Children In Need 2020 kicks off on BBC One

Children In Need 2020: Alex Scott wows in an LBD while Joe Wicks is left stunned as he raises over £2.2 MILLION of £37 million total donated during BBC One show’s first virtual telethon

  • The former Strictly star, 36, hosted the show with Chris Ramsey, 34, Mel Giedroyc, 52, and Stephen Mangan for its 40th year, which earned a total of £37 million
  • Making an appearance on the show, Joe was told his 24 hour challenge raised over £2.1 million, and later in the show it was announced the number had risen to £2,248,479 
  • When he discovered how much he raised, Joe said: ‘That is incredible. I can’t believe… times are tough and people have been so generous’
  • The Body Coach star admitted he ‘didn’t know how’ he got through the experience and confessed he felt as though he’d been out partying for days 

2020 marks the 40th year of the charity’s fundraising efforts. 

And, on Friday night Alex Scott, 36, looked sensational in a little black dress as she hosted the first ever virtual version of Children In Need on BBC One, which earned £37 million in total.

During an exciting moment, the former Strictly star revealed to a stunned Joe Wicks that his 24 hour challenge raised over £2.1 million of the total, and later in the show it was announced the number had risen to £2,248,479.  

Gorgeous: On Friday night Alex Scott, 36, looked sensational in a little black dress as joined Chris Ramsey, 34, Mel Giedroyc, 52, and Stephen Mangan, 52, to host Children In Need on BBC One on Saturday

Alex oozed elegance in her A-symmetric frock, which boasted a pretty ruffled hemline, and boosted her height with strappy stilettos.

The Strictly star styled her raven tresses into a slick-back ponytail, and used long, straight hair extensions to add an extra dose of glamour. 

In an exciting moment, Joe Wicks came on to the show discuss his epic 24 hour PE challenge, and was there was in was revealed that he raised over £2.1million for Children In Need.

‘That is incredible. I can’t believe… times are tough and people have been so generous. To raise 2 million is so much money and it’s going to help so many children so thank you to everyone that helped!’ enthused Joe.   

OMG! During an exciting moment, the former Strictly star revealed to a STUNNED Joe Wicks that his 24 hour challenge raised over £2.2 million of the total amount

Donations: At the end of the show it was announced the public had donated £37 million in total

Incredible achievement: Children In Need announced Joe raised £2,108,29 and he said in shock: ‘wow that’s a lot’


Amazing: ‘That is incredible. I can’t believe… times are tough and people have been so generous. To raise 2 million is so much money and it’s going to help so many children so thank you to everyone that helped!’ enthused Joe


Struggle: Of the challenge, Joe admitted: ‘It’s been the longest day and night of my life. I’ve only had 2.5 hours sleep today, so I’m going to sleep all day. You know you have that adrenaline running through your body still, so I’m so exhausted’

Delighted: After appearing in the show, Joe shared a video taken of him on stage and thanked the public for their ‘kindness and generosity’ in donating to the charity

The Body Coach star admitted he ‘didn’t know how’ he got through the experience and confessed he felt as though he’d been out partying for days.

He said: ‘I honestly don’t know how I did it. It’s been the longest day and night of my life. I’ve only had 2.5 hours sleep today, so I’m going to sleep all day. You know you have that adrenaline running through your body still, so I’m so exhausted. 

‘My body aches, my bum, my legs, my feet. Everything. I’m so proud of what we’ve done. We’ve come together. People have been so kind and generous and raised money through that challenge.

‘This is not just about me exercising. We’ve bought millions of kids together exercising. Being inspired by fitness. Changing their mindsets, and raising money for such an amazing charity.

‘I don’t know how I got through it, but it was all the lovely guests, all the DMs and tweets that came through. The support. The music got me through it, the messages. I feel so disoriented. Feel like I’ve been out partying for two days!’ 

Hosts with the most! The former footballer, the comedian, the presenter and the Green Wing actor were glammed up to the nines for the night of fundraising


Glam: Mel added a pop of colour to her black trousers and sparkly black blouse with a pair of eye-catching hot pink heels

Dapper: Comedian Chris looked dapper in a black suit and crisp white shirt, tying everything together with a black tie


Easy breezy: Stephen open for more casual attire, opting to forgo wearing a tie in favour of an open-collared pink shirt beneath a navy suit

Explaining that during the early hours of the morning, Joe revealed how much he struggled.

