Comic Relief: Funny for Money (2024) Comedy Charity Show (179mins)

Broadcast: 15 Mar 2024 on BBC One

Red Nose Day is back, live from Media City UK, Salford. It’s the UK’s biggest night of comedy and entertainment, so make sure you don’t miss it!

The epic three-hour fundraising favourite will entertain the nation with hilarious sketches, live performances, big surprises and stunning music while raising much-needed cash for good causes at home and across the world.

Joining Sir Lenny Henry (for one last time live in the Comic Relief studio) will be Romesh Ranganathan, Maya Jama, David Tennant, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Rosie Ramsey and Paddy McGuinness. Unmissable moments will include a very special trailer for The Traitors, the Movie, with an iconic cast. It's a star-studded sketch that promises to deliver all your favourite Traitor moments from series two of the smash hit reality show.

We will also see the exclusive return of one of the nation’s most beloved radio legends – Alan Partridge. Alan will be riding the regional airwaves all the way from his studio and updating our hosts across the night with his fundraising efforts and listener phone-ins.

The cast of W1A return to help to find a worthy replacement for Sir Lenny Henry. The stars of BBC sitcom W1A, Hugh Bonneville (Ian Fletcher), Jessica Hynes (Siobhan Sharpe), Hugh Skinner (Will the Intern) and Monica Dolan (Tracey Pritchard), have exclusively reconvened for the first time on TV in seven years for Comic Relief, holding interviews to find a suitable replacement for Sir Len.

And if that wasn’t enough, the cast of hit musical Just for One Day will be taking to the stage to perform a medley of their hit tracks from the show. Plus, live music from chart-topping rockers Mcfly.

We’ll see Sara Davies, Vicky Pattinson, Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore return after their epic battle against the elements in the Arctic Circle, and live appearances from Martin Lewis, Luke Littler and The Gladiators.

During the night, there will also be films highlighting incredible and inspiring stories of the people supported by some of Comic Relief’s projects in the UK and around the world.

Don’t forget, donations can be made throughout the evening by visiting bbc.co.uk/rednoseday, calling 03457 910 910 or to donate 5, 10, 20, 30, or 40 pounds, simply text the word FIVE, TEN, TWENTY, THIRTY or FORTY to 70702.

Lenny Henry's final event as host raised over £37 million – a significant increase from last year's total.

(Published: Saturday, 16 March 2024)

Comic Relief has revealed that its annual Red Nose Day telethon raised over £37 million after airing on BBC One last night.

That represents an increase of around £6 million when compared to last year's event, which had seen the total drop from previous years.

Last night's show marked co-founder Lenny Henry's final time as host and he was joined on presenting duties by various big names including Joel Dommett, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuinness, Romesh Ranganathan, David Tennant, Maya Jama and Rosie Ramsey throughout the night.

Many of his co-hosts paird tribute to the incredible work he has done since originating the charity with Richard Curtis almost 40 years ago, with Tennant thanking him for "an amazing tour of duty" and McCall calling him "utterly irreplaceable".

Meanwhile Henry himself said, "It's been an honour, it's been a pleasure" and added: "It is not about me - it is about the mirth and the money, the comedy and compassion."

Speaking of the total raised he exclaimed: "Wow... that is a lot of money."

As ever, the evening saw a varied selection of famous faces take part in a number of humorous skits – both live and pre-recorded – across the three-hour extravaganza.

Highlights included a spoof of The Traitors starring Suranne Jones, Jonathan Bailey and Catherine Tate, a skit that saw Jamie Dornan's The Tourist character Elliot Stanley take on Mastermind and appearances from The Gladiators, Alan Partridge and McFly.

Meanwhile less than a week after Ryan Gosling performed a very memorable rendition of his Barbie hit I'm Just Ken at the Oscars, Henry put his own spin on the track by singing a new version titled "I'm just Len" while dressed up as the iconic doll.

And another moment that will live long in the memory was Henry being left "speechless" after he was told that several audience members were previous beneficiaries of Comic Relief fundraising.

"There are so many people living tough lives in incredibly difficult situations here in the UK and beyond," he said. "For the last 40 years we've made these films and you've watched them, and every single time you've come through."

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party back in January, Henry said of his decision to step down as host: "I'm not going anywhere, I'm just not going to host on the night. I might still make films for them and do voiceovers and things, but I think it's time for a newer generation to come and take the baton, because we've been carrying it for a long time.

"We've got some people, so it's gonna be really, really good. There might be some competition, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes. I hope they oil up and fight in the carpark!"