The BBC has revealed more details about this year’s Comic Relief telethon, which will be broadcast on 15th March on BBC One.
Comic Relief launched in 1985 with a telethon that has since become embedded in British culture. Known as Red Nose Day, on account of the red noses sold as part of the appeal, over the years this has led to many classic comic moments, from The Young Ones singing Livin’ Doll with Cliff Richard, to Johnny Depp and Sting appearing in The Vicar Of Dibley, to Billy Connolly running naked through Trafalgar Square and Mr Bean infiltrating both Blind Date, and a Torvill and Dean dance routine.
Lenny Henry, who co-founded Comic Relief with Richard Curtis, recently revealed that he will be stepping down as host after this year’s telethon. Henry said of his decision that “when we first started Comic Relief back in 1985, I never dreamed we’d still be here today. I thought we’d probably do three shows and that would be it, but fast-forward nearly 40 years, and that enthusiasm and determination to step up and help others has never wavered. As Life President of Comic Relief, I’m excited to see some new and familiar faces come forward now to present the big night and lead us into the next chapter”.
We now have more details about what we can expect to see during this year’s telethon. Presenters across the night include Henry, Maya Jama, Paddy McGuinness, Romesh Ranganathan, and Rosie Ramsey. According to the BBC Media Centre:
Sketches will include a very special audition process to find Sir Lenny Henry’s replacement host. Alan Partridge returns to BBC television with a very special guest on his regional radio show, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reunite with a hilarious Red Nose Day message and who will be cast as the iconic Claudia Winkleman in The Traitors: The Movie?
The cast of Just For One Day, the Live Aid Musical, will perform a special medley and celebrities from across the nation put their comedy bones to the test by telling jokes. PLUS, live appearances by darts sensation Luke Littler, Money maestro Martin Lewis and The Gladiators!
Additional programming includes:
Comic Relief: A Whole Lotta Lenny
BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Friday 15 March at 10.40pm.
Join Alex Jones and Sir Lenny Henry for a rollicking 60 minute romp celebrating Sir Lenny’s epic decades-long stint hosting Red Nose Day.
Snow Going Back: Comic Relief vs the Arctic
BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Monday 11 March at 9pm.
Snow Going Back: Comic Relief vs The Arctic captures every gruelling step of Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore’s extraordinary trek across the Arctic in a bid to raise life changing money for Comic Relief.
Red Peter
CBBC and BBC iPlayer, Friday 15 March at 5pm.
Following the excitement from last year, Blue Peter is once again being renamed ‘Red Peter’ for an epic Red Nose Day special.
CBeebies Bedtime Story
CBeebies and BBC iPlayer, 15 March at 6:50pm.
Comedian and actor Lenny Rush gets us in the mood for Red Nose Day with a funny CBeebies Bedtime Story, reading Not Now Bernard by David McKee.
Comic Relief will air on BBC One on the 15th March from 7pm.
