Comic Relief singles: List of every Red Nose Day song released
From iconic covers to heartfelt anthems, Red Nose Day brings out the funny from our popstars in the name of a good cause.
Red Nose Day brings out the funny in everyone in the name of charity – even the world's most beloved pop stars. Since the launch of Red Nose Day in 1988, everyone from Cher and One Direction to Susan Boyle and Sugababes have released songs all in aid of Comic Relief, with proceeds from the song going directly to help those in need. It was so successful, the tradition was even boosted to two songs a year for nearly a decade, with a more "serious" release going head-to-head with a comedy send-up performed by a UK comic legend. In the process, it created some of the most beloved song covers of the past 30 years. While the tradition unfortunately ended in 2017, the tracks that were released remain longtime favourites for pop fans everywhere – and with the latest Red Nose Day airing tonight (Friday 21st March), now's the perfect time for a trip down memory lane. Here are all the official Red Nose Day singles, released in aid of Comic Relief. What songs have been released in aid of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day? The following tunes (including parodies and send-ups) have been released as official singles in aid of Comic Relief for Red Nose Day 1986: Living Doll – Cliff Richard feat The Young Ones 1989: Help! (Beatles Cover) – Bananarama, French and Saunders, Kathy Burke 1991: The Stonk – Hale and Pace, Mr Bean, Queen's Brian May, et al 1992: (I Want to Be) Elected – Mr Bean and Smear Campaign feat Bruce Dickinson and Skin 1993: Stick It Out – Right Said Fred 1994: Absolutely Fabulous – Pet Shop Boys as Absolutely Fabulous 1995: Love Can Build a Bridge – Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry and Eric Clapton 1997: Who Do You Think You Are?/Mama – Spice Girls 1999: When the Going Gets Tough (Billy Ocean Cover) – Boyzone 2001: Uptown Girl (Billy Joel Cover) – Westlife 2003: Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum Cover) – Gareth Gates feat The Kumars at No.42 2005: All About You/You've Got a Friend – McFly 2005: (Is This The Way to) Amarillo – Tony Christie (with music video feat Peter Kay and stars) 2007: Walk This Way (Aerosmith Cover) – Girls Aloud vs Sugababes 2007: I'm Gonna (Roll) 500 Miles – Peter Kay and Matt Lucas as Phoenix Nights' Brian Potter and Little Britain's Andy, feat The Proclaimers 2009: Just Can't Get Enough (Depeche Mode Cover) – The Saturdays 2009: Islands in the Stream (Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Cover) – Gavin & Stacey's Bryn and Nessa feat Tom Jones 2011: Gold Forever – The Wanted 2011: I Know Him So Well (from musical Chess) – Susan Boyle & Peter Kay as Geraldine McQueen 2013: One Way or Another/Teenage Kicks (Blondie/The Undertones Cover) – One Direction 2015: Lay Me Down – Sam Smith and John Legend 2017: What Do I Know – Ed Sheeran feat Kurupt FM from People Just Do Nothing Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
When is Comic Relief 2024? TV schedule, sketches and latest news
Here's everything you need to know about this year's Red Nose Day.
Tonight is the night! Comic Relief is back on BBC One for Red Nose Day 2024, with a star-studded line-up of celebrity guests presenting the iconic show. Sir Lenny Henry will be joined by Joel Dommett, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuinness, Romesh Ranganathan and David Tennant, along with Maya Jama and Rosie Ramsey – who will be making their Red Nose Day live debuts. From a search to find Sir Lenny's replacement as host to an all-star line-up in The Traitors: The Movie, Comic Relief 2024 has it all! Read on for everything you need to know about the night of comedy and entertainment, as well as information about where you can buy the new Red Nose and what sketches to expect. When is Red Nose Day 2024? Red Nose Day will air live on Friday 15th March on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. What time is Comic Relief 2024 on TV? The entertainment extravaganza will return to screens at 7pm. The show will be filmed live from Media City UK in Salford. How to watch Red Nose Day 2024: TV schedule Here are the sketches and performances viewers can expect on Friday night's show: Alan Partridge will return with a special guest on his radio show Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reunite for a Red Nose Day message The Traitors: The Movie looks to cast someone as Claudia Winkleman The cast of Just For One Day, the Live Aid Musical, will perform a special medley Live appearances from Luke Littler, Martin Lewis and The Gladiators Kate Winslet will take to story corner with a late night CBeebies Bedtime Story for parents Jamie Dornan finds himself face to face with Clive Myrie in the iconic Mastermind chair Julia Roberts, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson make special appearances in a sketch to argue it out to be named the most famous face Sir Lenny Henry will take on his own version of the Ryan Gosling’s I’m Just Ken, titled I'm Just Len McFly will open the show with a special medley of some of the most-loved Comic Relief singles We'll be sure to keep this page updated with more sketches and musical performances as they're announced. There is still more Comic Relief television beyond the live telethon! Comic Relief: A Whole Lotta Lenny, which celebrates Sir Lenny's decades-long stint hosting Red Nose Day, will air on Friday 15th March at 10:40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Snow Going Back: Comic Relief vs the Arctic will air on Monday 11th March at 9pm on BBC One, capturing the gruelling steps of Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore, who trek across the Arctic to raise money for Comic Relief. Blue Peter will once again become Red Peter for a Red Nose Day special, airing on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on Friday 15th March at 5pm. Lenny Rush will be reading a funny CBeebies Bedtime Story on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer on Friday 15th March at 6:50pm. What is the Red Nose Day W1A sketch? The stars of sitcom W1A will reunite for a special sketch for Comic Relief this year. Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Hynes, Monica Dolan and Hugh Skinner will be back once more as they attempt to find a presenter to replace Sir Lenny Henry, who is stepping down after this year's show. Where can I buy Red Noses for Comic Relief 2024? You can buy your red nose through <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=sxts_spks_0_0_dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b?node=55841900031&pd_rd_w=dTMfh&content-id=amzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b%3Aamzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_p=dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_r=GZBHGTMKFG0FJ2EJ0TAZ&pd_rd_wg=sXmql&pd_rd_r=5f8cc519-cb1c-4c21-b8ed-db4f92148380&qid=1706691813&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1983181" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Amazon or the Comic Relief shop. You can buy one red nose for £2, which comes in a special Red Nose box, meaning you won't know which character you'll receive until you open it! <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=sxts_spks_0_0_dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b?node=55841900031&pd_rd_w=dTMfh&content-id=amzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b%3Aamzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_p=dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_r=GZBHGTMKFG0FJ2EJ0TAZ&pd_rd_wg=sXmql&pd_rd_r=5f8cc519-cb1c-4c21-b8ed-db4f92148380&qid=1706691813&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1983181" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Buy a Comic Relief Red Nose for £2 at Amazon There is also other Red Nose Day merch which can be bought, including sweets, badges, water bottles and dog bandanas. A portion of the proceeds from the merchandise will go to Comic Relief to help its work to tackle poverty, provide food, healthcare and safe shelter for people in the UK and around the world. How else can I support Comic Relief 2024? If you believe yourself to be a music connoisseur, you can tune into Paloma Faith's Enjoy Yourself (The Red Nose Day Edition) on Amazon Music. The song was released in support of Comic Relief, and at least £3 from the purchase of each CD and at least £6.50 from the purchase of each vinyl on Amazon will be donated to Comic Relief. A percentage of the proceeds generated from every completed stream on Amazon Music in the UK between Wednesday 21st February and Friday 22nd March will be donated to Comic Relief. There are more ways than ever to get involved with Red Nose Day this year. If you have an Alexa, people can simply say "Alexa, tell me a Comic Relief joke" to hear jokes from celebrities, including Sir Lenny Henry, Rosie Jones and Nick Grimshaw. View Green Video on the source website You can donate to Comic Relief at comicrelief.com/radiotimes. Red Nose Day 2024 airs at 7pm on Friday 15th March on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Lenny Henry explains Comic Relief's progress after "white saviour" criticism
The accusations of 'white saviour syndrome' were made a few years ago, and Henry explains how Comic Relief took criticism onboard.
Comic Relief is back for another celebration this year, with this Friday's Red Nose Day set to be as entertaining and star-studded as ever, as people join forces to raise money. The charity's vision is "to live in a just world, free from poverty", and was founded in 1985 by the scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Sir Lenny Henry in response to the famine in Ethiopia in 1985. Since then, the donation efforts of Comic Relief on Red Nose Day, as well as the BBC's other annual events like Children in Need, have attracted criticism – with some citing a 'white saviour syndrome' in regards to the charity's content. The notion of being a 'white saviour' is one that centres on white people being depicted as saving, teaching or protecting their non-white counterparts, often cited in relation to international charity work and celebrity appeal videos. Many of those accusations were made against Comic Relief a few years ago, but since then, how has the charity evolved away from depicting white celebrities in such a way? Well, Henry chatted to Radio Times magazine and admitted that they "raise money in different ways nowadays". He said: "There's much more agency given to the people on the ground, and there's a currency of being part of the solution that's so much more important than somebody in a white shirt saying, 'Here I am in Ethiopia and look at this, this is terrible.' "Those days have sort of gone. What happens is you work with people on the ground. And Comic Relief has tried to make it so that the teams making the documentaries are more inclusive than they used to be." Henry continued: "It used to be BBC Bristol going to Africa to make all the films and they were all white people. It was always me and five white people and all these kids saying, 'Hello, how are you?' to everyone else but not say[ing] anything to me because they thought I was from there. "And then when I did my bit to camera, they'd be like, 'I thought that was just your uncle,' to their friend. It was really bizarre, but it made me think that it needed to be a bit more inclusive. "And, of course, there are places throughout the continent of Africa where there are the most brilliant filmmakers in the world. So, what we're doing now is making every attempt to find those people." Read more: Katherine Kelly, Torchwood's Eve Myles cast in thriller The Crow Girl BBC Radio 2 offers six fans chance to win Taylor Swift tickets at Wembley The money raised is also now equally split between anti-poverty causes in the UK and those further afield throughout the world. When asked whether that was something that Henry foresaw, he admitted: "Right now it's about giving a leg up to people who are struggling here and everywhere else. "I remember being in Uganda in the 1990s and there was a grain bank and a food bank, and I thought, 'What a good thing, but this would never happen in the UK.' "Here we are now in the 21st century and my sister runs a food bank. I went there and was astounded by the generosity of the big stores involved and the people stepping up to this problem." This is the last year that Henry will be hosting the Red Nose Day celebrations, with the night itself set to include sketches from The Traitors, W1A and more. View Green Video on the source website You can donate to Comic Relief at comicrelief.com/radiotimes. Red Nose Day 2024 airs at 7pm on Friday 15th March on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Suranne Jones and Catherine Tate join The Traitors: The Movie for Comic Relief
Jonathan Bailey, Asim Chaudhry and Sally Phillips are among the other stars set to play popular contestants from the beloved reality series.
Suranne Jones and Catherine Tate are among the stars set to appear in a Comic Relief sketch based on the hugely popular reality series The Traitors. Vigil star Jones will take on the role of host Claudia Winkleman in The Traitors: The Movie, which will air during the annual Red Nose Day fundraising programme on BBC One this Friday (15th March). Tate will play a dual role as both Evie and Charlie, while other stars include Bridgerton's Jonathan Bailey as series winner Harry, Sally Phillips as fan favourite Faithful Diane, and Asim Chaudhry as everyone's favourite sleuth, Jaz – aka Jazatha Christie. Meanwhile, David Walliams plays series villain Paul, Kiell Smith-Bynoe is Miles, Iain Stirling takes on the role of Ross and defeated finalist Mollie Pearce will make "a very special cameo" appearance playing herself. View oEmbed on the source website According to the BBC, the skit will make reference to several of the most iconic moments from the hit show's second season, including Jazatha Christie being ignored, Ross's infamous wink, Diane's untimely murder and the Traitors turning on each other at the roundtable. Read more: When is Comic Relief 2024? TV schedule, sketches and latest news Lenny Henry explains why he's stepping down as Comic Relief host after nearly 40 years Speaking about the sketch, Jones said it was an "absolute thrill" to be cast as Claudia, especially given she's long wanted to take part in Comic Relief. "I watched The Traitors and I love Claudia, so everything is done with love as I step into her shoes," she said. "The most important thing is we are raising money for really important causes. So we are having fun, but the main thing will always be the causes." Bailey said that being invited to in the sketch "is the proudest moment of my career so far", and described The Traitors as "my all-time favourite TV series". He added: "I would be star-struck if I met any one of them. I’m sure I am the first in a long line of actors who will play Harry in biopics. Actually, I want to take this moment to publicly apologise to Harry for what I’ve done." Meanwhile, Mollie said: ‘"Red Nose Day is a great cause and something I’ve grown up watching. When I read the script, I thought it was so funny and great entertainment, it’s nice to make people laugh and smile after such an intense series. "I don’t think I have really had time to process being asked to be involved in the sketch. When I got the call, I was running around the house with my mum screaming. I feel very privileged and very lucky." View Green Video on the source website The Traitors: The Movie will air during Comic Relief: Funny for Money on 15th March from 7pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. You can donate to Comic Relief at comicrelief.com/radiotimes. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
BBC Radio 2 offers six fans chance to win Taylor Swift tickets at Wembley
You could be in with a chance to win tickets to the tour of the year.
