Comic Relief raises £52million

Stars come out for Red Nose Day again

This year’s Red Nose Day telethon raised just over £52million for Comic Relief.

Covid hit the charity donations, with the figure £11million down on the total raised from the last event in 2019.

Stars appearing on last night’s show included Keira Knightley, Dame Joan Collins, Prince William, Charlotte Church and Russell Brand, who impersonated keep-fit guru Joe Wicks.

Davina McCall - who presented the BBC One show alongside Alesha Dixon, David Tennant, Paddy McGuinness and Sir Lenny Henry - said: ‘Tonight was a beautiful reminder of how wonderful and kind-hearted the British public are.

‘Everyone knows how special Red Nose Day is, and the enormous power it has to bring us all together in the best of times; but this year, after such a difficult year, we’ve never needed it more.

‘Tonight, we’ve shared love and laughter, and helped raise an incredible amount of money along the way that’ll make such a difference to so many; so, thank you, for your kindness and generosity thank you so much.’

Sketches over the evening included Catherine Tate’s Nan briefing James Bond; Mel Giedroyc parodying Bridget Jones, David Tennant and Michael Sheen recording a special version of Staged and Dawn French’s Vicar Of Dibley lip-synching to Lizzo.

Away from TV, other fundraising events included the No Such Thing As A Fish podcast team hosting a 20-hour livestream with guests including Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, Sue Perkins, Shappi Khorsandi and Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis

Samir Patel, chief executive of Comic Relief said: ‘We cannot thank the British public enough this evening; the response has been phenomenal.’

Here are some of the key moments from last night’s show: