UK public digs deep yet again

UK charities look set to share another bumper year from Children in Need.

More than £39m was raised by the end of the weekend's BBC Children in Need live show, which featured appearances from Ed Sheeran, Graham Norton and Abba.

The total amount pledged by the time the show came off on BBC One was £39,389,048.

Last year's on-the-night total reached more than £37million, later growing to £57m.

Ahead of this year's show, BBC weatherman Owain Wyn Evans made Children in Need history after his drumathon became the charity's most successful 24-hour challenge, making more than £3m.

This fundraising figure is particularly impressive since, like last year, the BBC scaled back Children in Need to a three-hour primetime spot on BBC One rather than an all-night event as in years past.

The 2021 Children in Need show had one format change from prior telethons, in that it was the first hosted live from the BBC's Media City UK studios in Salford.

Mel Giedroyc, Graham Norton, Chris Ramsey and Alex Scott presented a night of comedy, entertainment, music and appeals from some of the biggest names in showbiz all to raise money for the most vulnerable.

EastEnders cast member Danny Dyer brought back his intimidating gameshow The Wall with CBBC presenters Sam and Mark taking on the Freefall to win money for children.

Also included was a touching mini-episode of tear-jerker The Repair Shop, while Paddy McGuinness and his panel of Jimmy Carr, Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond and Pudsey Bear guessed BBC News presenters on a special edition of I Can See Your Voice.