Swifties, it's time to assemble. If you've not yet bagged tickets to the talked-about Eras Tour and the Disney Plus release of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie just doesn't quite suffice, you could very well be in with a chance of winning tickets of your own to see Swift in concert. To kick off Comic Relief week in style, it was announced on BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball Breakfast Show this morning that to mark the occasion, Radio 2 has not one, not two but six hospitality tickets to see Taylor Swift live at Wembley on The Eras Tour on Monday 19th August 2024. The hospitality area in question will also be hosted by Radio 2's Sara Cox, meaning one listener and five of their friends could enjoy some serious Swift action, complete with travel and accommodation costs covered also. What's better is that the opportunity is all in aid of supporting Comic Relief. As you can imagine, there are likely to be plenty of questions about eligibility for the prize – but the draw is now open and will close on 29th March at 23:59 for entries via text and on 6th April for entries via post. Fancy your chances to enter the draw? Well, you could be in with a chance of winning so head over to the Red Nose Day page to find out all the details and how to enter. The winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries and notified by phone between 9am and 7pm on Tuesday 16th April and, of course, the draw and donations will be helping to tackle some of the urgent problems faced by people in the UK and around the world. It's set to be a week packed full of donation opportunities with Friday night's show set to be presented by some of the best in the business, including Sir Lenny Henry, Romesh Ranganathan, Maya Jama and David Tennant. Read more: Katherine Kelly, Torchwood's Eve Myles cast in thriller The Crow Girl Trevor Eve, Sex Education's Rakhee Thakrar join Unforgotten creator's new crime drama It'll be the final Red Nose Day that Henry will hosting, with the comedian and Comic Relief co-founder speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com previously and saying: "I'm not going anywhere, I'm just not going to host on the night. I might still make films for them and do voiceovers and things, but I think it's time for a newer generation to come and take the baton, because we've been carrying it for a long time. "We've got some people, so it's gonna be really, really good. There might be some competition, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes. I hope they oil up and fight in the carpark!" He added: "I think it's good, change is good." The Friday night show will be packed full of sketches from some of the UK's most beloved shows including The Traitors, W1A and more. View Green Video on the source website You can donate to Comic Relief at comicrelief.com/radiotimes. Red Nose Day 2024 airs at 7pm on Friday 15th March on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Outnumbered siblings are reuniting for Comic Relief
Jake, Ben and Karen Brockman are back together!
Fifteen years on from the first Outnumbered Red Nose Day special, the Brockman siblings have reunited to show their support for this year's Red Noses. It's hard to think about how much time has passed, but the fan-favourite siblings from the hit sitcom have come together for an Outnumbered reunion of sorts. Daniel Roche, Ramona Marquez and Tyger Drew-Honey, who played Ben, Karen and Jake in the comedy series, were no stranger to Comic Relief sketches over the years, and now are reuniting to try out the new batch of Red Noses for 2024. The new plant-based Red Nose range is available now on Amazon, set to bring not just a smile to your face but to also leave you laughing as, for the first time ever, the noses come complete with jokes. Each nose comes with a QR code that takes you to the Red Nose Day Joke Generator, which will reel off endless jokes to make you giggle. Speaking about their memories of Red Nose Day, Tyger Drew-Honey said: "I have special memories of Red Nose Day, especially our days spent filming the Red Nose Day specials. "I was a little bit older than the others, so I had more of an idea of the concept of what Red Nose Day was. I could appreciate it was a really good cause and that we were doing something that was really helping people whilst putting a smile on people's faces. “Getting back together to honour this year's Red Nose Day was such good fun, and whilst this year we’re not causing chaos on British TV screens, we were able to try on the new Noses and snap a few photos." Daniel Roche also said: "We were really lucky to have been a part of the Outnumbered Red Nose Day specials, I don't think we appreciated just how big of a deal it was and how many people we could help by being involved. "I will always remember meeting Andy Murray and how friendly and patient he was when I was peppering him with questions and tennis advice! Twelve years on from our last special, it's great to be back together to make some more Red Nose Day memories, help to raise some funds and have a laugh!" Read more: This Morning confirms Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley as new presenters The Apprentice films and cuts You're Fired scenes with star accused of antisemitism Ramona Marquez added: "I always remember the Red Nose Day events that we got to go to, they were great. I was really young but I remember all the celebrities coming together for Comic Relief, and I knew it was really cool to be involved in the Red Nose Day specials. I especially liked the specials because I remember that we got to wear our own clothes and at the time, that was a big deal! "It's never felt more important to come together to support people in the UK and around the world, who are struggling in the face of poverty and injustice. By purchasing a Red Nose to match with the cast of Outnumbered, your donation could help put food on plates and roofs over heads, keep little ones safe and support families affected by climate change. "When people come together, great things can happen, which is what Red Nose Day is all about." Of course, Outnumbered had a special place in many fans' hearts, running from 2007 to 2014, with a final Christmas special airing back in 2016. Throughout that time, fans were also treated to a number sketches for Comic and Sport Relief over the years, which included Andy Murray getting harassed by the cast and another hilarious incident involving Karen's bridesmaid dress. To mark this year's occasion, the new 2024 noses are the most sustainable yet and feature four fun characters to collect, as well as a very special limited edition gold version. View Green Video on the source website You can donate to Comic Relief at comicrelief.com/radiotimes. You can also order this year's Red Nose at the Comic Relief shop or on Amazon's official Red Nose Day page. If you’re looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide. Visit our hub for more Entertainment news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Where to buy Comic Relief 2024 Red Noses online in the UK
Red Nose Day is just around the corner, so we're here to tell you how you can get your hands on a squishy red nose and help raise money for charity.
Red Nose Day is back in 2024 and Comic Relief has selected the 15th of March to celebrate. This means you still have a few weeks to get your hands on a red nose and help spread laughter whilst raising money for an important cause. This year, Comic Relief have designed four new red nose characters for people to collect, as well as the return of the rare 'Golden Hooter'. When you buy a red nose, you'll randomly be sent one of either Gigglesworth, McChortles, Smirklethorpe, or Lol E Pops. There's also a one in 166 chance that you'll be sent the 'Golden Hooter', a nose plated with 24-carat gold. This year's red noses are all made from plant-based materials, so after Red Nose Day they can be recycled. Each red nose costs just £2 and there's also merch available to buy, like Red Nose Day-themed bottles, hats, t-shirts and badges, all bound to bring smiles to people's faces. The money you spend on a red nose and other merch will be used to support Comic Relief in its mission to alleviate the challenges communities face both here in the UK and abroad. The red noses, although small, are used as a reminder by Comic Relief to show that "even the littlest of things can make a huge difference". They help Comic Relief fight poverty and injustice and strive for equality. Last year, the sale of red noses helped contribute to over £35 million being raised for the charity on Red Nose Day. If you want to buy a red nose, encourage friends and family to giggle, and raise money for an important cause, we're here to tell you exactly how to get your hands on one. The only thing we can't tell you how to do is win a Golden Hooter. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=sxts_spks_0_0_dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b?node=55841900031&pd_rd_w=dTMfh&content-id=amzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b%3Aamzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_p=dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_r=GZBHGTMKFG0FJ2EJ0TAZ&pd_rd_wg=sXmql&pd_rd_r=5f8cc519-cb1c-4c21-b8ed-db4f92148380&qid=1706691813&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1983181" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Buy a Comic Relief Red Nose for £2 at Amazon Looking for more toy and gift ideas? Check out our guide to the best tech and gift gadgets, the best Lego gifts, and the best Valentine's Day ideas and gifts. Where to buy 2024's Red Noses in the UK This year, you can buy your red nose through <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=sxts_spks_0_0_dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b?node=55841900031&pd_rd_w=dTMfh&content-id=amzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b%3Aamzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_p=dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_r=GZBHGTMKFG0FJ2EJ0TAZ&pd_rd_wg=sXmql&pd_rd_r=5f8cc519-cb1c-4c21-b8ed-db4f92148380&qid=1706691813&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1983181" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Amazon or the Comic Relief shop. You can buy one red nose for £2, this comes in a special red nose box and you won't know which character you'll be getting until you open it. You can also buy a family pack of noses for £8, the characters are again a surprise until you open up. There is also a school box available for £50, full of 25 noses. As well as red noses, there's other Red Nose Day merch to buy – from sweets to badges, and water bottles to dog bandanas. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=sxts_spks_0_0_dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b?node=55841900031&pd_rd_w=dTMfh&content-id=amzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b%3Aamzn1.sym.dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_p=dadf636d-1b33-4d26-b9f7-79220808fa0b&pf_rd_r=GZBHGTMKFG0FJ2EJ0TAZ&pd_rd_wg=sXmql&pd_rd_r=5f8cc519-cb1c-4c21-b8ed-db4f92148380&qid=1706691813&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1983181" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Buy a Comic Relief Red Nose for £2 at Amazon You can donate to Comic Relief at comicrelief.com/radiotimes. You can also order this year's Red Nose at the Comic Relief shop or on Amazon's official Red Nose Day page. Want more from Radio Times? Check out our Technology and Going Out sections where you'll find guides like the best UK streaming services and the best West End shows.
Richard Curtis on how Love Island is "more convincing" than his films
On The Radio Times Podcast, Richard Curtis talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about his own lack of success with romance, how Love Island's more convincing than his films and the life-changing impact of Comic Relief.
