BBC Children in Need 2008 – Pudsey sets another record!
The Great British public has risen to the occasion once again and raised an astonishing £20,991,216 for BBC Children in Need, beating all previous records and taking the total since the telethon began to over half a billion pounds! Since 1980, the BBC One appeal show has provided a feast of Friday night entertainment and this year was no exception with stars from the world of pop, stage and screen taking to the stage to raise money for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. Terry Wogan, Tess Daly and Fearne Cotton presented the seven-hour entertainment marathon, live from London's Television Centre, as the corporation's biggest broadcast event linked BBC centres and celebrated the efforts of fundraisers all over the country. On the night, viewers enjoyed live entertainment from BBC studios in Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow, as well as broadcasts from a diverse range of venues around England, and there was additional coverage on BBC TV, radio and online in the build-up to appeal night. McFly opened the proceedings on BBC One with their official Children in Need single and were followed by top musical stars including Take That, Girls Aloud, Boyzone, Sugababes and Alesha Dixon. Other highlights included the BBC Newsreaders' unique take on Abba's Mamma Mia; the East End met the West End as stars of Albert Square performed popular show tunes, while Coronation Street discovered How To Look Good Naked with Gok Wan. Stars of The Bill rocked the studio with a tribute to The Blues Brothers; Richard Hammond took Gene Hunt's beloved car for a spin when Top Gear met Ashes To Ashes; and children took over the kitchen in Masterchef. The audience was also treated to a sneak preview of this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special and Tess triumphed over Terry in the Strictly Come Dance Off! BBC Radio 2 listeners helped raise an amazing £2m, with one anonymous caller bidding £100,000 in the Auction Of Things Money Can't Buy for a guitar master class with Mark Knopfler, while The One Show's Pennies For Pudsey campaign and the Celebrity Scissorhands on BBC Three, helped drive the total even higher. Appeal night represents an exciting crescendo of fundraising activity for Children in Need but tonight's total will continue to rise as the money pours in from the thousands of events already held, or scheduled to happen, around the UK. From cake sales in the office, to talent contests at school, a sponsored litter pick-up, sleepovers in haunted houses, to a 24-hour cycle marathon involving two Paralympians, a huge community of supporters has responded to the "Do Something Different" fundraising theme. And it's still not too late to get involved, either by organising a fundraising event, calling our donation line on 0345 733 2233 or visiting bbc.co.uk/pudsey. David Ramsden, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, said: "I am completely overwhelmed by the way the country has come together in support of BBC Children in Need, demonstrating such generosity in these tough times, and I'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved. "We can now focus our attention on finding more great projects that can change young lives for the better." The Final "On the Night" Total was: £20,991,216. Scotland: £1,751,780 N Ireland: £711,260 Wales: £1,208,812 North West: £1,707,550 East Yorks & Lincs: £390,931 Yorkshire: £1,201,821 North East & Cumbria: £1,020,977 West Midlands: £1,692,356 East Midlands: £784,975 East: £1,765,774 West: £1,014,858 South West: £528,498 South: £1,414,380 South East: £1,055,995 London: £2,741,249 TV Region Total: £18,991,216 Radio 2: £2,000,000 Appeal total: £20,991,216 Notes to Editors The BBC Children in Need in Appeal is a registered charity number 802052. The 2007 BBC Children in Need Appeal raised £19,089,771 on the night and eventually topped £37m. BBC Children in Need's mission is to positively change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. Every year, thanks to public donations and the amazing efforts of fundraisers, schools, businesses and corporate partners, the charity is able to make a difference to thousands of young lives. BBC Children in Need awards grants to organisations working with children aged 18 and under who have mental, physical or sensory disabilities; behavioural or psychological disorders; are living in poverty or situations of deprivation; or suffering through distress, abuse or neglect. The charity is supported by a number of corporate partners including Asda, Boots, Costco, Royal Mail, Greggs, Regenersis, NatWest and our operational partner BT. For more information about BBC Children in Need please visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey. BBC Press Office
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