| Children in Need | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | BBC Children in Need |
| Genre | Charitytelethon |
| Created by | BBC Studios |
| Presented by |
|
| Narrated by | Alan Dedicoat |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production locations |
|
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 5 mins – 7 hours |
| Production companies | BBC Television BBC Studios Entertainment Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One BBC Two |
| Release | 21 November 1980 (1980-11-21) – present |
| Related | |
| Comic Relief (1988–present) Sport Relief (2002–2020) | |
BBC Children in Need is theBBC's UKcharity dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children and young people across the country. Established in 1980, the organisation has raised more than £1 billion as of 2023 through its fundraising efforts.[2]
The charity's flagship event is an annualtelethon broadcast every November onBBC One andBBC Two.Pudsey Bear has served as its mascot, while the lateSirTerry Wogan hosted the event for 35 years. As a cornerstone of British television, Children in Need is one of the UK's two major telethons, alongsideComic Relief'sRed Nose Day. It remains the BBC's sole in-house charity.
Originally broadcast from theBBC Television Centre, the telethon relocated to theBBC Elstree Centre between 2013 and 2020 following the closure of the former.[3] Historically lasting up to seven hours, the event was streamlined to a three-hour programme (7:00 pm to 10:00 pm) from 2020 onwards.[4] To accommodate family-friendly content, the televisionwatershed is postponed until 11:30 pm on the night of the broadcast.
The 2020 telethon, impacted by theCOVID-19 pandemic, featured a significantly reduced format with just four presenters:Mel Giedroyc,Alex Scott,Chris Ramsey, andStephen Mangan.[5] Since November 2021, the event has been staged atDock10,MediaCityUK in Salford.[6] In October 2023, it was announced thatLenny Rush—a children's television star and futureDoctor Who actor—would become the first child co-presenter in the charity's history during the 2023 appeal broadcast.[7] In October 2025, it was announced that TV personality and British rapperBig Zuu would debut in the presenting lineup for the 2025 appeal show.[8]
The BBC's inaugural charity appeal was a five-minute radio broadcast on Christmas Day 1927, raising approximately £1,342 for four children's charities.[9]
The first televised appeal, theChildren's Hour, aired in 1955. Fronted byHarry Corbett and the yellowglove puppetSooty Bear, these appeals continued annually on television and radio until 1979, raising a total of £625,836.[9] SirTerry Wogan made his debut during the five-minute appeal in 1978 and returned in 1979.[9] Animated characters such asPeter Pan andTom and Jerry occasionally featured in these broadcasts.
The first dedicatedChildren in Needtelethon aired in 1980, replacing standard continuity segments with fundraising appeals during evening programming. Presented byTerry Wogan,Sue Lawley, andEsther Rantzen, the event raised £1 million, exclusively for UK-based children's charities—a significant increase from previous campaigns.[10]
By 1984, the telethon evolved into a single continuous programme, abandoning regular programming slots. The format expanded to include radio and online content, with Wogan remaining the primary host until 2014. He stepped down due to health issues and died in 2016.[11]
In 1988, BBCChildren in Need registered as a charity in England and Wales (no. 802052), followed by Scottish registration (SC039557) in 2008. A notable partnership in 2020 saw the charity collaborate with theMcLaren Formula One Team at a race to support initiatives inTurkey.[citation needed]
Simon Antrobus has served as chief executive since 2016.
Corporate partners have played a key role in fundraising.Asda,McDonald's,One Stop,Greggs,Enterprise, andCineworld are among the charity's longstanding sponsors.Welcome Break—whose service stations host outlets such asWHSmith,Waitrose,Subway,Burger King,Pret a Manger,Starbucks andHarry Ramsden's—has also supported the cause.[12] The 2025Sidemen Charity Match, scheduled forWembley Stadium, will raise funds forChildren in Need.
The SirTerry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year has been awarded annually since 2016 to individuals demonstrating exceptional commitment to raising funds for BBCChildren in Need. Established by Wogan's family in memory of the late Sir Terry Wogan—the charity's long-standing host—the award was first presented by his son, Mark, during the2016 telethon. Subsequent ceremonies have featured notable presenters, includingJoanna Lumley (2017) andMichael Ball (2021).
Since 2024, the award hasn’t been handed out.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Lauchlan Muir |
| 2017 | Ellie and Abbie Holloway |
| 2018 | Keeley Browse |
| 2019 | Austin and Esther Atkins |
| 2020 | Brian Pitt |
| 2021 | Amy Wright |
| 2022 | Aileen Kane |
| 2023 | Joel |
The telethon features performances by prominent singers, musical groups, and celebrities, often participating in sketches or musical numbers during the 6.5-hour-long programme. Notable appearances include actors fromITV programmes—sometimes in character or from their show's sets—as well as BBC newsreaders, whose performances became an annual tradition. Stars ofWest End musicals frequently perform excerpts from their productions after their theatre curtain calls.
