CHILDREN In Need takes place this week, and a television extravaganza is expected to help draw in millions of pounds. HELEN JOHNS brings a taster of what you can expect to see on screen, and hear on the radio.

CHILDREN In Need takes place this week, and a television extravaganza is expected to help draw in millions of pounds. HELEN JOHNS brings a taster of what you can expect to see on screen, and hear on the radio.

NOW into it's 27th year, the BBC Children In Need appeal has grown in one of the best known and loved annual events.

Put together to raise millions of pounds for charity, the appeal brings with it an evening of television entertainment from the stars and celebrities who want to do their bit.

While fundraisers across the country are sitting in baths of beans and having their chests waxed, Friday night will see BBC1 taken over by Pudsey Bear and his team of eager entertainers.

Among those set to take part in the seven hour BBC1 show this year are pop bands Girls Aloud, All Saints, Take That and Emma Bunton, the casts of Holby City, The Bill, Bad Girls, and Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps; the stars of Strictly Come Dancing, How Clean Is Your House presenters Kim and Aggie, and many more who will all join Children in Need veteran host Terry Wogan along with Natasha Kaplinsky and Fearne Cotton.

Every penny raised on the night goes directly to children and young people in need across the UK.

Back in Ipswich, Pudsey bear will become editor of the Evening Star on Friday. He will get his paws into every area of the paper, from sending reporters out on jobs to debating the forthcoming derby match with our sports writers.

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Don't forget to pick up a copy of the Evening Star on Friday to read all about Pudsey's adventures - 2p from every copy sold will be donated to Children in Need.

Email a pic, or let us know about your Children in Need charity events by calling The Evening Star news desk on 01473 324788.

A charity CD of Christmas tunes is to raise funds for Children In Need, and the Evening Star's Christmas Appeal.

Cool Yule will feature popular bands and singer/songwriters from the area - selected by radio presenter and Star columnist Stephen Foster - who have recorded brand new festive songs or special versions of originals.

Money raised will be split 50/50 between the two good causes - The Evening Star's Christmas appeal is due to be announced this week.

Cool Yule is due to be available from early December.

TERRY Wogan, Natasha Kaplinsky and Fearne Cotton will have their work cut out presenting the Friday night show on BBC1, which will keep them busy from 7pm until 1.25am.

There will be dancing in the aisles as Emma Bunton gives a performance of Downtown, the official BBC Children in Need single, along with friends from Strictly Come Dancing.

There is a festival-full of other top music acts performing on the night including: Girls Aloud, Take That, All Saints, Lemar, Sugababes, James Morrison, McFly, Ronan Keating and David Cassidy.

BBC stars including the casts of Holby City and Two Pints of Lager and the ever-daring BBC Newsreaders will be showing themselves in an entirely unexpected light.

From the soaps, we're joined by heart-throbs and Coronation Street stars Richard Fleeshman and Bradley Walsh each performing one of their favourite songs.

The cast of Hollyoaks will also be in the studio for a musical performance.

Cleaners Kim and Aggie hit the road with legendary rockers Status Quo and ask How Clean is Your Tourbus?

To top it all, there're also plenty of treats in store for fans of the West End as the casts of the hottest shows perform one of their show-stopping numbers.

Stars from Dirty Dancing, Avenue Q, Evita and Wicked will all be there so standing ovations will need to be at the ready.

Newsreader and former Strictly Come Dancing champion Natasha is looking forward to the long evening: "Children in Need is one of the highlights of my year and I'm thrilled to be part of the presenting line-up,” she said.

“I am always so amazed at how much money is raised - let's hope this year we'll raise even more money than before. I will also be joining my newsroom colleagues for our traditional ritual humiliation song and dance extravaganza on the night."

Children In Need will be on BBC1 on Friday from 7pm until 1.25am - there will be at half hour break for the news at 10.30pm.

Radio Two has been running its annual Wake Up To Wogan Auction of things that money can't buy.

Each morning Terry has invited listeners to bid for various lots, all of which offer a truly unique experience and the auction ends tomorrow .

Auctioneer Paul Viney has been on hand with his trusty gavel to ensure fair play.

The auction lots have included afternoon tea with Elaine Paige followed by a trip to the Premiere of The Sound of Music; the chance to accompany Terry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2007; tickets to the prestigious UK Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; the opportunity to rub shoulders with top footballers at the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year Awards dinner; and a day with the Daleks on the set of the next series of Dr Who.

On Friday, early morning presenter Sarah Kennedy will get the Radio Two Music Marathon for BBC Children In Need underway - giving listeners the opportunity to request their favourite tracks.

The non-stop music continues throughout the day in Wake Up To Wogan, Ken Bruce, Jeremy Vine, Steve Wright and concludes with Chris Evans at 7pm. Special celebrity guests will pop in throughout the day.

To request your favourite song and donate money, call 0500 221122 or see www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.

Children In Need - Where the money goes:

£260 could pay for one course teaching 'independence skills' to children with severe physical disabilities.

£85 would pay for one 'household starter pack' for a homeless 16-year-old attempting to escape life on the streets.

£17 could pay for one session of therapy for a sexually abused child or teenager.

£15 could pay for one session of counselling for a child affected by violence at home.

£5 could pay for a Christmas present for a child from a homeless family.

Since it began in 1980, the BBC Children in Need Appeal has raised over £410m for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Each year the proceeds are divided into individual grants to registered charities, projects and voluntary and community groups around the UK - that focus on improving children's lives

An average grant given out by the charity is around £10,000 but it also gives extra-large and extra-small grants, typically from £100 to £150,000.

The single largest grant given by the charity was for £900,000 to the Frank Buttle Trust in 2005.

Every single penny donated goes directly into a grant. All the charity's administration costs, promotional materials and salaries are paid for out of the interest accumulated on the money raised.

Here's your essential guide on how to help.

By phone: 0845 733 2233. Calls are charged at local rate.

Online: make a donation at bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Donations may also be made at all high street banks, building societies and at the Post Office.

Donations can be made via any HSBC cashpoint.

Satellite viewers can make donations using the interactive button on their handset.

Cable and Freeview viewers can find out how to make a donation by using the interactive button on their handset.

Check out the BBC Children in Need website at bbc.co.uk/pudsey for further information about the charity.

BT, Boots, Asda and HSBC are the principal corporate supporters of BBC Children in Need 2005.

The next closing date for grant applications November 30, 2006.

THE BBC's first broadcast appeal for children took place in 1927, as a five-minute radio broadcast on Christmas Day. It raised around £1,143, which equates to about £27,150 by today's standards.