March 16th 2024.
Get ready for the exciting details, because the final amount raised by Comic Relief for Red Nose Day 2024 has just been revealed! This event was jam-packed with special appearances from some of our favorites, including Julia Roberts, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, and Liam Neeson. And let's not forget the musical performance by Paloma Faith and the hilarious spoof of The Traitors. But what made this year's show even more special was that it marked Sir Lenny Henry's final time co-hosting the annual programme.
Sir Lenny, who was born in Dudley and is now 65 years old, co-founded Comic Relief back in 1985 together with Love Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis. Even though he will no longer be hosting the show, he will continue to serve as life president. His decision to step down earlier this year was met with mixed emotions, as he reflected on the organization's humble beginnings and never expected it to still be going strong after nearly 40 years.
During the show, Sir Lenny revealed the much-anticipated final total of donations raised for Red Nose Day 2024. And let me tell you, it was a whopping amount! His announcement on BBC One left everyone in awe as he shared, "Red Nose nation, your generosity has brought tonight's total, so far, to a phenomenal £37,019,832." And that wasn't even the first total of the night, which was revealed to be £21,700,628.
The money raised by Red Nose Day goes towards various organizations that tackle important issues like homelessness, poverty, mental health, and other causes in the UK and around the world. Comic Relief is a UK charity with a mission to help those in need, whether it's by providing food, shelter, or safety for children.
But just how much did they raise last year? Well, the charity managed to raise over £30,000,000 with a three-hour live show that included sketches with The Traitors and a performance by Kylie Minogue. It was also the first time the show was hosted by someone other than Sir Lenny, with Doctor Who star David Tennant and presenters AJ Odudu, Joel Dommett, Paddy McGuinness, and Zoe Ball taking the reins.
Since its inception in 1985, Comic Relief has raised an incredible amount of over £1.5 billion from generous donations. And it all started with Sir Lenny co-hosting the first-ever Comic Relief show in 1988, which raised an impressive £15,000,000 in just eight hours of TV comedy. His legacy and dedication to the cause were reflected on during the show, with Davina McCall calling him "irreplaceable."
As the final curtain fell on Sir Lenny's last time hosting the Red Nose Day fundraiser, he humbly stated, "I don't want to make too much fuss, it's been an honor and a joy... it's so not about me, it's about the mirth and the money, it's about comedy and compassion." But the show was far from over, with the cast of W1A reuniting to search for a new host, Steve Coogan appearing as his famous character Alan Partridge, and a special musical performance by the West End stage show Just For One Day, based on the iconic 1985 benefit concert Live Aid.
And in a hilarious music video, Sir Lenny joked about turning 10 Downing Street into a "dope ass Premier Inn" while singing a parody of the Oscar-nominated song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie Barbie. He even poked fun at the fact that he had thought of the song way before actor Ryan Gosling performed it at the Academy Awards this year.
If you've got a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency. You can email us, give us a call, or visit our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you! And if you missed out on all the fun, don't worry, you can catch the full Comic Relief 2024 show on BBC iPlayer.
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