Mollie King breaks down in tears and sobs during Comic Relief Pedal Power challenge as she inches towards £1m milestone

MOLLIE King broke down in tears live on Radio 1 today as she inched towards the end of her incredible Pedal Power Comic Relief challenge.

The pop star and broadcaster, 36, is cycling 500km from London to Hull via Manchester to raise money for the charity event.

This morning, before hopping on her bike for the final leg of her journey, Mollie reflected on what she’s accomplished so far.

Sitting in the back of a car in her hi-vis jacket, Mollie sobbed: “It’s the first time in ages I’ve really felt proud of myself and I’m quite tough on myself generally but this is so beyond what I’m capable of physically.

“I’m not a strong person but to have got to day five, I was thinking, ‘Mol, you should be proud of yourself here’. This is mad.”

When Greg James revealed Mollie’s fundraising total now stands at £712,624 Mollie’s co-star and close friend Matt Edmondson was left fighting back tears inside a support vehicle.

The challenge kicked off on Monday during the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg.

So far Mollie’s pedalled through places including Towcester, Burton-upon-Trent, and Northampton.

The radio star said she’s been inspired to keep pedalling thanks to her listeners and her late dad Stephen – who passed away in November 2022 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The end location of Hull was her dad’s hometown.

Before the challenge began, The Saturdays singer said she didn’t hesitate to take it in.

She said: “It’s still really hard to talk about – I hate talking about him in the past tense. But when I was asked to do this, I thought I have to do it.

“I want to help people who are struggling, and that is exactly what Comic Relief does. They are amazing.

“They help people who are homeless, struggling with poverty and struggling with bereavement – amongst so many other things.”

She’s had to dig deep along the way, with her body in agony from the non-stop exertion.

“It’s tough, it’s really tough. I’m drained,” she previously said.

“I feel like I haven’t had any kind of recovery since getting off the bike.

“My muscles are just like, ‘Oh we’re doing this again?’ It’s pretty brutal.

“I think at the start there was so much excitement and adrenaline that kept me going and now I’m drained.

“It feels like every push of that pedal feels like more of a struggle.”