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| Children in Need | |
|---|---|
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| Also known as | BBC Children in Need |
| Genre | Charity telethon |
| Created by | BBC Studios |
| Presented by |
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| Narrated by | Alan Dedicoat |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production locations |
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| 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 – present |
| Related | |
| Comic Relief (1988–present) Sport Relief (2002–2020) | |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
BBC Children in Need (also promoted as Plant mewn Angen in Wales)[2] is the BBC's UK charity for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. Between 1980 and 2023, it has raised over £1 billion for them.[3]
An annual telethon is held in November and televised on BBC One and BBC Two. Pudsey Bear has been BBC Children in Need's mascot since 1985, whilst Sir Terry Wogan was its long-standing host for 35 years. A prominent annual event in British television, Children in Need is one of two high-profile British telethons. It is the only charity belonging to the BBC, the other telethon being Red Nose Day, supporting Comic Relief.
Following the closure of the BBC Television Centre, the telethon broadcasts took place at the BBC Elstree Centre from 2013 to 2020.[4] The telethon previously lasted for up to 7 hours, but since 2020, it has been reduced to a 3 hour programme from 7pm until 10pm.[5] In relation to the event having content designed for family viewing, the watershed is delayed until 11:30pm.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the telethon was reduced to a singular programme with only four presenters: Mel Giedroyc, Alex Scott, Chris Ramsey and Stephen Mangan.[6] As of November 2021, the annual telethon takes place at Dock10, MediaCityUK in Salford.[7] In October 2023, it was reported that, for the first time in Children in Need history, the BBC's 2023 appeal broadcast would have its first child co-presenter, with children's TV star and upcoming Doctor Who actor Lenny Rush taking on the role.[8]
- ^ "BBC's Children in Need and Comic Relief's Red Nose Day set to broadcast live from dock10 studios". Dock10. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC Nations – Wales – Elusennau". Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ^ "BBC Children in Need – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "BBC – Star-studded presenter line-up announced for BBC Children in Need 2017 – Media Centre". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ "BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2022, Live Show". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ "BBC – BBC Children in Need returns to BBC One on Friday 13 November at 7pm, live from BBC Elstree Studios – Media Centre". bbc.co.uk. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "The BBC's Children in Need appeal now took place in dock10 studios in Manchester, located on behalf of MediaCityUK, that will be a new home for Pudsey and its presenters".
- ^ "BBC – Lenny Rush joins BBC Children in Need presenting line-up – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.