Children in Need 2023: A Night of Fun and Fundraising

Children in Need is a charity that supports over 2,600 projects across the UK, working 365 days a year to help children and young people facing disadvantages. The charity was founded in 1980 and has raised over £1 billion so far. Every year, the charity organizes a live TV show to showcase the work of the projects and appeal for donations from the public. The show features celebrities, musical performances, comedy sketches, and special editions of popular TV shows. The show also features the iconic mascot of the charity, Pudsey Bear, who wears a bandana over one eye.

When and where to watch the show?

The Children in Need 2023 live show will air on Friday, 17 November 2023 from 7 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The show will be presented by a star-studded line-up of hosts, including Ade Adepitan MBE, Mel Giedroyc, Jason Manford, Chris Ramsey, Lenny Rush, and Alex Scott MBE. The show will be produced by BBC Studios and will last for three hours. You can also catch up on the highlights of the show on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Children in Need website.

What to expect from the show?

The show will be packed with entertainment, surprises, and heart-warming stories from the children and young people who benefit from the charity. Some of the highlights of the show include:

• A special one-off Doctor Who scene starring the fourteenth Doctor, David Tennant, who will reprise his role for the first time since 2010. The scene will also feature a sneak peek of the upcoming Doctor Who series, which will air in 2024.
• A puppet version of MasterChef, where John Torode and Gregg Wallace will judge the culinary skills of some of Britain’s best-loved puppets, such as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Elmo, and Cookie Monster. Who will be crowned MasterChef Puppet Champion for Children in Need?
• A parody of Race Across the World, where three pairs of TV characters will compete to reach the town of Pudsey in Yorkshire. The pairs are Del Boy and Rodney from Only Fools and Horses, Miranda and Gary from Miranda, and Fleabag and the Priest from Fleabag. Along the way, they will encounter some of Yorkshire’s icons, such as the Bronte sisters, the Yorkshire Pudding, and Emmerdale⁴
  .
• A musical medley from the cast of the brand-new stage musical I Should Be So Lucky, which is based on the songs of Stock Aitken Waterman, the legendary producers behind hits from Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Jason Donovan, and more. The medley will include the classic duet Especially For You, performed by a very special duo.
• A performance from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming film Wish, sung by West End star Merryl Ansah. The film, which will be released in 2024, is a musical fantasy about a girl who discovers a magical world where wishes come true.
• A performance from JERUB, a singer-songwriter who will perform his latest single There Till The End, which is inspired by his experience of being supported by a Children in Need project.
• A performance from STAND UNIQU3, the UK’s Junior Eurovision act, who will sing their entry Back to Life, a catchy pop song with a positive message.
• A performance from Leigh-Anne, who will perform her solo track My Love for the first time on TV. Leigh-Anne, who is best known as a member of Little Mix, has been a supporter of Children in Need for many years.
• A performance from the Children in Need Choir, which is composed of children and young people from across the UK who have been supported by the charity. They will sing a heartfelt rendition of You Raise Me, a song that celebrates the power of hope and resilience.
• A challenge from The One Show’s Challenge Squad, which features young people who have taken on various tasks to raise money for Children in Need. They will be joined by some special guest performers to showcase their talents and achievements.
• A segment where celebrities will face the infamous Red Chair from The Graham Norton Show, where a group of children will have their hands on the lever to decide their fate. Will they get to tell their story or will they be flipped?

How to donate and get involved?

You can donate to Children in Need online, by phone, by text, or by post. You can also buy official merchandise, such as Pudsey ears, T-shirts, and wristbands, from the BBC Children in Need shop or from selected retailers. You can also organize your fundraising events, such as bake sales, quizzes, or sponsored challenges, and share your stories and photos on social media using the hashtag #ChildrenInNeed.