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BBC One dedicates its entire evening schedule to the telethon, pausing only for a 35-minute break at 10:00 pm to airBBC News at Ten, weather updates, and regional news. Simultaneously,BBC Two broadcasts complementary programming, such asMastermind Children in Need, which is a form ofCelebrity Mastermind. Pre-telethon specials includeDIY SOS: The Big Build,Bargain Hunt, andThe One Show, featuring challenges like the hosts' rickshaw ride and a celebrity edition ofPointless hosted byAlexander Armstrong andRichard Osman, assisted by Pudsey Bear.[13]
Regional contributions play a significant role: BBC England's regions provide hourly5–8-minute updates, whileBBC Scotland,BBC Cymru Wales, andBBC Northern Ireland historically aired extended local segments before rejoining the network broadcast around 1:00 am. From 2010, however, these nations adopted the English regions' hourly update format.
Since 2011, a central feature of the telethon has been a live choir performance involving more than 1,000 children across 8–10 UK locations, singing in unison.
| No. | Broadcast date | Broadcast total | Total raised | Main presenter | Co-presenters | BBC One rating (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 November 1980 | — | £1,200,000 | SirTerry Wogan | Sue Lawley Esther Rantzen | — |
| 2 | 20 November 1981 | £508,625 | £1,008,697 | Esther Rantzen | — | |
| 3 | 26 November 1982 | £603,440 | £1,050,000 | Gloria Hunniford Fran Morrison | — | |
| 4 | 25 November 1983 | £839,429 | £1,158,737 | — | ||
| 5 | 23 November 1984 | £1,459,283 | £2,264,398[14] | Sue Cook Joanna Lumley | — | |
| 6 | 22 November 1985 | £2,431,085 | £4,476,780[14] | Sue Cook John Craven Joanna Lumley | — | |
| 7 | 21 November 1986 | £5,264,655 | £8,687,607[14] | Sue Cook Joanna Lumley | — | |
| 8 | 27 November 1987 | £8,735,657 | £13,916,326[14] | Sue Cook | — | |
| 9 | 18 November 1988 | £13,099,246 | £17,563,458[15] | Sue Cook Joanna Lumley | — | |
| 10 | 17 November 1989 | £17,213,664 | £21,671,931 | Sue Cook | — | |
| 11 | 23 November 1990 | £17,547,227 | £20,921,929 | Sue Cook Dave Benson Phillips | — | |
| 12 | 22 November 1991 | £17,182,724 | £20,819,508 | Sue Cook Andi Peters | — | |
| 13 | 20 November 1992 | £11,549,490 | £16,700,000 | — | ||
| 14 | 26 November 1993 | £12,386,866 | £17,300,000 | — | ||
| 15 | 25 November 1994 | £12,012,524 | — | — | ||
| 16 | 24 November 1995 | £11,843,385 | — | Sue Cook Gaby Roslin | — | |
| 17 | 22 November 1996 | £11,847,168[16] | £18,700,000[16][17] | Gaby Roslin | — | |
| 18 | 21 November 1997 | £12,034,235[18] | £20,900,000[19] | — | ||
| 19 | 20 November 1998 | £11,380,888[20] | £17,900,000 | — | ||
| 20 | 26 November 1999 | £11,639,053[21] | £16,700,000 | 6.61 | ||
| 21 | 17 November 2000 | £12,244,764[22] | £20,000,000 | 6.8[23] | ||
| 22 | 16 November 2001 | £12,895,853[24] | £25,900,000[25] | 7.12 | ||
| 23 | 15 November 2002 | £13,501,375[26] | £26,200,000[27] | 7.56 | ||
| 24 | 21 November 2003 | £15,305,212[28] | £31,400,000[29] | 10.49 | ||
| 25 | 19 November 2004 | £17,156,175[30] | £34,200,000[31] | 8.48 | ||
| 26 | 18 November 2005 | £17,235,256[32] | £33,200,000[33] | Fearne Cotton Natasha Kaplinsky Matt Allwright[a] | 9.07 | |
| 27 | 17 November 2006 | £18,300,392[34] | £33,600,000[35] | Fearne Cotton Natasha Kaplinsky Chris Moyles[a] | 7.72 | |
| 28 | 16 November 2007 | £19,089,771[36] | £37,500,000[37] | Fearne Cotton | 9.56 | |
| 29 | 14 November 2008 | £20,991,216[38] | £38,500,000[39] | Fearne Cotton Tess Daly Alesha Dixon[a] | 9.83 | |
| 30 | 20 November 2009 | £20,309,747[40] | £40,200,000[40] | Tess Daly Alesha Dixon Peter Andre[a] | 10.08 | |
| 31 | 19 November 2010 | £18,098,199[41] | £36,600,000[41] | Fearne Cotton Tess Daly Peter Andre[a] | 9.36 | |
| 32 | 18 November 2011 | £26,332,334[42] | £46,100,000[43] | Fearne Cotton Tess Daly Alesha Dixon | 10.01 | |
| 33 | 16 November 2012 | £26,757,446[42][44] | £43,300,000[45] | Fearne Cotton Tess Daly Nick Grimshaw | 8.22 | |
| 34 | 15 November 2013 | £31,124,896[46] | £49,600,000[45] | Fearne Cotton Tess Daly Nick Grimshaw Zoe Ball Shane Richie[a] | 9.99 | |
