BBC Children In Need Raises Over £35m Amid Star-Studded Show
The annual BBC One charity event has pulled in a whopping £35 million so far—just shy of last year’s £39 million haul. The three-hour live show on Friday was packed with surprises, fundraising feats, and celeb spots.
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Ultra-Marathon & 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge Wow Viewers
- Wicks stunned audiences by completing a brutal 30-mile ultra-marathon, raising over £500,000.
- DJ Scott Mills went the distance with a 24-hour treadmill challenge, racking up more than £1 million for the cause. He even recreated his iconic Strictly “crab dance” during the marathon.
Star-Studded Hosts & Performances Light Up the Night
- First-time presenter Jason Manford called the fundraising total “astounding” and thanked the public for their generosity, especially with a “tough winter ahead.”
- Co-hosts included Ade Adepitan, Chris Ramsey, and Alex Scott, with appearances from Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder, Lorraine Kelly, and Romesh Ranganathan.
- Singer Mimi Webb kicked off the show with a haunting rendition of “Ghost of You.”
- Junior Eurovision star Freya Skye performed her debut stage number “Lose My Head.”
- England footballer Mason Mount surprised schoolchildren with a special Wembley Stadium visit in a pre-recorded clip.
- Bradley Walsh hosted a children’s edition of Blankety Blank featuring EastEnders’ Maisie Smith and Great British Bake Off star John Whaite.
- The BBC Children In Need Choir closed with a heartfelt cover of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know.”
Behind the Scenes Fundraising Highlights
- Matt Baker led a Rickshaw Relay with five young people supported by Children In Need-funded projects.
- Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team joined Radio 2 presenters and volunteers to build a new home for the Leeds-based project Getaway Girls.
With such incredible efforts and star power, BBC Children In Need continues to support millions of children and families across the UK facing hardships.
