “The dream scenario is I do nothing, apart from just sit there and don’t faint and don’t vomit!”
The presenter had to undergo a series of medical checks in the weeks before the event and on-the-day itself, in addition to carrying out emergency drills, learning how to use survival and safety equipment, complete a cockpit familiarisation and pre-sortie briefings.
Red 1, Squadron Leader Jon Bond, flew Greg in one of the team’s two-seat distinctive Hawk aircraft, in the final week of the 2025 display season.
Red 10, Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat, flew a chase jet carrying RAF Visual Communicator AS1 Iwan Lewis, who got great imagery of the Radio 1 host's flight.
Landing safely back at the base after a sortie featuring loops and rolls, Greg said the physical nature of being in a fast-jet, complete with G-forces, was tough.
He said: “It was a real challenge as well, it’s really quite a lot to stay conscious.
“That was the greatest thing I’ve ever done. I loved it so much. I really loved it.”
Greg James
BBC Radio 1 presenter
“I just want to say thanks to Pudsey for challenging me.”
It’s not the first time the Red Arrows have collaborated with Greg James.
When the presenter launched his breakfast show in summer 2018, producers innocently asked about the possibility of the team carrying out a flypast over studios in London.
With the request not feasible, that season’s pilots were invited to perform a different display – riding Brompton bikes, featuring Red Arrows-style smoke trailing from canisters, in formation outside BBC Broadcasting House and with commentary provided by comedian Joe Lycett to bring Greg’s first show to a fun, memorable close live on air.
Sqn Ldr Bond, who was one of the team members on that occasion in London, said: “It’s been wonderful to remain in contact with Greg ever since 2018 and he’s spoken fondly about the Red Arrows and RAF on his show to millions of listeners.
“To have the chance now, as part of the Children in Need challenge, to fly Greg and allow him to give an even greater insight on what it takes to fly a fast-jet and the work of the RAF has been a very special opportunity.
“Greg was the absolute perfect passenger – he loved it and you could tell he was loving it. We did everything we set out to do – loops, rolls and a lot of people stop at that point but Greg didn’t, he kept going and was taking it all in from the rear seat.
“It was great, with Pudsey’s help, to also showcase the teamwork, from our engineers to support staff, that is essential to get us airborne.
“Thank you to everyone who made this happen – from our survival equipment specialists and public relations personnel to the brilliant medical centre staff at RAF Waddington and the Department of Occupational Medicine at RAF Recruiting & Selection.
“Hopefully this flight will inspire even more people to support this year’s charity appeal with their own challenge.”
Children in Need builds towards its live Appeal Night programme, on November 14.
As part of this, members of the Red Arrows will be at the MediaCityUK studios in Salford, to carry out a public engagement event.
To see how Greg and Pudsey got on during their day joining the Red Arrows, visit the team’s Facebook or Instagram handles.
