A recap of some of the best bits from this years Comic Relief telethon
Friday night saw the return of Comic Relief and despite restrictions impacting filming, the charity telethon was still filled with family fun entertainment and featured a number of star studded guests making appearances to help raise funds for charity.
The three-hour special was hosted by Alesha Dixon, Sir Lenny Henry, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuinness and David Tennant, who were all socially distanced on stage throughout the show and of course it also featured a virtual audience filled with members of the public.
Although this years telethon was a little different to usual, it still managed to raise an impressive sum of money for charities in the UK and across the world. Furthermore, it's needless to say many people have been greatly impacted financially throughout the pandemic but it seems many were still eager to help out others and donate to the cause. A total of more than £41 million was raised on Friday night alone and the grand total from this years comic relief efforts stood at an impressive £52 million.
Some of the best bits from the night included a sketch which saw Catherine Tate's beloved character Nan, talking to Daniel Craig as James Bond. The James Bond spoof featured Nan cleaning an office in MI5 HQ when she accidentally ended up video calling James Bond. The hilarious skit showed Nan poking fun at Bond, initially questioning him for saying his name backwards after Craig delivered his iconic line as Bond "the names Bond... James Bond" at the beginning of the video. Watch the full clip below!
Other highlights from Friday nights telethon include a mock movie trailer for a film based on the events that have unfolded over the past year, simply titled '2020, The Movie.' The hilarious spoof parody featured a list of famous faces, including the likes of Keira Knightley, Russel Brand, KSI and more. The trailer has received an overwhelming positive reception over social media for its witty take on the year 2020 although it's safe to say for some of us it may be a bit too soon to joke about it! If you missed it, have a look at the trailer below and let us know what you think...
Although for the most part Comic Relief is about the funny sketches and comedic performances, it wasn't just the comedy from the night that kept us all entertained. The BBC One fundraiser also featured a number of musical performances from the likes of Raye, Rag’n’Bone Man and international star Justin Bieber. Canadian pop icon Justin Bieber gave a stand out performance of his track 'Hold On' off of his brand new album 'Justice' after 5 years since last performing on UK television. Watch his performance below.
Overall, this years Comic Relief was a success, raising a grand total of £52 million for charities in the UK and across the world, aiming to tackle important issues including hunger, homelessness and mental health.
At the end of the programme host Alesha Dixon reminded members of the public how much of a positive impact their donations have on the charities involved, saying “You have made an incredible difference to the lives of people here in the UK and across the world." This was followed by Sir Lenny Henry concluding "After a year of lockdowns, we hope we have given you laughter and joy.” Fellow host Davina McCall also commented on Friday nights fundraiser, saying "Tonight was a beautiful reminder of how wonderful and kind-hearted the British public are."