This year’s Red Nose Day night of TV drew to a spectacular close this evening, with it being revealed that the British public has helped raise an incredible £38,631,548 so far, with donations still coming in and amazing prizes still up for grabs. 

With millions facing impossible choices to get by, and with the impact of poverty, conflict and climate change being felt further and wider than ever before, the money raised this evening will provide essential support to those who need it the most, both here in the UK and around the world. Every donation will make a difference – from tackling poverty, to providing food, or essential healthcare to safe shelter. Comic Relief is extremely grateful to everyone – including the public, our partners, schools, and workplaces – who have come together and helped spread joy, and raise spirits and vital funds.

This evening’s fun-filled evening of entertainment was broadcast live on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from Media City UK in Salford. In what was his final year of hosting the Red Nose Day night of TV, Sir Lenny Henry was joined by David Tennant, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Maya Jama, Paddy McGuinness, Romesh Ranganathan and Rosie Ramsey. Bringing together some of the nation’s biggest and best comics and entertainers, the night of TV delivered an unforgettable evening of comedy, live performances and one-off surprises.

After nearly four decades of presenting, tonight’s Red Nose Day night of TV saw some extra special moments for Sir Lenny Henry throughout the course of the night. Sir Lenny joined the cast of W1A – Hugh Bonneville, Hugh Skinner, Jessica Hynes and Monica Dolan – in a bid to find his replacement host. In what was their first TV appearance together for seven years, the W1A team were put through their paces in an interview process that became more ridiculous by the second – featuring stars including Chesney Hawkes, Lorraine Kelly, Sir Mo Farah, Rustie Lee, Romesh Ranganathan, Tom Davis and many more.

An especially emotional and poignant moment on the night saw Sir Lenny surprised by a whole host of people who have benefited from Comic Relief funding over the past 39 years, from here in the UK and across the world.

Comic Relief co-founder and Life President, Sir Lenny Henry 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.”

As ever, the evening was packed to the rafters full of comedy specials and musical performances. Viewers saw a cast of award-winning actors and comedians play some of the most iconic characters from series two of The Traitors, in a spoof movie version of the hit BBC One show that gripped the nation. Asim Chaudhry, Catherine Tate, Jonathan Bailey, Sally Phillips, Suranne Jones and more, brought back some of the most iconic moments, from that chalice of fizzy rosé to Ross’ infamous wink, and Jazatha Christie forever being ignored.

Some of Hollywood’s finest came together to argue it out to be named the most famous face in a celebrity Z-to-A-listers sketch. Forget the Oscars…for these contenders, this was a career defining accolade they just had to win. The who’s who of a lineup saw Sir Lenny Henry (who else?!) come out on top against the likes of Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Olivia Colman and more. In keeping with the Oscars theme, Sir Lenny gave a stunning performance of the Oscar nominated song from the Barbie film, with a Red Nose Day twist, I’m Just Len. Meanwhile, in the CBeebies Bedtime Story corner, Kate Winslet gave a special reading – especially for parents – of F***, Now There Are Two of You.

Elliott Stanley, played by Jamie Dornan in BBC One’s The Tourist, took to the Mastermind chair to go face to face with Clive Myrie over his (lack of) General Knowledge; over at the North Norfolk Digital studios, Alan Partridge, played by Steve Coogan, returned to the airwaves with Sidekick Simon for a Red Nose Day special; Luke Littler put his darts skills to the test, much to the detriment of Harry Clark, Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison and Gladiators, Sabre and Viper; plus much, much more.

The evening of entertainment also featured incredible music performances throughout the night. Kicking off this year’s night of TV, McFly opened the show with a special medley of some of the most-loved Comic Relief singles, including Walk This Way and All About You. Paloma Faith performed her new single, Enjoy Yourself (The Red Nose Day Edition), while JERUB took to the stage with a moving performance of A Change Is Gonna Come – Sir Lenny’s favourite song. There was also a special performance by the cast of Just For One Day, the Live Aid Musical.

Throughout the night, viewers saw how their donations could help, and have helped, people trying to get by in the face of poverty and injustice in the UK and around the world. They saw Mel B introduce a poignant film about domestic abuse, Jodie Whittaker introduce a film about the support given to children with additional needs or disabilities, and Jay Blades shed light on the reality of UK poverty during the cost of living crisis. A film with Ambika Mod drew attention to stories of young refugees escaping danger, whilst Comic Relief co-founders, Sir Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis, spent time reflecting on some of the films Lenny has made, over the last 39 years.