There's only a matter of days before Red Nose Day 2023 rolls round, bringing with it an impassioned effort to raise money to support people struggling in the cost of living crisis and to help tackle issues such as food poverty, homelessness and mental health problems. Alongside Sir Lenny Henry, acclaimed comedy writer Richard Curtis is the co-founder of Comic Relief, which was founded back in 1985 and has since raised in excess of £1 billion from its fundraising efforts and epic Red Nose Day events. With another year's broadcast incoming and an array of entertainment lined up, Richard Curtis spoke with The Radio Times Podcast about how he had a spectacular lack of success with romance, even though he's best known for his romantic comedy writing. View oEmbed on the source website He also chats about the impact of Comic Relief, the TV show that shaped his teenage years and the moments that inspired the likes of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill. What’s the view from your sofa? The view is constantly interrupted by cats. They’re jealous. They don’t like us watching TV – they’d rather we paid attention to them. What have you enjoyed watching recently on TV? I am watching so much telly at the moment. I watched one episode of Jack Rooke’s Channel 4 series Big Boys then the following evening, five more episodes. I think I’ve seen every episode of Bake Off and Portrait Artist of the Year. I hear you’re a fan of Love Island. You’re someone who writes about love for a living – what does the show say about the state of relationships? You hear about your friend falling in love, but you don’t get to watch it. Love Island shows love in action much more convincingly than my films do. Which TV shows were important in your teenage years? Monty Python seriously affected me. I watched it religiously. At 14, a third of all my conversation with friends was simply us repeating lines from those sketches. When did you decide you wanted to write for TV? I thought I was going to be an actor, [but] when I got to university, I was always cast as some sort of Third Gentleman. Within six months I bumped into Rowan [Atkinson], who was clearly a genius, and I started writing for him. When he got his first job, I wrote for him on TV. I stumbled into my future. Atkinson became famous as the star of Blackadder. Did you have any idea of the masterpiece you were creating? The first series, which was very expensive and shot on film, wasn’t very well regarded. When Ben Elton and I did the second, we could feel that it was more fun – when Blackadder was on, I would walk the streets and see how many people were watching us on telly. We did sweat blood for it – but the fact that it lasted is a surprise and a joy. Why did you move from writing for TV to films like Notting Hill? The thing about working with other people, which I did do on sitcoms, was that you could agree about everything apart from what was moving or romantic. So we didn’t even try. I thought if I’m going to write about love, the way to do it is through film. Are you a romantic yourself? Does romantic mean you think things are going to turn out well? In which case, no! I was so spectacularly unsuccessful in love for half my life! I first fell in love with a girl called Jill when I was four. Then Tracy when I was seven. Then Julie Andrews. Is that where your ideas for your films come from? Love stories that never quite come to fruition in reality? Often, it’s about things that didn’t happen. So for Four Weddings and a Funeral – I remember being at a wedding. There was a girl. We had a dance. I thought, “This is heaven.” She said, “Where are you staying tonight?” And instead of saying, “Wherever you’re staying...” I said, “I’m going back with my friend John and we’re going to play Boggle.” I never saw her [again]! And with Notting Hill – I used to drive across a bridge to my friend’s house and think, “Wouldn’t it be great if I turned up with Madonna?” You’ve raised more than £1.5 billion for Comic Relief. What impact has the public’s generosity had? I still break that [figure] down into how much difference a pound can make. The public have helped eight million people. A malaria net – which can and does save lives – is £2. A vaccine can be 17p. Anyone who gives cash on the night or buys a nose is in this magical position of directly handing money to someone whose life is very hard, that makes instant and long-term, decisive change. Red Nose Day returns to BBC One on Friday 17th March at 7pm. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Entertainment hub. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Comic Relief 2022 presenters: Meet all the hosts for Red Nose Day
From the Comic Relief co-founder to Strictly alumni, here's everything you need to know about the hosting team for Red Nose Day.
There's not long to go before the Comic Relief coverage kicks off for Red Nose Day. For the special night, celebrities from the showbiz world will come together as they try to raise money for charities across the UK and beyond. Including TV specials and musical performances, it's set to be a night to remember! Although there will be several celebrities hosting on the night, the main event will be brought to viewers by a presenting team, headed up by presenter Sir Lenny Henry. However, there's already been a few changes to the line-up. On Thursday, Joel Dommett was replaced by Vernon Kay as Comic Relief host due to COVID-19, and just hours before the event was due to kick off, Zoe Ball revealed she'd pulled out after testing positive for coronavirus. As Red Nose Day arrives, here's who will be presenting the night's events. For more information on how to donate to Comic Relief you can read our guide. Comic Relief 2022 presenters Sir Lenny Henry Twitter: @LennyHenry Comic Relief stalwart Sir Lenny Henry will lead the celebs on the night. He is one of the UK's best known comedians and media personalities. He co-founded Comic Relief in 1985, along with comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis. "What it really means is for all of us to unite and do something brilliant and support for those that need it," Sir Lenny said of this year's show. "The audience can expect more stars than you can shake a stick at, loads of passionate and exciting films demonstrating where the money goes and why. Plus music, laughter, great hosts including me, Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness, Alesha Dixon – and more... this is going to be huge!" Alesha Dixon Instagram: @aleshaofficial Twitter: @AleshaOfficial Britain's Got Talent judge and musician Alesha Dixon will join Sir Lenny on the night as one of this year's presenters. Dixon rose to fame in the noughties as a member of R&B garage group, Mis-Teeq. Since then, she's gone on to take part in several reality shows, including Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2007, and became a judge on two years later. "I have grown up with Comic Relief, it’s such an important night of the year that brings the whole country together to help others. It brings out the best in people whilst entertaining the nation, it’s part of all our lives and we all feel deeply connected to it," she said. Zoe Ball was meant to be a part of this year's presenting team, however, on Friday, 18th March, she revealed she'd tested positive for COVID-19, and Alesha Dixon would be doing the "double shift" and filling in for her. View oEmbed on the source website David Tennant Doctor Who's David Tennant joins the presenting panel for Comic Relief 2022. Tennant is best known as the tenth incarnation of The Doctor. Speaking of his new role, he said: "It’s one of those things that makes you proud to be British. The mix of being daft and being big-hearted seems to be something we do well. It’s always an honour and a joy to be involved." Paddy McGuinness Instagram: @mcguinness.paddy Twitter: @PaddyMcGuinness TV presenter and comedian Paddy McGuinness joins the presenting panel for Comic Relief 2022. McGuinness rose to fame with the help of Peter Kay, who invited him to appear in some of his programmes, including That Peter Kay Thing and Phoenix Nights. He's since presented several shows, such as the popular Take Me Out, which ended in 2019, and is one of the three hosts of Top Gear. "We’re filming this year’s Comic Relief in the North so I’m expecting a fun, lively show with loads of special guests," he revealed. AJ Odudu Instagram: @ajodudu Twitter: @AJOdudu TV presenter AJ Odudu will host The Great Comic Relief Prizeathon with Vernon Kay. Odudu is a British television presenter. She is best known for co-presenting the 2013 Channel 5 reality show spin-off Big Brother's Bit on the Side, alongside Emma Willis and Rylan Clark-Neal. Last year, she took part in the 19th season of Strictly, and made it all the way to the final with her dance partner Kai Widdrington, before having to pull out due to a leg injury. Vernon Kay Instagram: @vernonkay Twitter: @vernonkay Vernon Kay stepped in as part of the hosting team for this year's Comic Relief after previously confirmed host Joel Dommett tested positive for COVID-19. Kay is known for his presenting work on T4, All Star Family Fortunes and Splash! in addition to his role fronting Formula E coverage. In 2020, he took part in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, finishing in third place. Red Nose Day airs on Friday 18th March at 7pm on BBC One. To find out what's on telly tonight, check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Entertainment hub. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Strictly Come Dancing winners Rose and Giovanni to perform Waltz for Comic Relief
The Strictly winners will dance to raise funds for charity on Red Nose Day.
If you've missed Strictly Come Dancing winners Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, Red Nose Day is set to bring them back. The pair will literally waltz back onto our screens on 18th March for the BBC's special Comic Relief programming, set to air from 7pm. The nation fell in love with the dance couple during last year's edition of the show, which saw them pull off many a Strictly first. Rose was the first deaf contestant to take part in the competition, while the pair also claimed the earliest perfect 40 score ever given by the Strictly judges thanks to their Frozen-inspired Tango on Halloween Week. The reigning Strictly champions will perform a Waltz to Ellie Goulding's How Long Will I Love You for Red Nose Day, and we're sure it will be just as beautiful and dramatic as their much-loved Strictly ballroom performances. Joining them for the BBC's Comic Relief fundraising event will be a series of specials, including a Ghosts sketch featuring Kylie Minogue and a Repair Shop episode where Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reprise their extras characters to blag a free fix from the team. Meanwhile, Jack Whitehall will host the Mini Golf Challenge, which pits him against England footballers Mason Mount and Declan Rice, and Stephen Fry will read a "strictly for grown-ups" tale in Bedtime Story for Comic Relief. See our guide on how to donate to Comic Relief. Red Nose Day airs on BBC One on Friday 18th March. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our Entertainment hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Kylie Minogue joins Ghosts for Comic Relief special
The singer will join the Button House ghouls for a special sketch.
BBC comedy Ghosts is set to return later this year for its fourth season, but fans will get to pay the Button House residents a visit earlier in a one-off sketch as part of Red Nose Day 2022. Singer and actress Kylie Minogue will be joining the Ghosts cast for the undoubtedly haunted ride, though it's unclear at this stage what role she'll be playing in the special episode and which of the ghosts we already know and love will feature. The popular comedy has been a huge hit with viewers both in the UK and across the pond, with an American version of the show airing on CBS last autumn. It stars Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Charlotte Ritchie as young couple Mike and Alison, and the likes of Jim Howick, Lolly Adefope and Simon Farnaby as the eccentric ghosts who haunt the decrepit country manor Mike and Alison are looking to restore. Red Nose Day will take place on Friday 18th March and feature an evening of special programming from 7pm. Sketches, live performances and one-off comedy specials will all feature in the annual fundraising campaign to end child poverty. Other shows that will also feature in the BBC's Comic Relief programming include a special The Repair Shop episode and a performance from Strictly winners Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice. Red Nose Day airs on BBC One on Friday 18th March. Ghosts seasons 1-3 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Normal People stars to reunite for special episodes - but only some viewers will be able to watch
The all-new shorts will reveal more about the fate of Marianne and Connell.
The stars and director of Normal People are reuniting for two new specials as part of RTÉ Does Comic Relief, that will revisit Marianne and Connell decades after the events of BBC One's romantic drama. Based on a novel by Sally Rooney, the steamy series debuted back in April and proved hugely popular, setting social media ablaze with talk of its heart-wrenching story. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal played the central romance beautifully with direction from Oscar nominee Lenny Abrahamson, all of whom are set to take part in this humorous reunion. In an interview on RTÉ Radio 1, Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis teased the all-new chapters, which sound like they could be some of the most ambitious charity sketches of recent years. He said: "There's a beautiful piece called Normal Older People, which is imagining what would have happened to Marianne and Connell 40 years from now. I promise you, these are two very special bits. "It's so much better than anything we've ever made. I mean I can't even say all about it because there's a guest star in it. But it's really, it's really beautiful." Curtis added: "One of the things about Comic Relief is it just gives opportunities for things to happen that would never happen. I can't imagine any context in which they would have allowed this little sort of extra special into the world of Normal People." Of course, being that these specials will be broadcast on RTÉ, only viewers in Ireland and Northern Ireland will be able to watch them live as they air. However, given the popularity of Normal People in several other countries around the world, we'd be shocked if they didn't eventually find their way online... Normal People is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide.
Craig Revel Horwood "keeping fingers crossed" Strictly Come Dancing 2020 will air
The long-time judge is hoping that the dance competition will go ahead despite COVID 19
Craig Reveal Horwood has revealed that the Strictly Come Dancing team are working to ensure the show airs this autumn. Speaking to The One Show yesterday (22nd April 2020), he said: "The producers are working very, very hard to bring it out at its normal time so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. "I know everyone at home will be willing it to go on because it's such a great show." He added that the BBC will be airing three extra Strictly 'Best Ofs' in the meantime. "One of Blackpool, one of Musicals, one of Movies – so there will be lots and lots of Strictly to watch over the summer, which is great," the judge explains. The beloved ballroom competition is back briefly tonight (April 23), with Craig judging Strictly's Keep Dancing Challenge for BBC One's Big Night In – the Comic Relief and Children in Need charity special. Earlier this month, Strictly fans had the chance to learn a routine to Dua Lipa's Physical, with different professionals teaching bits of the routine each day. They could then submit their entries, which will be marked on Big Night In by Craig tonight. "It's something people can enjoy," Craig told presenters Alex Jones and Patrick Kielty. "It's exercise, which is vital as well, and to take their minds off everything that's happening in life at the moment. I think it's a wonderful, wonderful thing and well done to everyone who is doing the challenge!" Strictly will hopefully air on BBC One later this year and The Big Night In airs on BBC One tonight from 7pm. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV guide.
