Red Nose Day raises £38.6million
Watch the W1A and Traitors sketches
This year’s Red Nose Day has raised £38,631,548 so far, Comic Relief has announced.
The figure was revealed at the end of the BBC telethon, but donations are still coming in and amazing prizes still up for grabs.
It is more than last year's final total when £35.3million was raised overall.
Tonight marked Comic Relief co-founder Sir Lenny Henry’s last as the frontman for the fundraising drive.
In one sketch he joined the cast of W1A – Hugh Bonneville, Hugh Skinner, Jessica Hynes and Monica Dolan – in a bid to find his replacement.
In what was their first TV appearance together for seven years, the team were joined by guests including Chesney Hawkes, Lorraine Kelly, Sir Mo Farah, Rustie Lee, Romesh Ranganathan, Tom Davis and many more.
And at one point Sir Lenny was greeted by a host of people who have benefited from Comic Relief funding over the past 39 years.
He said: ‘Tonight was a red hot, super duper, magical night on so many levels and jam packed with surprises that I honestly would never have thought possible.
‘My last time hosting the show has been incredibly special and I’m already thinking about what we can do to make next year, our 40th anniversary, even more so.’
‘The money raised tonight is phenomenal. For the British public to give so generously whilst struggling through a cost of living crisis is, for me, one of the most beautiful things about this country. We never stop caring.
‘We all share that fundamental belief in helping others, it’s a common thread that unites us and remains as strong now as it did when we started Red Nose Day back in 1988. We are all neighbours, and we need to keep looking out for each other. From the bottom of my Red Nose-shaped heart, thank you.’
Other sketches included a a spoof movie version of The Traitors featuring Asim Chaudhry, Catherine Tate, Jonathan Bailey, Sally Phillips, Iain Stirling Suranne Jones and more.
The likes of Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Olivia Colman came together to argue it out to be named the most famous face, while innkeeping with the Oscars theme, Sir Lenny performed a version of the Oscar nominated song from the Barbie film, retitled I’m Just Len.
And in the CBeebies Bedtime Story corner, Kate Winslet gave a special reading – especially for parents – of Fuck, Now There Are Two of You.
Jamie Dornan revived his character of Elliott Stanley from The Tourist – facing a grilling from Clive Myrie in the iconic Mastermind chair, but unable to remember anything, while Alan Partridge returned with Sidekick Simon (Tim Key).
This evening was co-hosted by David Tennant, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Maya Jama, Paddy McGuinness, Romesh Ranganathan and Rosie Ramsey
Davina said: ‘Things are tough for so many people, so to have raised over £38.6million is nothing short of amazing. Whatever you’ve been able to give tonight, big or small, know that you have played a huge part in helping to change lives. Thank you, thank you so, so much."’
Samir Patel, chief executive of Comic Relief, added: ‘We owe a great debt of gratitude to the truly incredible British public, and our partners who have once again gone to inspiring lengths to raise an extraordinary amount of money.
‘With so many people struggling, and with millions impacted by poverty and injustice, the money raised this Red Nose Day will make a life-changing difference to so many people here in the UK and around the world.’
In other fundraising efforts Aisling Bea, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Joel Dommett, Sir Lenny Henry, Mawaan Rizwan, Rosie Jones and Sara Pascoe took over The London Palladium for an benefit gig; while former teacher Greg Davies filmed a sket che where he went head-to-head with his old nemesis… schoolchildren.
Published: 15 Mar 2024