| 35 | 14 November 2014 | £32,620,469[47] | £49,100,000[48] | Fearne Cotton Tess Daly Nick Grimshaw Rochelle Humes Shane Richie[a] | 8.54 | |
| 36 | 13 November 2015 | £37,100,687[49] | £55,000,000[50] | Dermot O'Leary | 7.95 | |
| 37 | 18 November 2016 | £46,624,259 | £60,000,000[51] | Tess Daly | Rochelle Humes Greg James Graham Norton Ade Adepitan Marvin Humes Russell Kane | 6.60 |
| 38 | 17 November 2017 | £50,168,562 | £60,750,000[52] | Rochelle Humes Graham Norton Ade Adepitan Marvin Humes Mel Giedroyc Matt Edmondson[53] | 7.12 | |
| 39 | 16 November 2018 | £50,595,053 | £62,072,000[54] | Graham Norton Mel Giedroyc Rochelle Humes Marvin Humes Ade Adepitan Rob Beckett | 6.44 | |
| 40 | 15 November 2019 | £47,886,382 | £57,346,000[54] | Graham Norton Mel Giedroyc Rochelle Humes Marvin Humes Ade Adepitan Tom Allen | 6.13 | |
| 41 | 13 November 2020 | £37,032,789 | £63,443,000[55] | Mel Giedroyc | Alex Scott Chris Ramsey Stephen Mangan[56] | 5.12 |
| 42 | 19 November 2021 | £39,389,048 | £50,991,355[57] | Ade Adepitan Graham Norton Chris Ramsey Alex Scott | 4.56 | |
| 43 | 18 November 2022 | £35,273,167 | £43,400,000[58] | Ade Adepitan Jason Manford Chris Ramsey Alex Scott | 3.96 | |
| 44 | 17 November 2023 | £33,513,325 | £46,200,000[58] | Ade Adepitan Jason Manford Chris Ramsey Alex Scott Lenny Rush | 3.77 | |
| 45 | 15 November 2024 | £39,210,850 | £52,700,000[58] | Ade Adepitan Vernon Kay Chris Ramsey Rochelle Humes Lenny Rush | 3.88[59] | |
| 46 | 14 November 2025 | £45,507,536 | TBA | Vernon Kay Paddy McGuinness Lenny Rush Rochelle Humes Big Zuu |
| Year | Date | Broadcast date | Location | Organised by | Presenters | BBC One rating (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 12 November 2009 | 19 November 2009 | Royal Albert Hall | Gary Barlow | Chris Moyles Fearne Cotton SirTerry Wogan | 6.50 |
| 2011 | 17 November 2011 | Manchester Evening News Arena | Chris Moyles Fearne Cotton David Tennant | 4.50 | ||
| 2013 | 12–13 November 2013 | 14 November 2013 | Hammersmith Apollo | Fearne Cotton Chris Evans | 4.41 | |
| 2015 | 8 October 2015 | 12 November 2015 | The SSE Arena, Wembley | BBC Studios | SirTom Jones Rob Brydon | TBC |
| 2016 | 1 November 2016 | 14 November 2016 | Royal Albert Hall | BBC Studios | Fearne Cotton Greg James | |
| 2017 | 19 October 2017 | 13 November 2017 | The SSE Arena, Wembley | Fearne Cotton Sara Cox Roman Kemp(backstage) | ||
| 2018 | 7 November 2018[60] | 15 November 2018 | Fearne Cotton Clara Amfo | |||
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The mascot fronting theChildren in Need appeal is called Pudsey Bear. He was created and named in 1985 by BBC graphic designer Joanna Lane, who worked in the BBC's design department. Asked to revamp the logo, with a brief to improve the charity's image, Lane said "It was like a lightbulb moment for me. We were bouncing ideas off each other and I latched on to this idea of a teddy bear. I immediately realised there was a huge potential for a mascot beyond the 2D logo".[61] The bear was named after her hometown ofPudsey, West Yorkshire, where her grandfather was mayor.[61]
A reproduction of the bear mascot (made of vegetation) is in Pudsey park, near the town centre.[62] Originally introduced for the 1985 appeal, Pudsey Bear was created as a triangular shaped logo, depicting a yellow-orange teddy bear with a red bandana tied over one eye. The bandana had a pattern of small black triangles. The mouth of the bear depicted a sad expression. The lettering "BBC" appeared as 3 circular black buttons running vertically down the front of the bear, one capital letter on each, in white. Perpendicular to the buttons, the words "children-in-need" appeared in all lower case letters along the base of the triangular outline. Accessibility for young readers, and people with disabilities including speech and reading challenges, were factors weighed by the designer Joanna Ball, specifically the "P" sound in "Pudsey" name, and the choice of all lower case sans serif letters for the logotype.