When is the BBC'S Big Night In on TV? Special guests, performances and everything you need to know
Everything you need to know about the BBC's star-studded charity event
Two of the BBC's biggest charities are coming together for a night of live entertainment in April. Comic Relief and Children in Need will be teaming up for The Big Night In to "support, entertain, cheer up and help out anyone who needs any or all of those things". The show will also feature some famous faces, including a comedy legend's much-anticipated comeback and the Strictly cast with a fun initiative for everyone to get involved at home. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the BBC's Big Night In. When is The Big Night In on TV? The Big Night In will air on BBC One on Thursday 23rd April at 7pm. It's likely the show will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast. What's it all about? The phrase "dark/challenging/times times" has been used a lot lately to describe the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the world. The Big Night In is a response to that, promising to bring some light into British homes. The charity event will comply with the current government-mandated self-isolation rules, with many of the famous faces tuning in from home. According to a statement by the BBC, there will be chances to win "money can't buy prizes", live music performances and "big surprises". Viewers will also get the chance to donate, if they feel able to do so, and support "vulnerable people of all ages and backgrounds across the UK who will be significantly impacted by the crisis." The funds raised will be split evenly between BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief. Who will feature? The Big Night In will mark comedian Peter Kay's comeback, following on from his recently announced, audio-only episode of Car Share. It will be Kay's first public appearance since 2017. Not only will Kay be performing a comedy routine, but he'll also recreate his iconic Amarillo video for the event. He's even asked key workers to film themselves marching to the Tony Christie hit. View oEmbed on the source website Lenny Henry, Matt Baker, Zoe Ball and Paddy McGuinness will co-host together (while at a safe distance). Catherine Tate will also be delivering on the comedy front, with Gary Barlow on hand to perform and the Strictly cast giving tips on dancing around the house while on lockdown. You can see the full line up below: Miranda Hart and the cast of Miranda in self-isolation The Vicar of Dibley’s Lockdown Sermon Dave Grohl and friends with the TV premier of a new BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge version of Times Like These Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon in the Trip Catherine Tate and David Tennant - Lauren the ‘Am I Bovvered’ teenager gets home-schooled Matt Lucas and his ‘Baked Potato’ song with music from the BBC Orchestra Sam Smith singing Lay Me Down Celeste covering Lean On Me Jack Whitehall in Bad Education with Matthew Horne and heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua People Just Do Nothing EastEnders Queen Vic virtual pub quiz hosted by Ian Beale Peter Kay and the British Public remake of ‘Amarillo’ Little Britain Strictly Come Dancing choreography with Tess and Claudia Romesh Ranganathan’s Isolation Diary Joe Wicks Exercise Secrets Doctor Who Stand-up at home from Jason Manford, Rosie Jones, Tez Ilyas, Dane Baptiste, Russell Kane, The Lost Voice Guy, Nish Kumar and more Gary Barlow is joined by friends including Liam Payne, Olly Murs, Leona Lewis, Nicole Scherzinger, Freya Ridings, Katherine Jenkins, Alfie Boe, Gregory Porter and more performing ’Sing’ And the BBC has teased there will be more surprises from the likes of Mary Berry, Little Mix and many other special guests. What is Strictly's Keep Dancing Challenge and can you get involved? Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced on The One Show on Tuesday 14th April that Strictly was launching the Keep Dancing Challenge. In the days leading up to the Big Night In, Strictly professionals will release instruction videos every night so that everyone can learn a routine ahead of the event, where everyone can dance together. Fifteen-minute segments will air on The One Show, and everyone can get involved by sharing videos of themselves dancing along with the hashtag #KeepDancingChallenge on social media or on the Strictly website. You might even make it to the small screen, as videos will be shared during the Big Night In. The Big Night In airs on BBC One tonight from 7pm. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV guide.
Peter Kay and Tony Christie will perform Amarillo for BBC's Big Night In
Kay has organised a new video of the 1972 hit - which he made a huge success in 2005
Anyone compiling a list of the most iconic Comic Relief segments of all time would be hard-pressed not to put the Tony Christie and Peter Kay rendition of Amarillo near the top of the list - and now the pair are reuniting for a special remake of the hit. Fifteen years after Kay's video for the 1972 song - which saw a host of famous faces miming along with Christie's crooning - captured the attention of the nation, he has organised a new version for BBC One's Big Night In. This time around Kay has called on the help of the British public, including NHS nurses, to recreate the famous video - with Christie himself also making an appearance. Speaking to The Sun about the video, Christie said that he hoped it would see the same success as the previous Kay version - which shot to the top of the UK charts. "To have a No 1 at the age of 77 would be incredible," he said. "I just can’t believe it. The song will now cross over three generations — 1971, 2005 and now 2020. "Every DJ I speak to says Amarillo is the one song they guarantee will fill a dance floor, and I see why. What’s not to like about it? It’s the gift that keeps on giving — I wish I had one like that every five years." He added, "I’m really excited by it. There’ll be plenty of people dancing, singing and jumping around with musicians added on. It’s great that nurses are playing a part too. It’ll be fantastic." Amarillo is just one part of an action packed schedule for The Big Night In, which sees Comic Relief and Children in Need teaming up for the first time to "support, entertain, cheer up and help out anyone who needs any or all of those things." Kay has not appeared on live television since 2017, when he spoke at the We Are Manchester concert which was held in memory of those who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena terror attack. The Big Night in airs tonight on BBC One from 7pm.
Comic Relief to have fewer celebrity appeals in future
Stacey Dooley is among the stars who have been criticised for going to Africa as “white saviours”
Comic Relief plans to cut back on sending celebrities to Africa for TV appeals, and will instead “be very careful to give voices to people abroad”. The charity has been criticised over the past several years for sending famous people to Africa as “white saviours”. Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis told MPs that TV appeals "will be heading in the direction of not using" celebrities abroad. Stacey Dooley and David Lammy embroiled in Comic Relief “poverty porn” row Listen to the RadioTimes.com Podcast now: subscribe on iTunes / subscribe on Google Podcasts https://www.instagram.com/p/BuO-eA0hjkj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link In February 2019, Strictly winner and documentary-maker Stacey Dooley was criticised for travelling to Uganda to make an appeal film for Comic Relief. And in 2017, Ed Sheeran's Liberia film for Comic Relief was handed a "Rusty Radiator" award as the "most offensive and stereotypical fundraising video of the year". "We are trying to do everything we can to raise the maximum amount of money for our projects internationally," Curtis told the House of Commons International Development Committee. "But if it is felt that Comic Relief is so influential in terms of image that you start to send out the wrong image, and that people who live in this country with African backgrounds feel as though they're in some way demeaned or negatively affected by Comic Relief, then we really have to listen to that. "What I'm searching for year by year is new ways of telling the stories. Traditionally, the sadder the film, the more money it makes, but I'm sure there must be a solution where you show such radiant joy and success that that would encourage you to give more money." On how Comic Relief would operate in the future, Curtis said: "We're not strong on that yet. I imagine as we go into this new future, that will not be based on celebrities going abroad. I suspect we will start that new initiative not going that way. “And then on the TV, I think we have to do what we think is best, and I think it will be heading in the direction of not using [celebrities abroad], and particularly being very careful to give voices to people abroad." View oEmbed on the source website MP David Lammy, who had criticised Dooley’s appeal, praised Curtis’s plan to move away from what he called "tired, harmful stereotypes".
When is Red Nose Day 2019 on TV? Everything you need to know about Comic Relief 2019
The BBC's fundraising telethon returns to screens in March with a Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel, a Tess and Claudia Danceathon and Celebrity Apprentice
Every other year, the BBC's biggest stars come together in aid of Comic Relief. The charity initiative, set up by Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis, raises vast amounts of money for important causes and ropes in a star-studded line-up to entertain viewers and encourage them to donate. 2019's edition promises a range of televisual treats – read on to find out everything in store... Lily James joins Red Nose Day's Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel The best TV shows airing in 2019 Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter When is Comic Relief 2019 on TV? FULL schedule: Comic Relief's campaign culminates in Red Nose Day which this year is being held on Friday 15th March and will be marked with a live TV telethon on BBC1. It will air from 7pm-10pm on BBC1, 10-10:35pm on BBC2 and from 10:35pm-00:30am back on BBC1. Here's a more detailed breakdown of what will be on TV screens when: 7pm-10pm, BBC1 – this segment, hosted by Lenny Henry, David Tennant, Zoe Ball, Emma Willis, Romesh Ranganathan, Paddy McGuinness and Alesha Dixon, will include: Jennifer Saunders' Mamma Mia: Here We Go Yet Again spoof One Red Nose Day and a Wedding – Richard Curtis' sequel to his smash hit Four Weddings and a Funeral Richard Madden's return to Bodyguard in a Red Nose Day skit Freddie Flintoff takes Robbie Savage on a spin on the Top Gear track A routine from Only Fools and Horses: the Musical 10pm-10:35pm, BBC2 – Comic Relief Does University Challenge: Switching to BBC2 to make room for the 10 o'clock news, this special Red Nose Day edition will see guest host David Baddiel offering starters for ten to a star-studded celebrity line-up including Martin Freeman, Emily Atack, Jason Manford, Kerry Godliman, Robert Rinder, Vick Hope, Luisa Oielan and Darren Harriott. 10:35pm-midnight, BBC1 – hosted by Lenny Henry, Rob Beckett, Clara Amfo and Joe Sugg, this slot features: A collection of famous face will be on hand to take donations as part of the Comic Relief Celebrity Phone Bank Alan Partridge takes to the streets of Norwich in an attempt to raise money All Round to Mrs Brown's hosts a Red Nose Day special A behind-the-scenes look at the Four Weddings sequel The cast of Magic Mike Live put on a steamy performance live in the studio Bond fans have a chance to win breakfast with 007 himself Daniel Craig Comic Relief also airs some programmes in the build-up to Red Nose Day: Celebrity Apprentice was broadcast on 7th and 8th March (you can catch up on iPlayer) You can follow Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's 24-hour danceathon live on Radio 2 from 6:30pm on Monday 11th March until 7:30pm on Tuesday 12th. Watch live here Kilimanjaro: The Bigger Red Nose Climb aired on Wednesday 13th March at 9pm on BBC2. (you can catch up on iPlayer) How can I donate to Comic Relief? You can donate to Comic Relief via their website here, or – on 15th March – you can call 03457 910 910. Lines will be open all day (standard charges apply). A Celebrity Phone Bank will also be up and running live in the studio during the BBC's 15th March broadcast with a host of famous faces ready to take your calls. And at a bank or building society, you can ask for a Red Nose Day giro slip at the counter, then pay using cash, card or cheque. What do the 2019 red noses look like and how can I buy one? There are 11 red noses available this year, all priced £1.25 and available in Sainsburys and Oxfam shops and online from the Red Nose Day Store. The first nine are characters named: Honkus Ponkus, The Gnose, Hairy Nostroll, Snufflekins, Nosediva, Conk Jester, Wolfnose, Schnoz III and The Abominable Snoseman. But there are two more extra special red noses. The Happy Hooter is pretty rare – you have a 1 in 840 chance of finding it. But if you're a real red nose collector, it's the Ultra Rare Nose The Transforminos you'll be after. This elusive nose has a 1 in 8,400 chance of being found! Who will be presenting during the BBC's Red Nose Day 2019 coverage? A star-studded line-up of presenters has been announced. David Tennant, Joe Sugg, Paddy McGuinness, Emma Willis, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, Alesha Dixon, Clara Amfo and Zoe Ball will all join stalwart Lenny Henry for this year's Red Nose Day celebrations. What entertainment is planned for Comic Relief 2019? Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel View oEmbed on the source website Comic Relief's co-founder Richard Curtis is following up his 2017 Love Actually sequel with an equivalent for Four Weddings and a Funeral. Both have received short sequels from the writer and director to help raise money from viewers and have reunited most of their original casts. Appearing on Saturday Kitchen, Curtis teased: "I think there'll be three laughs and two tears." He added: "It's 25 years since the film came out, and I was never going to follow it up. And then it did just occur to us that the characters in the movie would have children so they might be back in the wedding phase again. "Without revealing too much, we have another wedding and a reception after the wedding, and all the characters came back." View oEmbed on the source website Who is taking part in the Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel? Four Weddings and a Funeral's sequel – titled One Red Nose Day and a Wedding – filmed late last year and saw the likes of Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Anna Chancellor, John Hannah and Kristin Scott Thomas reprise their roles; the first-look image for the 12-minute Four Weddings sequel features most of the original main cast, including Rowan Atkinson's bumbling vicar. They will be joined by a mystery bride who will take centre stage at the titular wedding, plus a host of famous guests including Lily James and Susanna Reid, and an artist with over one billion streams on Spotify will also be making a cameo. One Red Nose Day and a Wedding will air as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March at 7pm on BBC1 Richard Madden's Comic Relief Bodyguard comeback Bodyguard’s back! Richard Madden is on a BBC1 mission as David Budd After battling terrorists and the security services, Richard Madden's Bodyguard character David Budd has got a new assignment: protect the Red Nose. Above is a first look image of Budd taking his new job very seriously. And here's a glimpse of filming courtesy of Emma Freud: View oEmbed on the source website Comic Relief showrunner Peter Davey has explained how the sketch came about: "We wanted something from them and they’re all very busy – Jed’s working on Line Of Duty and being courted by Hollywood – so we didn’t know if it was going to happen. But he was more than happy to get involved, he wrote a bespoke script, we got some of the cast back together and they all loved being there." Who is taking part in Bodyguard for Comic Relief? Unforgotten's Sanjeev Bhaskar, original Bodyguard cast members Gina McKee and Vincent Franklin, and "even more extra special guests" will be appearing in this one-off special. One Red Nose Day and a Wedding will air as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March from 7pm on BBC1 Tess and Claudia's Comic Relief Strictly danceathon Watch the moment Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman completed their epic 24-hour Comic Relief danceathon Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman keeeeept dancing all day and all night as they took on a gruelling danceathon challenge in the run-up to Red Nose Day. When is Tess and Claudia's Red Nose Day Danceathon and how can I watch? Starting on 11th March (and running into 12th March), the twos showed off their moves for just over 24 hours, hoping to beat the Comic Relief record set by Sara Cox, who completed the challenge live on Radio 2 in 2017 with the help of an 80s musical soundtrack. Before taking on the challenge, Strictly's Tess Daly said: “We may not be the greatest dancers, but we host a dancing show and it’s time to practice what we preach. "Over 24 hours of non-stop dancing is going to be tough and we need people to support us to help us get through, so please get involved.” View oEmbed on the source website Fans could follow the danceathon live on Radio 2 from 6:30pm on Monday 11th March until 7:30pm on Tuesday 12th, with coverage streamed live on the red button ahead of the main Comic Relief show on 15th March. Comic Relief's Celebrity Apprentice Lord Sugar's celebrity edition returned for the first time in ten years for a special Comic Relief edition. The Apprentice host was flanked by his usual advisors, Karren Brady and Claude Littner. Who took part in Celebrity Apprentice? Amanda Holden, Ayda Williams, Kelly Hoppen, Rachel Johnson and Tameka Empson will be teaming up to take on Omid Djalili, Richard Arnold, Rylan Clark-Neal, Russell Kane and Sam Allardyce. Just in case you're not immediately familiar with all those names, you can find out more here. And here's a glimpse of them in action. Things got a little tense... View oEmbed on the source website When is Comic Relief's Celebrity Apprentice on TV? Celebrity Apprentice aired in two parts on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th March – both at 9pm on BBC1. It will be repeated in the early hours of Saturday 16th March from 12.30am on BBC1 – or you can catch up on BBC iPlayer. Find out who won here – and if you're interested in what we're calling the biggest gaffe in Apprentice history, you can read more here. Kilimanjaro: The Bigger Red Nose Climb It's been ten years since the first Red Nose Day climb of Kilimanjaro – now a new batch of famous faces have trained to walk up Africa's highest mountain. The trek lasted eight days and saw the team face basic conditions, freezing night temperatures and possible altitude sickness. Read more: Viewers were in tears watching "inspirational" celebrities climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief Who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief? Scaling the 5,895-metre peak are: Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas Former Chancellor and Strictly star Ed Balls Love Island winner Dani Dyer Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker Pointless presenter Alexander Armstrong Broadcaster Anita Rani NFL star Osi Umenyiora View oEmbed on the source website UPDATE: The group officially reached the summit earlier this month, and shared a group hug, as revealed in a Twitter post by Armstrong. View oEmbed on the source website When is Kilimanjaro: The Bigger Red Nose Climb on TV? Kilimanjaro: The Bigger Red Nose Climb aired on Wednesday 13th March at 9pm on BBC2. You can catch it on BBC iPlayer here. Mamma Mia! Here We Go (Yet) Again View oEmbed on the source website Mamma Mia for Comic Relief is back, a whole decade after fans were first treated to Jennifer Saunders’ dance moves and Philip Glenister’s singing. This time around, the spoof will see stars recreating memorable moments from last summer's sequel and attempting to sing some of Abba’s most iconic songs. Who's taking part in Mamma Mia! Here We Go (Yet) Again? Jennifer Saunders, who has written the segment, will reprise her role as Meryl Streep’s Donna, and will be joined by Alan Carr as Colin Firth’s Harry and Philip Glenister as Pierce Brosnan’s Sam. Miranda Hart and Sue Perkins will also return as the producer and director. New faces joining the cast include Carey Mulligan as Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie, Gemma Arterton as Lily James’ Young Donna, Susan Calman as Julie Walter’s Rosie, Tom Hollander as Andy Garcia’s Fernando, Rose Johnson as Young Tanya, Lucy Montgomery as Tanya and Joe Thomas as Young Sam, Bill AND Harry. Mamma Mia! Here We Go (Yet) Again will air as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March from 7pm on BBC1 Alan Partridge Following his triumphant return to the BBC, Steve Coogan's Alan Partridge is back on Comic Relief, attempting to raise money on the streets of Norwich. The North Norfolk Digital DJ and current guest presenter of BBC1's This Time will be joined by his trusty sidekick, Simon Denton. Alan Partridge will appear as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March from 7pm on BBC1 Freddie’s Top Gear Wind Up Freddie Flintoff was last year announced as one of the new hosts of Top Gear alongside Paddy McGuinness, and the former cricketer will make his Top Gear debut with Freddie’s Driving School as he invites Robbie Savage for a run of the show's world famous track for a Comic Relief special. Freddie's Top Gear Wind Up will air as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March from 7pm on BBC1 Comic Relief Does University Challenge Martin Freeman has been announced as captain of one of the celebrity University Challenge teams set to compete for Comic Relief, and will rival a group led by comedian Jason Manford. The charity special will see David Baddiel taking over from quiz master Jeremy Paxman, presiding over two competing teams including the likes of Inbetweeners star Emily Atack, comedian Kerry Godliman, TV judge Robert Rinder, Strictly’s Vick Hope, comic Luisa Omielan and stand-up Darren Harriott. When is Comic Relief Does University Challenge on TV? Comic Relief Does University Challenge will air separately to the main show on Friday 15th March at 10pm on BBC2. Radio 1’s 24-Hour LOL-A-Thon View oEmbed on the source website Scott Mills and Chris Stark are bringing back Radio 1’s 24-Hour LOL-A-Thon, which will see the duo putting their humour to the test in a bid to raise more money than ever for Red Nose Day. When can I listen to Radio 1’s 24-Hour LOL-A-Thon? Prepare to be amused from Wednesday 6th March at 1pm on Radio 1. Daves: The Official Calendar David Walliams is set to gather a whole line-up of showbiz Daves to join him in making a Comic Relief charity calendar: the ‘Calendar of Daves’. Which Daves will be taking part? While the line-up hasn't been revealed yet, we certainly have a few favourites who we're hoping to see grace the calendar's pages, from Doctor Who star David Tennant and national treasure David Attenborough to football legend David Beckham. Daves: The Official Calendar will air as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March from 7pm on BBC1 Comic Relief prize draw Comic Relief has launched a prize draw which will give lucky winners the chance to hang out with everyone from Sir David Attenborough to Jodie Whittaker to Claire Foy. Each entry costs £10 and you can enter as many times as you like! First up is breakfast with Sir David Attenborough at the National History Museum, described as perhaps "the best breakfast of all time, and the greatest prize Comic Relief has ever offered." The lucky winner and their plus one will get to visit the museum in London and share the best meal of the day before Attenborough conducts a private tour of his favourite exhibits. The breakfast theme continues, as one fan and their guest will be invited to join Jodie Whittaker (and Mandip Gill) on the set of Doctor Who for breakfast followed by a tour of the set in Cardiff. View oEmbed on the source website Then there's a chance to have drinks with Tom Hiddleston and watch his play Betrayal, or have tea with The Crown's original royal family (including Claire Foy, Matt Smith and Vanessa Kirby). Further prizes include a drink and a snack with Gillian Anderson as well as theatre tickets to her show All About Eve, a private gig with Mumford and Sons in Richard Curtis's living room, and a chance to meet One Direction's Louis Tomlinson for a breakfast butty. Also up for grabs are a Stormtroopers helmet, a print by Charlie Mackesy, breakfast at Grangers & Co with Tanya Burr, a chance to join Table Manners with Jessie Ware and Richard Curtis, an invite to hang out backstage at the Guilty Feminist or have dinner, and breakfast with Giovanna Fletcher. The prize draw is now open. Win a cameo voiceover role in Toy Story 4! Radio 2 has launched a text prize draw which will give one lucky Toy Story fan the chance to win a cameo voiceover role. Whoever wins will be given the opportunity to record a voiceover for a character (as yet unspecified) in the upcoming Toy Story 4 movie. Travel to Shepperton Studios in London and accommodation will be provided. The draw is open until 6pm on Friday 15th March. Text the word WIN to 84903 to make a £10 donation and enter the competition - full details here. Comic Relief's "Spectacular" night of comedy Held at Wembley Arena on 28th February, this one-off show included a line-up made up of Sir Lenny Henry, Katherine Ryan, Jimmy Carr, John Bishop, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, Alan Carr and Russell Howard. What is the difference between Red Nose Day and Comic Relief? Comic Relief is a British charity, set up by Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry in 1985, originally conceived in response to famine in Ethiopia. Red Nose Day is their biggest fundraising initiative culminating in a live telethon on the BBC, taking place every other year and always calling upon a star-studded line-up to encourage viewers to donate. In March 2015 it was announced that in its first 30 years, the combined efforts of Comic Relief and Sport Relief have raised in excess of £1 billion.
Comic Relief pays tribute to Louis Tomlinson after sister Félicité’s death
Louis Tomlinson pulled out of his scheduled performance on the fundraiser
Lenny Henry paid tribute to “a special member of the Comic Relief family” Louis Tomlinson following the tragic and sudden death of his 18-year-old sister Félicité. Louis Tomlinson's sister Félicité dies aged 18 Which celebrities have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief 2019? Watch the moment Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman completed their 24-hour Comic Relief danceathon The X Factor judge, 27, was set to perform on the telethon, but pulled out following the news. Referencing the tragedy, Henry, 60, said, “Tonight we were due to be joined by a special member of the Comic Relief family. “Louis Tomlinson wanted to be on this stage to help us, but the sudden and tragic loss of his sister Felicite obviously means he can’t be here.” He continued, “The love and best wishes from all of us here at Comic Relief go out to Louis and his family at this terrible time.” Emergency services were called to Félicité’s studio flat in West London following reports of a cardiac arrest. Tomlinson was thought to have performed his latest single Two Of Us if he was to perform on the show, the song detailing his mother Johannah Deakin’s battle with cancer. Deakin died aged 42 in 2016 after suffering from leukaemia. Speaking about the new release last week, he explained to BBC Radio 1, “It was something I needed to get off my chest. “I used to lean on my mum for a lot of things – anytime I needed advice on something she would be the first call I made.” Comic Relief featured a star-studded line of up guests and performances last night, including a brief Bodyguard skit starring Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes reprising their roles as David Budd and Julia Montague. Jennifer Saunders flexed her comedy muscles as Cher in ABBA spoof Mamma Mia: Here We Go Yet Again, and the cast of Four Weddings and a Funeral reunited to watch Lily James marry Alicia Vikander in One Red Nose Day and a Funeral. The grand total raised after this year’s fundraiser was £63,548,668.