Davina McCall said: “It’s always such a privilege to don my Red Nose and spend the evening in the company of our beautiful viewers. Red Nose Day wouldn’t be Red Nose Day without you, and we’re so grateful for the love, kindness and compassion that you’ve shown this evening. 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.” 

This evening’s night of entertainment drew this year’s Red Nose Day campaign to a close. The campaign has helped to spread joy, raise spirits and much-needed funds, with highlights including:

• The formidable foursome of Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore, battled unforgiving conditions trekking across the Arctic Circle to raise £630,294 in Comic Relief’s coldest ever challenge. Viewers can trace every gruelling step in Snow Going Back: Comic Relief vs The Arctic on BBC iPlayer now
• BBC Radio 1’s Mollie King swapped her mic for a bike and conquered the biggest endurance challenge of her life – a staggering solo 500km cycle across England. The exhausting five day challenge saw her travel from London, the home of Radio 1, to her late father’s hometown of Hull to raise a mammoth £1,173,939
• Aisling Bea, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Joel Dommett, Sir Lenny Henry, Mawaan Rizwan, Rosie Jones and Sara Pascoe took over one of the West End’s most iconic venues, The London Palladium for an unforgettable evening of laughter and live performances 
• Comedian Greg Davies went back to his teaching roots in a head-to-head battle of the wits with his old nemesis…school children, in a bid to land a part in this year’s Red Nose Day campaign. Watch the sketch here
• Fundraisers up and down the country went to incredible lengths in a bid to do something funny for money, from school children at Ardfern School in West Dunbartonshire taking part in a virtual journey of walking, running, cycling and swimming the distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats; to Cambridge University students from the comedy society Cambridge Footlights performing Blackadder Goes Forth
• Over on TikTok fans were given exclusive backstage access throughout the course of the night of TV. Hosted by Sarel (@cocosarel) and Will (@farmerwill_), the TikTok LIVE saw viewers treated to behind-the-scenes chats, fun and games with some of the famous faces taking part in the night of TV including David Tennant, Paddy McGuinness, Rosie Ramsey and Sara Davies. TikTok have raised £528,241.00 this Red Nose Day, with 10.7m Red Nose Gifts sent across TikTok LIVE throughout the campaign
• Blue Peter was renamed ‘Red Peter’ for an epic Red Nose Day special. The jam-packed extravaganza saw presenters Abby, Joel and Shini race to turn three iconic landmarks – Glasgow Hydro, Blackpool Tower and the London Eye – ‘red to toe’ in just three days
• Comic Relief released its funniest and most sustainable Red Nose collection to date. The four fun characters, and limited edition rare ‘Gold’ Nose are still available on Amazon, the official home of the Red Nose, and can be recycled at home for the very first time
• TK Maxx released a new t-shirt and sweatshirt collection featuring much-loved characters from the iconic Aardman family. From Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep to Morph and Feathers McGraw, the colourful collection is still available for both adults and children in Homesense and TK Maxx stores and online
• The Red Nose that Grows, a 100% composable Red Nose Wildflower Seedbom™ that will transform into beautiful wildflowers bringing fun and joy to homes or gardens, can still be bought in Holland & Barrett and online at comicrelief.com/shop 

The work of Comic Relief truly wouldn’t be possible without the support of its incredible partners who have gone above and beyond to support Red Nose Day. The biggest thank you goes out to The Sainsbury’s Group, The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Amazon, TK Maxx & Homesense, British Airways, People’s Postcode Lottery, MALTESERS®, TikTok, Babybel, City Bridge Foundation, Holland & Barrett, The LEGO Group, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. 

Viewers can catch some of the best moments from this year’s Red Nose Day night of TV by joining Sir Lenny Henry and Maya Jama on Comic Relief: Even More Funny for Money on Sunday 17 March, BBC One and iPlayer, at 16:35pm. The whole night of television is also available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. 

You can still donate to Red Nose Day at comicrelief.com/donate

Pictured: L-R: Romesh Ranganathan, Jessica Hynes, Sir Lenny Henry, Monica Dolan, Hugh Skinner, Richard Madeley and Hugh Bonneville

W1A – Lenny Henry’s Replacement Sketch

Credit: BBC/Comic Relief/Jordan Mansfield