It remains one of the nation's favourite fundraisers

One of the sector’s biggest fundraising events was down £4 million on last year’s total.

Red Nose Day’s on-the-night total fell coinciding with the absence of its co-founder and presenter Sir Lenny Henry.

Organisers however said the annual fundraiser still raised an incredible amount with this year’s total sitting at £35.6m.

Events included BBC Radio 1 presenter Jamie Laing running five consecutive ultramarathons in five days, which raised £2m.

Motorsports racing driver-turned-commentator and pundit Billy Monger was also featured as he became the youngest double leg amputee to complete an ironman world championship, in Kona, Hawaii.

Monger earned two Guinness World Records titles for his efforts and raised £1.2m.

A Comic Relief spokesperson said: “We called on the nation to come together and do something funny for money, to help spread joy and raise spirits while raising vital funds this Red Nose Day.

“Considering this comes at a time when we know so many people are having to make increasingly difficult choices every day just to get by, they have gone above and beyond.

“We are incredibly grateful to the public and our partners for the wonderful generosity that they’ve shown in helping us raise £35,669,021 so far, with more coming in.”