Fans loved this twist in Comic Relief's One Red Nose Day and a Wedding
The original cast were back – with a few unexpected surprises
The sequel to Richard Curtis’s beloved Four Weddings and a Funeral finally made its way onto our screens last night for Red Nose Day, with Charles (Hugh Grant) and Carrie’s (Andie MacDowell) daughter (played by Mamma Mia! star Lily James) tying the knot. As she took Charles’ arm, viewers saw a slim figure in a black suit at the end of the aisle. Bodyguard's Keeley Hawes returns from the dead for Comic Relief Viewers were in tears watching "inspirational"celebrities climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief Watch the moment Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman completed their 24-hour Comic Relief danceathon While it was previously announced that many of the original cast would be featuring in the 14-minute skit, we were left in the dark about who would be marrying Lily James on the big day. With many assuming it would be a man, we were then delighted to see that Lily would be marrying none other than Swedish actress Alicia Vikander. And fans loved the LGBT twist, taking to Twitter to praise the choice. Some fans drew upon their previous acting roles. View oEmbed on the source website Others believed the decision to marry two women in the sketch should be award-winning. View oEmbed on the source website While some were just purely overjoyed. View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website The sequel featured many classic moments, including Father Gerald (played by Rowan Atkinson) struggling his way through the ceremony with many awkward slip-ups, as well as a nod to Scarlett, played by the late Charlotte Coleman. Sam Smith briefly featured in a musical performance (with the guests mistaking him for Ed Sheeran), and we also saw that Bernard (Killing Eve’s David Haig) and Lydia (Sophie Thompson) now had six children and were ‘disgustingly’ happy. It was an “easy” task rounding up the cast for Four Weddings for the Comic Relief spin-off, with director Curtis wanting everyone to have a part. “We had 24 returning characters. I wanted everyone to do something fun,” he wrote in Radio Times. “There’s a moment in the middle where our two movie-star guest leads tell each other they love each other when, I can’t deny, there were some tears and some wiping away of them." Elsewhere in Comic Relief, we saw Bodyguard stars Keeley Hawles and Richard Madden team up for a silly skit, and Jennifer Saunders channel Cher for Mamma Mia: Here We Go Yet Again. The telethon raised over £60 million for good causes. Sign up to the RadioTimes.com email newsletter
Bodyguard's Keeley Hawes returns from the dead for Comic Relief
We found out where Julia Montague had been hiding all along - in the boot of a car
Bodyguard viewers were led to believe that Keeley Hawes’ ambitious home secretary Julia Montague was killed off in an explosion in the show’s utterly gripping first series. Bodyguard on Netflix: everything you need to know about the hit BBC TV series Bodyguard's action-packed series finale – explained People are STILL asking Keeley Hawes if her Bodyguard character is really dead But in true Bodyguard fashion, it turns out Julia Montague is still alive and kicking, - at least, she was for Comic Relief’s eight-minute spoof. Airing during the Red Nose Day telethon on Friday night (March 15th), the mickey-taking skit saw Richard Madden’s brooding David Budd back, assigned with protecting new universally popular Prime Minister Joanna Lumley on her whistle-stop tour of the UK. However, it is soon revealed that Montague is hiding in the boot of the car, shoving a champagne-sipping Lumley out the way. “Do you know if I’m in series 2?” she asked Budd. “You’re dead,” came his gruff reply. “Am I?” said Montague. View oEmbed on the source website It was a star-studded spoof, with Gina McKee and Vincent Franklin reprising their roles as CTU boss Anne Sampson and Minister of State Mike Travis, respectively. Comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar also starred, and we were even treated with a Line of Duty crossover with the appearance of Adrian Dunbar, telling Budd he was searching for “bent coppers”. The special couldn’t help itself as it made fun of the tropes that made Bodyguard the most-watched drama of all time – featuring mumbled voices, steely gazes and innuendos aplenty (do you need assistance with your box, ma’am?). The Comic Relief skit is the closest thing we’ve got to a second season, with creator Jed Mercurio keen to do more Bodyguard in the future. “It would be great if there was a second season,” he told Deadline. "We'd love to do more. "We appreciate there's a real hunger from fans to watch it. There are a lot of logistics in terms of setting up a second season and we're just working through those." It was an impressive line-up for Comic Relief, seeing a sequel to Four Weddings and a Funeral and Jennifer Saunders do her take on Cher in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again. The evening saw over £60 million raised for good causes. Sign up to the RadioTimes.com email newsletter
Four Weddings and a Funeral is back: Richard Curtis reveals the story of the sequel
The screenwriter has created a Red Nose Day sequel to his hit romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell
It’s both hard and easy to believe it’s 25 years since we made Four Weddings and a Funeral. Hard to believe because there are events I remember clearly, like the first screening of a 20-minute section we had edited for cast and crew – during which no one laughed, no, not once. But easy to believe it’s been that long as one look at Hugh Grant’s old face shows the passing of a lot of years. It had certainly never occurred to me to do any kind of sequel to the film – it had ended with so many happy marriages and I certainly didn’t want to make a movie called Four Divorces and Four Funerals. But then one day it did suddenly occur to me and Emma [Freud, Curtis’s partner] that, well, people have children – and those children might have grown up now, 25 years later – and THEY might be getting married. And that did seem quite fun. Lily James joins Red Nose Day's Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel The best TV shows airing in 2019 Everything you need to know about Comic Relief 2019 First, we had to check with Hugh and Andie MacDowell: Hugh lives just round the corner, so that was easy, and Andie has been in England filming recently and was happy to return. I think we got lucky because we shot our little follow-up just before Christmas and lots of people had finished work for the year. Almost the most difficult person to deal with was Simon Callow, whose character Gareth died in the film, but was still very keen indeed to be in the new one. There was much talk of angel wings. The next thing to do when everyone had said they were free was to actually write the new Red Nose Wedding script. It helped knowing that Rowan Atkinson was going to reprise his performance as the incompetent Father Gerald – I can promise you he has not improved with age. But what was tricky was making sure EVERYONE had some kind of line or joke. I’d forgotten quite how many characters there are in Four Weddings. Eventually we had 24 returning characters and I wanted everyone to do something fun. It was a lot to fit into a two-day shoot, and some beloved characters only manage a tiny moment, but at least they are all there. The complete guide to Comic Relief 2019 And then we came to the first day itself, which was surreal. Early in the morning, coming up the stairs, there were all these wonderful actors together again, some of whom I hadn’t seen since the days we shot the original film. One sweet aspect was remembering in how many cases the part had been cast with someone who, well, resembled the part. Posh George, who Hugh met in the pub after the first Wedding, is the marvellously posh Rupert Vansittart – even posher now than he was then. Kristin Scott Thomas is that same magical mixture of intelligent and beautiful and also ever so slightly scary – as was her character Fiona. View oEmbed on the source website It was two full and interesting days. Hugh had trouble remembering his character – but then he put on a pair of glasses and it all seemed to come back. Our marvellous director, Mike Newell, took it very seriously, with all the passion and accuracy that he put into the first film. It is actually meant to be a continuation of the film – not just a sketch – and on a couple of occasions there was genuine emotion and passion and even romance in the room. There was a particularly magical moment when Nicola Walker – now the star of Unforgotten and River and Spooks – reprised her role as “Annoying Girl Singing Annoying Song by Barry Manilow”, which was her first EVER movie part 25 years ago. This time she sang with a new, exceptionally famous singer whose name I can’t reveal but has had over a billion streams on Spotify – so he really KILLED the song. View oEmbed on the source website And then there’s a moment in the middle that our two movie-star guest leads tell each other they love each other when, I can’t deny, there were some tears and some wiping away of them. And why do we do it? Well, I guess it is all about weddings and funerals, too. For kids to grow up to be happy adults who can marry people they love. And for children and adults to live full lives – not to have a world of funerals that could and should be avoided, whether it’s to do with homelessness or domestic violence here in the UK, or malaria abroad, or refugees dying in camps or at sea. All we at Comic Relief want is for people to be given a chance for happiness in life – for things to be fair. I’d love to invite you to watch our show on Friday – it’ll be the world premiere of 14 new minutes of Four Weddings and a Funeral. I think it’s got some jokes – it’s got three or four VERY unexpected new cast members – and perhaps once you’ve watched it, you’ll join us trying, in our own way, to save lives. One Red Nose Day and a Wedding will air as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March at 7pm on BBC1
Andie MacDowell cried while filming Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel
The Groundhog Day actress discusses the emotional reunion in aid of Comic Relief
Director Mike Newell has just yelled “cut!” and Richard Curtis is in tears. They’re happy tears, and Emma Freud hugs her partner tightly, beaming. Even the most hard-hearted of humans (and Curtis the romcom king is not one of those) might be moved by today’s event. The original cast of Four Weddings and a Funeral have filled the aisles and pews of a beautiful church in Hampstead in north London to film a scene in which they’re the guests at the wedding of Charles [Hugh Grant] and Carrie’s [Andie MacDowell] daughter. The couple, who fell in love and had an on-off love affair with a happy ending, are evidently still together. They sit side by side in the front row, surrounded by their friends: John Hannah’s Matthew, Kristin Scott Thomas’s Fiona and Anna Chancellor ’s “Duckface”. Even in between takes, the atmosphere is lively and celebratory as the cast reminisce about the last time they were all together, two and a half decades ago. Newell does a lot of shushing before the cameras begin rolling again. Lily James joins Red Nose Day's Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel The best TV shows airing in 2019 Everything you need to know about Comic Relief 2019 View oEmbed on the source website As the cast pause for lunch, Andie MacDowell, in a long, floral dress, sits down to talk. Just behind us, Rowan Atkinson spoons potatoes on to his plate, dressed in priestly robes and ready to reprise his role as the hapless Father Gerald. “I loved seeing everybody again,” says MacDowell, 60, “because apart from Anna [Chancellor] and Hugh [Grant], I hadn’t seen them in years. Before we started shooting, we all had dinner together at Richard’s house and there was really good food, speeches and it was romantic, as it always is with Richard.” It’s not only Curtis who is emotional about this reunion; MacDowell feels it, too. “I’ve been teary-eyed the whole day. It’s kind of silly but when you get older and you have the opportunity to be put back into a similar situation with these people who you had such a close connection to and you had such good memories of, it’s really affecting.” Was there anyone who makes her feel particularly nostalgic? “I love John Hannah. He’s so down to earth, and seeing him brought tears to my eyes, he’s a genuinely beautiful person and when he read the WH Auden poem Funeral Blues in the original, it was quite something. There’s a little taste of that feeling in this Comic Relief version; you’ll get that same sort of emotion from him.” It never occurred to MacDowell that she’d ever play Carrie again. Since 1994, alongside her modelling work, she’s had parts in smaller TV series and independent films, with supporting roles in blockbusters like Magic Mike XXL and a critically praised turn alongside Chris O’ Dowd in Love after Love, a 2017 film about death. The complete guide to Comic Relief 2019 Twice married and now single with two daughters in their 20s (Rainey and Margaret) and a son in his 30s (Justin), MacDowell has mostly stayed out of the spotlight at her home near LA. Before she was asked to do the Comic Relief special, MacDowell had been to Britain to join Greg Davies in the BBC3 comedy Cuckoo. “I love working in England, I think British humour is the best. British actors are very well trained and I like British crews. I loved working with Greg, he has no problem with being as far out as possible.” View oEmbed on the source website Back in California, MacDowell received an email from Curtis about reprising her role as Carrie, and she responded immediately with “Count me in”. She was just as quick to say yes to Curtis’s low-budget film all those years ago, despite at the time already being a big American superstar after 1989’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape and 1993’s Groundhog Day She’d been offered “a lot of money” for a different Hollywood film in the US at the same time, but came over to work with the relatively unknown Grant and Curtis on a budget of around £3 million because she was so enamoured with the script. “There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. I watched a clip from a church scene with Rowan and I knew it was gonna be a hit. It wasn’t made for a lot of money but it felt rich and beautiful. When I met Hugh I knew it would be easy, he was adorable and charming.” Grant may have been adorable, but at the time he was far less famous than MacDowell. “People didn’t really know who he was, but after this movie he was a huge star. One of the funny things we used to talk about was his dilapidated car, whereas now he has Ferraris, so he can no longer tease me about having anything nice!” What’s her relationship with Grant like now? “I see him a few times every year. We have a huge bond through the success of the movie, because it was the beginning really for him, that was a big announcement to the world of his talent. He’s very sweet and funny, and we both feel deeply connected to Four Weddings.” Grant, who for years afterwards was typecast as a posh, charming heart-throb, recently said he’s too old for romcoms and that as a result he’s getting “more varied” parts. MacDowell says she devoured Russell T Davies’s A Very English Scandal, in which Grant brilliantly played the reptilian MP Jeremy Thorpe. “I’m sure it must feel really cathartic to not just be seen as a romantic comedy lead but to do a really powerful dramatic role. I sat down and watched the whole thing, I loved it.” While Grant’s character in Four Weddings was a lovable, sensitive Brit, MacDowell played the sardonic, colder American love interest, not as obviously charmed by Charles as the viewers were. “The hard part about Carrie is that she went off to marry someone else,” she says. “My disappointment in her not choosing him was the hard part of the role, and it was really difficult to make her warm because of her choices.” Was MacDowell harder on Carrie because we are taught that women must be likeable and approachable, while men can be lovable rogues? “Yes that’s definitely true,” says MacDowell, “and what I felt, even though it wasn’t in the script, was that she was marrying this other person [Hamish] because she was doing what she thought she should do with her life, instead of doing what she wanted to do.” As mother of the bride today on the Comic Relief set, MacDowell’s Carrie looks emotional and happy as her daughter walks down the aisle. She feels the character has changed. “I think she’s much looser, not so much high-fashion, less serious, more of a free spirit. I hope people see a softer side to Carrie now. “Richard and I talked about our belief that she became a more laid-back person after getting together with Charles. Even in that short moment today it was nice to have the opportunity to evolve the character and make her comfortable in her skin.” Lunch is over, and the actors are ushered back to church for more filming. Nicola Walker, who 25 years ago played the irritating folk singer, starts singing at the altar as MacDowell and Grant look on together. Atkinson stands up and begins Father Gerald’s stuttering sermon. Newell tells everyone to be quiet again, and Curtis looks dewy-eyed. This may not be a real wedding, but it feels like a momentous, poignant and love-filled celebration all the same. One Red Nose Day and a Wedding will air as part of the main Comic Relief 2019 show on Friday 15th March at 7pm on BBC1
When is Celebrity Apprentice 2019 on TV? Who is taking part?
