Including comedians taking on University Challenge

The BBC has revealed the full details of its Red Nose Day programming next Friday.

Its Comic Relief fundraiser starts at 7pm, hosted by Sir Lenny Henry, Paddy McGuinness, Emma Willis, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, Alesha Dixon, Clara Amfo, Zoe Ball, Joe Sugg and David Tennant.

And highlights over the evening include contributions from  Alan Partridge,  Jennifer Saunders take on Mamma Mia, a Bodyguard spoof, the Four Weddings And A Funeral reunion and a  performance from the cast of Only Fools And Horses The Musical.

Plus there will be a Comic Relief sketch from the cast of BBC Three’s Famalam and the cast of Mischief Theatre – the company behind The Play That Goes Wrong – will perform a live magic trick.

Comic Relief takes over BBC One all night, except for the 10pm to 10.35pm slot occupied by the news, when BBC Two takes over for a celebrity version of  University Challenge.

Here are more details of some of the highlights: 

Mamma Mia! Here We Go (Yet) Again 

Written by Jennifer Saunders as a tribute to last summer’s box office smash hit, Mamma Mia! Here We Go (Yet) Again will feature Alan Carr playing Colin Firth’s Harry and Philip Glenister playing Pierce Brosnan’s Sam. Miranda Hart and Sue Perkins will be returning ten years after Saunders’ last Mamma Mia spoof as the producer and director. The cast also includes Carey Mulligan, Gemma Arterton, Susan Calman, Tom Hollander, Rose Johnson, Lucy Montgomery and Joe ThomasAlan Partridge

Alan Partridge

The current guest presenter of BBC One's This Time, returns to Comic Relief attempting to raise money on the streets of Norwich, joined by his trusty sidekick, Simon Denton (Tim Key)

One Red Nose Day And A Wedding

The cast of Four Weddings And A Funeral reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century for a sketch written by Richard Curtis, writer of the original film and co-founder of Comic Relief.  Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas, John Hannah, Rowan Atkinson, James Fleet, David Haig, Sophie Thompson, David Bower, Robin McCaffrey, Anna Chancellor, Rupert Vansittart, Simon Kunz, Sara Crowe and Timothy Walker all appear in the short film alongside some illustrious guest stars.

Bodyguard

Richard Madden reprises his role as tough guy David Budd,  joined by Sanjeev Bhaskar, Gina McKee, Vincent Franklin and  others.

Daves: The Official Callender

David Walliams rallies a whole host of showbiz Daves to join him in making a Comic Relief charity calendar.

Comic Relief Does University Challenge

David Baddiel takes over hosting duties from Jeremy Paxman with contestants Jason Manford, Emily Atack, Kerry Godliman, Martin Freeman, Robert Rinder, Vick Hope, Luisa Omielan and Darren Harriott compete to win in this one-off special.

  The night will also include a Top Gear segment with Freddie Flintoff, a celebrity phone bank taking calls, and appeal films.

In addition, Celebrity Apprentice For Comic Relief kicks off this Thursday (March 7) with contestants including  Omid Djalili and Russell Kane and football legend Sam Allardyce.

Published: 5 Mar 2019