The original design was adapted for various applications for use in the 1985 appeal in both 2D graphics and 3D objects. Items using the original 1985 design included a filmed opening title sequence, using cartoon cell animation, a postage stamp, and a prototype soft toy, commissioned from a film and TV prop maker (citation). The original prototype soft toy was orange and reflected the design of the logo, which was then adapted for approximately 12 identical bears, one for each regional BBC Television Studio. These bears were numbered and tagged with the official logo and auctioned off as part of the appeal. The number 1 Pudsey Bear was allocated to the Leeds region. Joanna Lumley appeared with one of the soft toys during the opening of Blackpool Illuminations and named Pudsey Bear the official mascot of the BBCChildren in Need appeal.
In 1986, the logo was redesigned. Whilst retaining the concept of a teddy bear with a bandana over one eye, all other elements were changed. Specifically, the triangular elements of the underlying design were abandoned, and the corporate identity colour scheme was changed. The new bandana design was white with red spots, one of the buttons was removed and the logotype now appeared as building blocks, which spelled out "BBC CHILDREN IN NEED" in capital letters. Pudsey now had a smiling expression on his face rather than a sad one in the previous logo.
In 2007, Pudsey and the logo were redesigned again. This time, Pudsey's bandana had multicoloured spots, and all of the buttons were removed. By 2009, Pudsey had been joined by another bear, a brown female bear named "Blush". She had a spotty bow with the pattern similar to Pudsey's bandana pattern. In 2013,Moshi Monsters introduced Pudsey as an in-game item for 100 Rox.
TheChildren in Need 2015 campaign on 13 November 2015 marked the thirtieth birthday of Pudsey Bear, who has been the charity's mascot since 1985.
In 2022, as part of thecorporate BBC rebrand, the logo was completely redesigned. The phrase "CHILDREN IN NEED" in capital letters appeared in a modified rounded version of BBC Reith Sans Bold, and Pudsey Bear was removed as part of the logo. Despite this, Pudsey Bear remained in use as a mascot and was also given a redesign which involved making the multicoloured spots on his bandana larger and adding multicoloured spots onto the soles of his now white feet.[63]
Notes:
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In November 2006,Intelligent Giving published an article aboutChildren in Need, which attracted wide attention across the British media. The article, titled "Four Things Wrong with Pudsey", described donations toChildren in Need as a "lazy and inefficient way of giving" and pointed out that, as a grant-giving charity,Children in Need would use donations to pay two sets of administration costs. It also described the quality of some of its public reporting as "shambolic".[83]
In 2007, it was reported that presenterTerry Wogan had been receiving an annual honorarium since 1980 (amounting to £9,065 in 2005). This made him the only celebrity paid for his participation inChildren in Need. According to Wogan's account, he would "quite happily do it for nothing" and had "never asked for a fee". The BBC stated that the amount, which was paid from BBC resources rather than from theChildren in Need charity fund, had "never been negotiated", having instead increased in line with inflation.[84] Two days before the 2007 event, Wogan waived his fee.[85]
There has been concern about the type of groups receiving funding fromChildren in Need. Writing inThe Spectator, Ross Clark noted that funding goes towards controversial groups such as Women in Prison, which campaigns against jailing female criminals. Another charity highlighted was the Children's Legal Centre, which provided funding forShabina Begum to sue her school as she wanted to wear thejilbāb. Clark pondered whether donors seeing cancer victims on screen would appreciate "that a slice of their donation would be going into the pockets ofCherie Blair to help a teenage girl sue her school over her refusal to wear aschool uniform".[86]
A former BBC governor said thatJimmy Savile was kept away fromChildren in Need. Sir Roger Jones who was also chairman of the charity said he had suspicions about Savile a decade before the news of Savile'ssexual abuse scandal came to public light in 2012. His comments came on the day an inquiry began into whether the BBC's child protection and whistle-blowing policies were acceptable.[87]
During November 2024,Rosie Millard stepped down as Chair of BBCChildren in Need after protesting over grants awarded to an LGBT youth charity whose former chief had been involved in a child abuse scandal.[88]
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