BBC Children in Need raises more than £50million in record-breaking year
Lexi, a pupil at Hillside Primary School in raising money for Children in Need. Picture is Lex.i Picture: GREGG BROWN
The Children in Need 2017 charity event has raised more than £50.1 million in another record-breaking year.
Hardwick Primary School in Bury St Edmunds received a visit from Pudsey during their BBC Children in Need fund-raising day. Pupils and staff dressed up with the theme "What's Your Thing" where they wore outfits that depicted their hobbies ...or just spots! Picture: ANDY ABBOTT - Credit: Archant
A total of £50,168,562 was donated to the cause thanks to Friday’s star-studded TV appeal - eclipsing last year’s figure of £46.6 million and marking the highest on-the-night total to date.
Schools and businesses in Suffolk and Essex also got in on the act with a number of fundraising activities across the region, which raised the highest amount outside London.
Announcing the amount, presenter Rochelle Humes said: “Sir Terry would be so unbelievably proud.”
The veteran broadcaster hosted the annual BBC event for 35 years until 2015 when poor health forced him to pull out. He passed away in January last year after a battle with cancer.
The charity spectacular delighted audiences with a number of TV treats, including a sneak peek of this year’s Call The Midwife Christmas special, a teaser from the festive episode of Doctor Who, which will see Peter Capaldi’s final outing as the Time Lord, and a surprise revelation from Peter Kay that popular comedy show Car Share would return for a series finale.
There was also a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link, won by Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu, and performances from stars such as Rita Ora, Ore Oduba, The Vamps, Jason Derulo, Beverley Knight, Amber Riley and Cassidy Janson.
Former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry was named winner of the Children In Need Strictly Come Dancing special after impressing judges with his high kicks, while the cast of EastEnders donned old-fashioned costumes for a medley of classic musical numbers in Albert Square, including tracks from Oliver!, Les Miserables and Mary Poppins.
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In a Children in Need first, the cast of Countryfile also had a go at their own medley, opting for hit country tunes from John Denver, Dolly Parton and Nancy Sinatra.
A number of other BBC programmes also helped raise money for the charity, including a massive £7.7 million from Radio 2.
Simon Antrobus, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “People across the UK should feel really proud of what has been achieved.
“The remarkable generosity shown tonight really will go on to make a lasting, positive difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people all across the UK. Thank you.”
