Croydon-based sitcom Peep Show is an embarrassment of comedic riches (or should that be a rich comedy of embarrassments?) But who could ever forget time time a knackered Super Hans called up Jez to inform him: "I've accidentally run to Windsor!"
Fast-forward to 2024, and that 'accidental' run became a real-life event — thanks to the first Peep Show Marathon, as co-organised by Giles, the man also behind the remarkably successful Dobby Club Instagram account.
"The marathon came about three years ago when a TikTok gained popularity after my friend Sophie pointed out that the distance from Croydon to Windsor is precisely a marathon," explains Giles. "This fact had been previously pointed out to me (as is the norm with anything remotely nerdy related to Peep Show lore), but the timing felt right to put on the Peep Show Marathon.
"Sophie had the running knowledge, and I knew how to ensure it was packed with Peep Show hijinks and that the right people were running it. The rest is history."
Now an annual fixture, the 'Run to Windsor' returns on Saturday 10 October 2026, with 165 Peep Show fans covering the 26.2 miles from Croydon to Windsor — starting out at Zodiac Court, aka 'Apollo House', where the hapless protagonists Mark and Jez live (and inside which the first two series of Peep Show were filmed).
The marathon route is serious: from Zodiac Court, runners head through Wimbledon, Richmond and Runnymede onto Windsor, up the long walk toward Windsor Castle before finishing at Two Flints Brewery.
As you might imagine, the event is riddled with references to the show. Refreshment stops along the route are stocked with restorative pots of olives — a nod to Super Hans' brief spell of going 'fucking mental' for them, while weening himself off crack.
Many runners cosplay as characters (hats off to the guy who wore fisherman's waterproofs a la Mark in the New Year's special — that must've been sweaty). "My favourite moment so far?" says Giles, "Watching the runner who completed the entire race in a full Mark Corrigan 'clean shirt' suit, complete with two bags of shopping, mimicking the moment Mark is forced to run away from his muggers."
It's too late to apply to run for 2026's marathon, but anyone can cheer on the participants. The start line at Zodiac Court in west Croydon is open from 10am-12pm, with East Croydon Cool (the very same who put together the Croydon Edit) teaming up with 80 Stone Coffee Roasters to present the Velvet Spoon Coffee pop-up, where anyone can get their hands on a cup of coffee, and special mugs made for the day.
At the finish line in Windsor, from 12pm to late, Two Flints Brewery is serving beers and pizza — with an appearance from Liam Noble — aka 'Big Mad Andy' — behind the bar. There's also a DJ, alongside plenty of Peep Show-related fun and games. There'll even be yards of ale, so you can pretend it's Mark's stag.
Peep Show Marathon, 10 October 2026.
