The BBC has announced a special night of entertainment that will raise funds for both BBC Children In Need and Comic Relief to respond to the coronavirus crisis.
The Big Night In will see the two BBC’s main charity partners fundraising together for the first time and will feature a range of celebrities and artists.
The show will be broadcast live but social distancing will be respected. This means that some musicians could perform from home.
Funds will be divided between BBC Children In Need and Comic Relief and will then be used “to provide essential support to local charities, projects and programmes across the UK to help those most in need.”
Charlotte Moore, director BBC Content, said: "BBC One will bring the nation together for this special one off live charity event. I would like to thank both BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief for joining forces in these unprecedented times to provide their support to local charities, projects and programmes across the whole UK; and to all of the stars taking part in this unmissable night of entertainment when the country needs it most."
Simon Antrobus, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “These are challenging times for all of us, and the pandemic will have a significant impact on the most vulnerable people in our society. The Big Night In will offer the chance for everyone to (virtually) get together to celebrate the kindness and heroism of those making a real difference in their communities, and to support people across the UK who need our help now more than ever.”
Ruth Davison, chief executive of Comic Relief, said: “Throughout this extraordinary time the kindness and community spirit of people across the country has been outstanding. The Big Night In is the perfect opportunity to praise the heroes who are caring for us, feeding us, and lifting our spirits as we continue to help people most in need.”
Sport Relief, organised by Comic Relief and including an evening a telethon on BBC One was held on 13 March and raised £40.5m on the night.
Children in Need takes place in November and last year raised nearly £60m.
The Big Night In will be broadcast on BBC One on 23 April from 7pm to 10pm.
The public will be able to support to BBC Children In Need and Comic Relief’s coronavirus appeal at Sainsbury’s stores and on its website by adding a donation to their bill. The retailer, which is a regular partner of Comic Relief, has also pledged to match all donations made by customers in-store and online between 9 April and 1 May.
