If there's one thing we're in need of right now as a nation, it's a bit of laughter, that's why we're excited to watch Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2024.
You can expect live performances, brilliant sketches and some special surprises from a star-studded line-up to help raise vital funds for important causes.
What is Comic Relief?
This huge charity event has been taking place for over 30 years and it aims to bring people of the UK together to help those in need. Red Nose Day is where people do something funny for money and Sport Relief is where people do a sporting challenge to raise money.
The money raised will be used to help those in the UK and abroad combat issues including homelessness, hunger, domestic abuse, and mental health problems, all of which have been heightened due to the pandemic.
When is Red Nose Day 2024?
This year, Comic Relief Red Nose Day will be held on Friday 15th March and it will be broadcasted live from Salford across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Comic Relief presenters
Hosted by Sir Lenny Henry and David Tennant, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Paddy McGuiness, Maya Jama, Romesh Ranganathan and Rosie Ramsay, this year's is set to be even bigger and better.
Sir Lenny Henry
After 39 years of hosting Comic Relief Red Nose Day, Lenny Henry is taking a back seat on the presenting side, but he will still be very much involved with the charity.
Speaking to the BBC, Lenny said, "I love Comic Relief and I’ve been doing it for 39 years. I’m a Life President for the charity and I’m still going to be supporting other Comic Relief and Red Nose Day projects throughout the year, like recruiting new talent, doing voiceovers etc. so I’ll still be around just not onscreen. I think it is time to hand over the reins because there is an extraordinary new generation of talent and we need to give these people and their audiences access to what Comic Relief can do and how we can raise money together."
Maya Jama
Joining this year's line up is DJ and television presenter Maya Jama.
Speaking about being a host for the first time, she said, "It feels incredible. It's such a special and worthy show and a lovely night of the year, so I'm thrilled to be a part of it."
David Tennant
Actor David Tennant is back hosting Comic Relief. He has also appeared on Red Nose Day Doctor Who sketches in previous years.
Davina McCall
TV presenter Davina McCall has raised lots of money over the years for Comic Relief, and now she's back hosting segments of the 2024 Red Nose Day.
Romesh Ranganathan
Comedian, podcaster, actor and soon-to-be BBC Radio 2 host Romesh Ranganathan is another previous presenter who's taking back the reigns this year.
Romesh told the BBC, "I grew up watching the show - it has been ingrained into my psyche as part of British culture - so the opportunity to host again is one that I am extremely grateful for. I will probably regret the earnestness of this answer later."
Paddy McGuiness
Paddy McGuiness is glad to be involved with Red Nose Day again. He says that the show is so dear to the public: "On the whole, we’re a selfless nation of good eggs. The generosity from the Great British public is a testament to that."
Rosie Ramsey
It will be Rosie Ramsey's first year hosting Comic Relief Red Nose Day.
She is proud to be joining the line-up, and said to the BBC "It’s an honour and a privilege to be asked to be part of such a national institution and huge night of TV. I have so many fond memories of watching over the years so it’s actually pretty surreal knowing I’ll be part of it on the night."
Joel Dommett
Completing this 2024 Red Nose Day list of presenters is comedian and television host Joel Dommett.
Who's performing for Red Nose Day 2024?
As, always, there will be a host of famous faces doing their bit for Red Nose Day this year:
•Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reunite to bring you a Red Nose Day message
•Alan Partridge's regional radio show will be returning with a special guest
•Just For One Day, the Live Aid Musical, will perform a special medley
•There will be a hunt for cast members to join Claudia Winkleman's The Traitors: The Movie
•Martin Lewis the money maestro, The Gladiators and darts sensation Luke Littler will also be making appearances
Additional programming for Comic Relief
Snow Going Back: Comic Relief vs the Arctic - Monday 11th March, 9pm, BBC One and BBC iPlayer
This show captures every step of Laura Whitmore, Alex Scott, Sara Davies and Vicky Pattinson's extraordinary trek across the Arctic to raise money for Comic Relief.
Red Peter - Friday 15th March, 5pm, CBBC and BBC iPlayer
Blue Peter is once again being renamed ‘Red Peter’ for an epic Red Nose Day special. This children's TV show will feature Blue Peter style challenges for their hosts Abby, Joel and Shini and fun dress-up segments.
CBeebies Bedtime Story - Friday 15th March, 6pm, CBeebies and BBC iPlayer
Actor Lenny Rush will be reading the funny kids' book 'Not Now, Bernard' by David McKee.
Comic Relief: A Whole Lotta Lenny - Friday 15th March, 10.40pm, BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Alex Jones and Sir Lenny Henry look back on his decades-long stint hosting Red Nose Day, with rolling VT s of his greatest moment as chosen by The One Show viewers.
