The fundraising program for Comic Relief successfully raised £30 million during a three-hour charity TV special, which included comedy acts, skits, and fundraising challenges.
Host Davina McCall announced the total amount raised at the conclusion of the Red Nose Day broadcast on Friday evening. The program featured a satirical sketch of The Traitors with Anna Friel as Claudia Winkleman, and a bank heist scene featuring Idris Elba, the star of the show Luther.
Prior to the broadcast, a cycling challenge led by BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James cycled 630 miles across England, Wales, and Scotland, finishing the journey at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, raising over £4.2 million for charity. Guests included comedian Joe Lycett, presenter Jimmy Ling, and a surprise appearance by the Prince of Wales.
The special opened with a musical number performed by Catherine Tate in character as Nan from The Catherine Tate Show, featuring a rendition of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" accompanied by dancers dressed as grandmothers. A short video featured several famous faces including Julia Roberts, Daniel Craig, and Sir Ian McKellen responding to Nan's call, with singer Olivia Dean making a witty appearance.
The evening was filled with various presenters and comedians including Katherine Ryan, Nish Kumar, Joel Dommett, and more. The show also included a film parody titled The Traitors: The Movie - The Sequel featuring the contestants from the latest season of Traitors alongside celebrities like Ian Sterling, Scott Mills, and Alison Steadman.
Segments included The Bank Job with Idris Elba and This Morning hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, featuring a team that included Chris McCausland, Stephen Mulhern, and Natalie Cassidy attempting a heist to raise funds.
The work of Motherland was reimagined in a segment called Amandas-land, where character Lucy Punch and her friend Philippa Dunne faced off against a series of Amanda impersonators including Amanda Holden, Amanda Lamb, and Amanda Barry, resulting in a succession of comedic situations.
Musical performances included Calum Scott singing his famous version of “Dancing on My Own,” and Blessing Offer performing “Somebody's Child.” Other comedic segments featured a special episode of Weakest Link hosted by Romesh Ranganathan and a parody of Wuthering Heights with Katherine Ryan.
There was an awkward moment during the show when comedian Nish Kumar accidentally cursed while attempting to solve eight Rubik's Cubes in under a minute, prompting Davina McCall to apologize to viewers and explain that it was a high-pressure situation.
The evening also included mini clips and brief appearances by various film stars and well-known singers in segments aimed at supporting the campaign.
The proceeds from the campaign are used to support projects providing food and shelter to those affected both in the UK and around the world, according to organizers.
Comic Relief was founded in 1985 by comedian Sir Lenny Henry and screenwriter Richard Curtis, with the first Red Nose Day held in 1988 raising £15 million and attracting over 30 million viewers. Since then, 21 TV campaigns have been held, and the organization addresses poverty and social injustice while providing immediate relief to those in need, having raised over £1.6 billion since its inception.