Lord Sugar's back alongside an all-star Comic Relief line-up
Lord Alan Sugar has returned to torment — sorry, sorry mentor — ten celebrities and (for the purposes of this Comic Relief special) budding business entrepreneurs for Celebrity Apprentice. Assisted by his trusty aides Baroness Brady and Claude Littner, Sugar puts the celebs through their paces with a series of tasks, as the Girls and Boys teams go head to head during the two-part special. Here's everything you need to know about Celebrity Apprentice. Lily James joins Red Nose Day’s Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel The best TV shows airing in 2019 Meet the celebs in Celebrity Apprentice When is Celebrity Apprentice on TV? Celebrity Apprentice for Comic Relief airs Thursday 7th and Friday 8th March at 9.00pm on BBC1 Who stars in Celebrity Apprentice? The Girls Team includes Britain's Got Talent's Amanda Holden, X Factor judge Ayda Williams, interior designer and former Dragon Kelly Hoppen, broadcaster and journalist Rachel Johnson and actress and Strictly contestant Tameka Empson. The Boys Team includes actor Omid Djalili, football manager Sam Allardyce, broadcaster Richard Arnold, TV presenter and Big Brother winner Rylan Clark-Neal, and comedian Russell Kane. Meet the celebs in Celebrity Apprentice What happens in Celebrity Apprentice? This year the celebrities will be tasked with organising a cabaret event — cue miscommunication and backhanded remarks as the teams struggle to book refreshments, performers and desperately attempt to flog tickets — before Lord Sugar takes them to task in the boardroom during part two. What else is happening on Red Nose Day 2019? Is there a trailer for Celebrity Apprentice? Yep, and it's a pretty tense one... View oEmbed on the source website When is Red Nose Day? Comic Relief’s campaign culminates in Red Nose Day, which this year is being held on Friday 15th March and will be marked with a live TV telethon on BBC1. This year's entertainment also includes a Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel, a celebrity hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Richard Madden's Bodyguard comeback, and a 24-hour danceathon completed by Strictly's Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Click here for more information.
Hugh Grant looks VERY nervous in first look at Four Weddings and a Funeral Red Nose Day sequel
Charles is gearing up for yet another wedding – and he's joined by some very special guest stars in aid of Comic Relief
The BBC has revealed the first look at the Four Weddings and a Funeral Red Nose Day special – and Hugh Grand is looking very nervous. The actor returns to play Charles for the first time in 25 years in the one-off charity sequel, airing this Friday 15th March during Comic Relief 2019. In the new clip, Charles is seen waiting at the church doors with Kristin Scott Thomas's Fiona, while other guests file past. Red Nose Day 2019: complete TV guide "Good luck," Fiona says, to which Charles replies, "Indeed. Very scary..." Four Weddings and a Funeral is back: Richard Curtis reveals the story of the sequel Lily James joins Red Nose Day’s Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel The best TV shows airing in 2019 It's clear that another wedding is in store for the beloved characters – although exactly who is getting married remains a mystery at this stage. View Green Video on the source website Could Charles be preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle? "It had certainly never occurred to me to do any kind of sequel to the film – it had ended with so many happy marriages and I certainly didn’t want to make a movie called Four Divorces and Four Funerals," screenwriter and Red Nose Day co-founder Richard Curtis told Radio Times. "But then one day it did suddenly occur to me and Emma [Freud, Curtis’s partner] that, well, people have children – and those children might have grown up now, 25 years later – and THEY might be getting married. And that did seem quite fun." The BBC has also confirmed that Downton Abbey star Lily James and Tom Raider's Alicia Vikander will both be making guest appearances. Andie MacDowell cried while filming Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel “I am delighted to finally be able to reveal that Lily James and Alicia Vikander will appear as our very special guests in One Red Nose Day and a Wedding," Curtis said. "I can’t wait for audiences to tune in and discover what’s happening to our characters and their families 25 years on…” Original Four Weddings cast members Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas, John Hannah, Rowan Atkinson, James Fleet, David Haig, Sophie Thompson, David Bower, Robin McCaffrey, Anna Chancellor, Rupert Vansittart, Simon Kunz, Sara Crowe and Timothy Walker are all returning for the BBC Comic Relief special. Donate to Comic Relief 2019 here
Which celebrities have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief 2019?
Shirley Ballas, Ed Balls and Dani Dyer are among the stars facing the challenge this year
10 years since the likes of Gary Barlow and Alesha Dixon summited Mount Kilimanjaro, a group of celebrities have followed them on the steep climb up Africa’s highest mountain in aid of Comic Relief 2019. Their journey – which has been an emotional one, judging by social media updates – is being broadcast in a film on BBC1 at 9pm on Wednesday 13th March. Meet the nine stars taking part in the 19,000 feet ascent, here... Everything you need to know about Comic Relief 2019 Shirley Ballas View oEmbed on the source website Age: 58 Twitter: @ShirleyBallas Instagram: shirleyballas Shirley Ballas, the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing, has revealed that she’s “not an outdoorsy person”, so this climb is a big step for dance floor legend. Ballas described the experience as “life changing” and said it was “by far the hardest challenge I ever had in my entire life”. Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter Listen to the RadioTimes.com Podcast now: subscribe on iTunes/subscribe on Google Podcasts Ed Balls View oEmbed on the source website Age: 52 Twitter: @edballs Former Labour MP and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls was first known as a politician before losing his seat during the 2015 general election and going on to gain a whole new demographic of fans thanks to his memorable stint on Strictly Come Dancing. He's since made a number of TV appearances, including fronting documentary Travels in Trumpland. He showed off his moves once more while climbing Kilimanjaro with Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas. Dani Dyer View oEmbed on the source website Age: 23 Twitter: @Dani_MasDyer Instagram: danidyerxx Dani Dyer, the daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, rose to fame on the 2018 series Love Island, which she won with boyfriend Jack Fincham. During the climb, Dyer revealed she and her fellow celebrities “haven’t stopped crying”, but has since called the experience “amazing” and “unforgettable”. Alexander Armstrong View oEmbed on the source website Age: 49 Twitter: @XanderArmstrong Instagram: xander.armstrong Pointless presenter Alexander Armstrong is usually seen alongside his quiz show colleague Richard Osman – or comedy partner Ben Miller – but here he’s pictured at the summit of Kilimanjaro with fellow climber Ed Balls. He has called reaching the peak of the mountain “very emotional” and “utterly wonderful”. Anita Rani View oEmbed on the source website Age: 41 Twitter: @itsanitarani Instagram: itsanitarani Anita Rani is no stranger to being out in the wild, having been a presenter on the BBC’s Countryfile since 2015. She also competed in the 2015 series of Strictly, reaching the semi-final, and fronted a string of documentaries including My Family, Partition and Me. Rani has been posting a series of videos from her Kilimanjaro journey, and has been reassuring her mother along the way that she’s been wearing moisturiser. Dan Walker Age: 41 Instagram: mrdanwalker Dan Walker presents Football Focus and BBC Breakfast and has a famous 'feud' with his rival, Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan. In contrast, he spent his time on Kilimanjaro making firm friendships and bonding with Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall over strawberry laces. Jade Thirlwall View oEmbed on the source website Age: 26 Twitter: @JadeAThirIwallx Instagram: jadethirlwall Jade Thirlwall is a member of Little Mix, the girl group who won The X Factor in 2011, and climbed Kilimanjaro with her bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock. She has made numerous appearances on Celebrity Juice and Loose Women and is dating The Struts musician Jed Elliott. Leigh-Anne Pinnock Age: 27 Twitter: @LeighAPinnocck Instagram: leighannepinnock Leigh-Anne Pinnock is also a member of Little Mix and climbed Kilimanjaro with her bandmate Jade Thirwall. Since winning The X Factor in 2011, the singer has enjoyed international fame with the group, and has made numerous appearances on Celebrity Juice and Loose Women. She's described the Comic Relief challenge as “the hardest most gruelling thing I’ve ever put my body through”. Osi Umenyiora View oEmbed on the source website Age: 37 Twitter: @OsiUmenyiora Osi Umenyiora is an English sports pundit and former National Football League player. He is one of five British-born players to have won a Super Bowl and was a presenter on The NFL Show for the BBC. Kilimanjaro: The Bigger Red Nose Climb airs on Wednesday 13th March at 9pm on BBC1
Viewers were in tears watching "inspirational" celebrities climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief
It was an emotional journey for Shirley Ballas – and Dan Walker was on hand to provide support
This year's Comic Relief expedition to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro turned into an emotional journey – and viewers were touched by the nine celebrities and the way they supported each other all the way to the summit. The Red Nose Day 2019 challenge saw Ed Balls, Anita Rani, Love Island's Dani Dyer, Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Breakfast presenter Dan Walker, Strictly's Shirley Ballas, Pointless host Alexander Armstrong and NFL star Osi Umenyiora team up to take on the highest mountain in Africa, following in the footsteps of Alesha Dixon and Cheryl who climbed Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief in 2009. Which celebrities have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief 2019? When is Red Nose Day on TV? Everything you need to know about Comic Relief 2019 Listen to the RadioTimes.com Podcast now: subscribe on iTunes / subscribe on Google Podcasts It was a particularly emotional challenge for Ballas. Her brother lost his life to suicide in 2003, and the Strictly Come Dancing judge was determined to complete the challenge in his memory. "I think my brother would be proud of me," she said, as she battled altitude sickness and panic attacks. "So, I'll do this for him. If it means sleeping in a tent and being disorganised, I'll do it. I'll do my very best for sure." View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website Viewers also praised BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker, who stepped up as the group's main cheerleader and motivator – encouraging Ballas and keeping Little Mix star Thirlwall going when she struggled. View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website Thirlwall and Pinnock found the challenge tough, but they won praise from viewers who were impressed by how they pushed through: View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website And at the end of the day... View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website Sign up for the free RadioTimes.com newsletter
Watch the moment Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman completed their 24-hour Comic Relief danceathon
The Strictly presenters have raised over £1 million and there were a lot of tears and surreal moments along the way
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have successfully danced non-stop for 24 hours and five minutes in aid of Comic Relief – and it’s been an emotional journey. The Strictly Come Dancing presenters, just about able to stand, were joined by The One Show’s Alex Jones and Radio 2 host Jo Whiley on Tuesday night as they completed the longest ever danceathon for Comic Relief. At 7.20pm, Whiley revealed the latest total for money raised stood at £782,686 – a figure that has since risen to over £1 million. Everything you need to know about Comic Relief 2019 Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter Listen to the RadioTimes.com Podcast now: subscribe on iTunes/subscribe on Google Podcasts View oEmbed on the source website The pair started their dancing to Beyoncé's Crazy In Love and finished with Destiny Child's Survivor, and were joined by a lot of celebrity guests along the way. Strictly pro Katya Jones and her former dance partner Ed Balls recreated their famous Gangnam Style move when they popped by… View oEmbed on the source website And Radio 2 presenters Jeremy Vine and Rylan Clark-Neal had an epic dance-off. (Warning: you can never unsee this.) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu6jxIsn9ld/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=16yimz01q8mu6 Winkleman and Daly were overwhelmed with the support they received, and even shed tears – probably partly due to exhaustion – when they reached the £500,000 mark just before 5pm... View oEmbed on the source website "I never want to dance again," Winkleman told BBC News. "I don't like movement." Daly, who suffered from motion sickness for six hours of the danceathon, added that her co-host had been her lifeline. "She's had my back the whole way through. We've looked after each other. We've seen each other strapped up with tape. We both had a little cry," she said. "We are a bit tired and emotional." You can donate to Comic Relief via their website here, or – on 15th March – you can call 03457 910 910. Lines will be open all day (standard charges apply). Comic Relief’s campaign culminates in Red Nose Day which this year is being held on Friday 15th March and will be marked with a live TV telethon on BBC1. It will air from 7pm-10pm on BBC1, 10-10:35pm on BBC2 and from 10:35pm-00:30am back on BBC1.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are half way through their Comic Relief danceathon – and the support is incredible
A starry line-up of celebrity supporters have been popping in to help the Strictly duo keeeep dancing for over 24 hours
Strictly Come Dancing presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are dancing non-stop for over 24 hours for Comic Relief – and the support has been phenomenal. At the time of writing, the pair are about half way through the danceathon and have already raised more than £54,000. Everything you need to know about Red Nose Day 2019 So far, Beverley Knight, Richard Curtis, Fleur East, Susan Calman, Michelle Dockery, Emily Maitlis, Vernon Kay and many more have popped in as special guests to boost the duo’s energy. BBC presenter Maitlis came to dance – and talk Brexit of course – straight after presenting Newsnight… View oEmbed on the source website UPDATE: Clearly there's not a lot going on in Parliament today – there is – as Jon Snow popped in to dance to Madonna with Tess and Claud. And Mary Berry showed off her moves to spur the pair on… View oEmbed on the source website Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery and Daly's husband Vernon Kay showed up... View oEmbed on the source website And comedian and former Strictly contestant Susan Calman got back on the dance floor too... View oEmbed on the source website Winkleman and Daly are hoping to beat the Comic Relief record set by Sara Cox, who completed the challenge live on Radio 2 in 2017 with the help of an 80s musical soundtrack. Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter Listen to the RadioTimes.com Podcast now: subscribe on iTunes/subscribe on Google Podcasts You can watch a live stream of the Comic Relief danceathon here and follow the pair's 24-hour danceathon live on BBC Radio 2 from 6.30pm on Monday 11th March until 7.30pm on Tuesday 12th.