Sir Lenny Henry said, “While this will be my last year of presenting Red Nose Day, I’ll still be involved in other Comic Relief projects throughout the year. But I think it is time to hand over the onscreen reins to some new names. This year the show is going to be chock-a-block full of content and all of your favourite presenters. It will probably be the best night of my life because it’s my last year hosting and I know there’s going to be loads of surprises and fun in store. You have to tune in for that!"
Where can I buy Comic Relief red noses?
If you're wondering where to buy a red nose for Red Nose Day, check out TK Maxx or Amazon, where they are currently selling the most sustainable Comic Relief merchandise to date.
Best Red Nose Day noses
AmazonDescription
For just £2, you can purchase your very own red nose - with at least half of your purchase going directly to Comic Relief - but with a 1 in 166 chance to get your hands on a rare golden nose, which one will you get?
There's also a family pack option which will get you four noses and you can can the QR code inside your box for an extra special surprise.
A reviewer said: "I bought two of these and I got the one that looks exactly like me! Smirklethorpe and I are twins because we both wear rounded glasses! I love Smirklethorpe, he’s one of the best this year."
Best for on the go
AmazonDescription
Slurp in style with a Red Nose Day Water Bottle! It comes in the traditional Comic Relief/Red Nose red and white colours and it features double-wall vacuum insulation to keep hot drinks warm and cold drinks cool.
A reviewer put: "Needed a bottle found this one that was cheap and even helped a great cause. It is heavy (as in doesn't feel cheap but not hard to carry). Exactly like the picture, did hold my drink cold for a few hours."
Best for pets
AmazonDescription
Even your four-legged friends can get involved with a super cute Red Nose Day Dog Bandana. Available in sizes small, medium and large, it simply clips up at the back (like a collar).
One happy reviewer said: "Bought these to show our support for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day. Dogs are into them! Great quality. Very happy with purchase. We ordered a large and a medium, and probably could have ordered a medium and a small, but the collar is adjustable so they work well for us."
Red Nose Day 2024 single
In previous years, the likes of One Direction, Cliff Richard and Peter Kay have taken on the Comic Relief single, and this year it's Paloma Faith's turn, with the song Enjoy Yourself (The Red Nose Day Edition).
How much did Comic Relief raise in 2023?
Last year's appeal's huge success, with a whopping £35 million raised in total.
Our favourite past Red Nose Day sketches
Luther
Idris Elba dons his infamous Luther coat and is joined by Lenny Henry, Rio Ferdinand, David Haye, Denise Lewis, Cecilia Noble, Louis Smith, Ruth Wilson and Ian Wright.
Smithy meets the England Football Team
James Corden's Smithy (from Gavin and Stacey) stumbles into an England football team meeting in this 2009 sketch. It also features sporting legends David Beckham, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, David James, Peter Crouch and Michael Carrick.
Vicar of Dibley
Dawn French returned to her character of Geraldine Granger for this comedy special where she was joined by special guest, Reverend Kate Bottley.
Line of Duty
Comedian Lee Mack plays a not-so-professional lawyer to bent copper Jason Issacs in this Line of Duty "deleted scene".
2020: The Movie
Starring Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Keira Knightley, Michael Sheen and KSI among many other special guests, this is a disaster movie like no other.
Comic Opera
The English National Opera are pushing five comedians to their limits in a unique challenge where they must learn to be opera singers before performing in front of the nation.
Jack Whitehall's Zoom Meeting
Jack Whitehall tries to host a Comic Relief Zoom meeting with some of his celebrity friends including Olivia Colman and Anya Taylor-Joy.
All by Myself the Music Video
Mel Giedroyc guest stars as Bridget Jones in this parody of the famous opening scene of Bridget Jones’ Diary.
Staged
David Tennant and Michael Sheen give us an insight into their lockdown series.
Top Gear - Radio 1’s Kids Ask Difficult Questions
In this ‘very candid’ interview, children ask the Top Gear presenters Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris the most difficult questions they’ve EVER faced, hosted by Radio 1’s Jordan North!
Tim Vine's Joke In A Box
Tim surprises the unsuspecting servicemen and women who’ve spent some of the last 12 months assisting frontline medical staff with Covid testing and vaccine deliveries.
Back To The Future: The Musical
Marty, Doc and Jennifer from Back To The Future: The Musical appears in a very special show for Comic Relief.
Comic Relief does Cinderella
Bridgerton's Rege-Jean Page stars as Prince Charming in this festive themed pantomime special.
Normal People vs Fleabag
The award-winning Normal People and Fleabag join forces to create a brilliantly funny Comic Relief special.
Charley Mackesy’s Time Lapse Of Comic Relief Drawing
The iconic British artist and illustrator creates a beautiful drawing for Comic Relief.
As well as all the funny sketches above, there were plenty heart-warming appeal videos to see exactly where our money is going and the good causes any donations will support.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.