Meet the Celebrity Apprentice 2019 candidates
The all-star Comic Relief line-up includes Amanda Holden, Omid Djalili and Rylan Clark-Neal
If the Comic Relief's Red Nose Day slate didn't already look jam-packed for 2019, the BBC have just announced the all-star line-up competing in this year's Celebrity Apprentice. Judged, as ever, by the imitable Lord Alan Sugar (aided by the trusty Baroness Brady and Claude Littner), the two episodes will see a battle between the Girls and Boys teams, as the celebrity contestants go head to head. Read on for all the celebrities competing in this year's Celebrity Apprentice... Lily James joins Red Nose Day’s Four Weddings and a Funeral sequel Everything you need to know about Comic Relief 2019 The best TV shows airing in 2019 Amanda Holden Probably best known for her judging role on ITV's Britain's Got Talent, the actress and presenter shot to fame in the role of Sarah Trevanion in the television drama Wild at Heart. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Claude Littner think of her performance? This is the first time I had met Amanda and she was fantastic. A very lively, quite naughty woman, she was full of fun. And some of her fun is quite borderline… She was in the kitchen with Rachel and Tameka making canapés and I won’t spoil it by saying what they looked like or what they tasted like... But they worked very hard, in great spirits in a horrible, cramped, hot, stuffy kitchen for hours on end Ayda Williams Adya Williams joined the judging panel on this year's The X Factor alongside her husband, Robbie Williams. She's also a regular panelist on Loose Women. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Claude Littner think of her performance? This is the first time I had met Amanda and she was fantastic. A very lively, quite naughty woman, she was full of fun. And some of her fun is quite borderline… She was in the kitchen with Rachel and Tameka making canapés and I won’t spoil it by saying what they looked like or what they tasted like... But they worked very hard, in great spirits in a horrible, cramped, hot, stuffy kitchen for hours on end. Kelly Hoppen Interior designer Kelly Hoppen boasts an extensive celebrity clientele list, including the likes of the Beckham's, and was a "Dragon" on BBC2's Dragons' Den from 2013 to 2015. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Claude Littner think of her performance? Kelly Hoppen was the project manager, and although she was highly organised, I think she found that controlling her team was quite beyond her. They were a law unto themselves and went off on a frolic of their own. I’ve got to say, it was pretty frenetic. It was impossible to know who was doing what, how much money they’d collected and to keep track of it was almost a lost cause. Rachel Johnson Journalist and presenter Rachel Johnson — that's right, sister to Boris Johnson and daughter to Stanley — is no stranger to reality TV. She previously appeared on the all-women Celebrity Big Brother series last year. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Claude Littner think of her performance? Whereas some of the women were outrageous, Rachel is a bit more reserved, but was absolutely fantastic. Her contact list perhaps wasn’t quite as glorious as the others, but she was focused on achieving and doing as much as she could. She went out to members of the public to sell tickets but I think she fell into that Apprentice trap of over-promising and, in the end, under-delivering. Tameka Empson Actress and comedian Tameka Empson has played Kim Fox, sister of Denise Fox, in EastEnders since 2009. She also previously appeared on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing back in 2016. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Claude Littner think of her performance? Tameka is a force of nature. I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who is so unmanageable and uncontrollable — but in the most wonderful way! I can’t imagine how she ever learns lines. She’s just got so much energy, so much enthusiasm and so much passion for everything she does. Omid Djalili The comedian and actor has appeared in multiple blockbuster films, including Notting Hill, The Mummy, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. More recently he starred in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Baroness Karren Brady think of his performance? I think the standout moment of the programme is Omid’s contribution to the cabaret. I won’t say any more than that, but it is truly gob-smacking and it’s the kind of thing where you really won’t know what it is you’ve just seen. Richard Arnold The entertainment editor for ITV's breakfast show Good Morning Britain, broadcaster Richard Arnold previously competed on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2012, finishing seventh. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Baroness Karren Brady think of his performance? Richard is a really smashing guy but I think he was a little bit out of his depth. Don’t forget that he was doing his day job, so he was up at the crack of dawn doing Good Morning Britain, and then rushing to come do Celebrity Apprentice. By his own admission, I think he’s never been more tired and found the whole thing overwhelming. Rylan Clark-Neal After competing in The X Factor back in 2012, finishing fifth, Rylan went on to win Celebrity Big Brother 11 the following year. He's since carved out a career in presenting, appearing on shows like Big Brother's Bit on the Side. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Baroness Karren Brady think of his performance? He was the project manager and did incredibly well. His strength is his relationships with people. He was excellent. Watch out for how much money he raises. Russell Kane Comedian, novelist and presenter Russell Kane is no stranger to onscreen victory, previously winning Celebrity Mastermind in 2011 with the specialist subject "The Life and Novels of Evelyn Waugh". What did Celebrity Apprentice's Baroness Karren Brady think of his performance? Russell spent the whole time completely bewildered. I think he just hadn’t realised what he’d agreed to. There was also a situation where one of the cabaret acts went missing, there was a 15-minute gap in the programme and he had to do stand-up. He did everything he could, but I think he raised the least amount of money. Sam Allardyce Well known football manager and former professional player Sam Allardyce made headlines in 2016 when he left the England job after 67 days, having only overseen one match as national boss. What did Celebrity Apprentice's Baroness Karren Brady think of his performance? don’t think Sam could understand why he’d got involved, but he had two standout moments. First, he was in the kitchen making canapés and kept licking his fingers so he had to keep throwing them away. It was so infuriating! Then they all had to dress up for their cabaret theme — and Sam wore a neon green dress. It was seriously one of the funniest things that I’ve ever watched. Comic Relief’s campaign culminates in Red Nose Day, which this year is being held on Friday 15th March and will be marked with a live TV telethon on BBC1
The best moments from past Celebrity Apprentice specials
Remember when Karren Brady was just a contestant? What about Piers Morgan's boardroom meltdown? Take a look back through Lord Sugar's all-star business history
For the first time in a decade, a group of stars will have the chance to prove their business acumen (or lack thereof) to Lord Sugar in Celebrity Apprentice for Comic Relief. Ten famous faces – from Britain’s Got Talent's Amanda Holden, to X Factor judge Ayda Williams and presenter Rylan Clark-Neal – will be tasked to raise as much money as possible from a cabaret show, watched over by Sugar’s trusty aides Karren Brady and Claude Littner. This should be a nice change for Brady, who last appeared on the celebrity version of the show as a contestant. In fact, it was this appearance that resulted in her becoming a guest interviewer on the main Apprentice, before eventually becoming Sugar’s right-hand woman. Meet the Celebrity Apprentice 2019 candidates 7 ways the first series of The Apprentice was VERY different from today’s show RadioTimes.com newsletter: get the latest TV and entertainment news direct to your inbox In 2007, Brady appeared in the first all-star Apprentice spin-off, where she led a team including Jo Brand and Cheryl (then Girls Aloud's Cheryl Cole) to victory over Alastair Campbell’s side. View oEmbed on the source website She won by a landslide. At the end of the task, in which the celeb candidates had to run a funfair for a day, the Girls pulled in a massive £774,998 compared to the Boys' £286,256. The series wasn’t just notable for Brady’s victory, though. Not only did actor Rupert Everett leave the show after day one (“I can’t stand the camera, I just can’t!"), but Piers Morgan was pushed by Trinny Woodall after locking her chef in a toilet. Things then went from bad to worse for Morgan, who was eventually fired as Lord Sugar was fed up with his "demeanour". In perhaps one of The Apprentice's greatest moments, Campbell bellowed “Again!?” immediately after the former newspaper was handed the firing finger. TV. Gold. View oEmbed on the source website While the Celebrity Apprentice in the US ran for seven whole seasons with Donald Trump at the helm, the UK has only been gifted two other all-star specials – both of which were also won by the female team. In 2008 stars including Clare Balding and Phil Tufnell took part in an edition for Sport Relief. It was an episode that didn’t end well at all for Hardeep Singh Kohli, the presenter fired by Lord Sugar after abdicating his role as project manager. View oEmbed on the source website Last but not least (in terms of mess-ups, anyway) was the 2009 series. The Comic Relief shows once again saw the male contestants back in the boardroom with Jack Dee attempting to get Alan Sugar (then still Sir Alan) to fire his aide Nick Hewer on the grounds of bribery and corruption. Fortunately, Hewer made it through these accusations unscathed, with comedian Alan Carr finally given the firing finger. Not for bad reasons, mind. Saying he was doing Carr “a favour” by letting him escape his “miserable” team leader, businessman Gerald Ratner, Sugar forced him out the boardroom. After protesting that he could make a mean brew for Sugar, Carr finally accepted his fate and almost shed a tear on his taxi home. View oEmbed on the source website Fortunately, it looks like Alan Carr will have a second attempt to do some good in the competition. It’s not exactly known what his role will be, but the comedian can be spotted in the trailer for the upcoming special. Could Lord Sugar leave Carr close to crying again 10 years on? Will any accusations of foul play be levelled at Hewer’s replacement Claude Littner? And could one of the all-star contestants do a Karren Brady and become Sugar’s aide in a few years’ time? After all, who couldn’t see Rylan Clark-Neal in that role? Celebrity Apprentice for Comic Relief airs Thursday 7th and Friday 8th March at 9pm on BBC1 Sign up for the free RadioTimes.com newsletter