He admitted: ‘My lower back was so tight. I thought I’m not going to get through it. But Dr Greg was there to help me. Clicking my back and giving me foot rubs. It was a team effort and everyone who arranged it – it was an amazing effort.’

After his phenomenal amount was unveiled, Joe was awarded with a gold Blue Peter badge for his efforts during lockdown.  

Blue Peter’s Lindsay Russell walked on to give Joe a ‘surprise’ talks about his effort in lockdown doing the PE lessons.

She explained how a little girl called Nelly wrote in a letter to say that Joe’s online classes kept her family going through lockdown, and wanted him to be recognised in a special way

Diddy TV: Next up, Diddy TV (presenters Dick and Dom) interviewed three members of Little Mix, who were transformed into miniature versions of themselves with the help of puppets

Joe was awarded a gold Blue Peter badge, with little Nelly coming onto the stage to give it to him.  

Comedian Chris looked dapper in a black suit and crisp white shirt, tying everything together with a black tie. 

Mel added a pop of colour to her black trousers and sparkly black blouse with a pair of eye-catching hot pink heels.    

Stephen open for more casual attire, opting to forgo wearing a tie in favour of an open-collared pink shirt beneath a navy suit.  

Alex was joined Chris Ramsey, 34, Mel Giedroyc, 52, and Stephen Mangan, 52, to take turns presenting different segments.

The former footballer, the comedian, the presenter and the Green Wing actor were glammed up to the nines for the night of fundraising.    

The evening kicked off with a special performance from Kids Bop who took viewers through decades of hit songs. 

So funny! Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall placed their heads above tiny puppets with the arms used without their control, resulting in utter hilarity


Amused: Jade tried to keep to the script but started laughing as she broke character

Hilarious: The trio couldn’t stop laughing as their voices came out high-pitched while talking

Next up, Diddy TV (presenters Dick and Dom) interviewed three members of Little Mix, who were transformed into miniature versions of themselves with the help of puppets.

Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall placed their heads above tiny puppets with the arms used without their control, and their voices distorted to sound incredibly high-pitched, resulting in utter hilarity.

Jesy Nelson didn’t appear alongside her bandmates, after she was recently forced to pull out of co-hosting the EMA’s due to illness.

Paloma and Nile appeared live via Zoom to chat about their excitement to see the Children In Need music video for the first time.

Excited! Paloma Faith and Nile Rodgers appeared live via Zoom to chat about their excitement to see the Children In Need music video for the first time


Awkward! Paloma enthused of the charity’s work but was awkwardly cut off by presenter Chris who wanted to give Nile some airtime

Paloma enthused of the charity’s work: ‘It’s super important. Even more so now, because I’m a parent, and one on the way, and I just feel is much compassion and empathy for what those children are going through.’

Continuing her emotional speech, Paloma said: ‘Those kids are heroes. They are so inspiring. This charity really promotes that heroism!’ but was awkwardly cut off by presenter Chris who wanted to give Nile some airtime.

Nile added of his involvement in the charity: ‘It touches your heart. It inspired you to be better yourself.’

Marcus Rashford appeared on the show to discuss children going hungry with the lack of free school meals following the government’s decision to vote against the extension of them.

Having experience it himself, he explained: ‘As a kid I just learned to appreciate the days I did have food, and in the nights when I didn’t I would just go to sleep so I didn’t have to think about it. 


Candid: Marcus Rashford appeared on the show to discuss children going hungry with the lack of free school meals following the government’s decision to vote against the extension of them

Star power: Shawn Mendes also appeared on the show to perform one of his songs, which he filmed in an empty studio

‘To go to sleep hungry isn’t a nice feeling, at the moment I see a lot of families that are really struggling I think some people don’t want to believe that is happening but there are a lot of children that are suffering we have to protect our kids, because that’s the country.’

Shawn Mendes also appeared on the show to perform one of his songs, which he filmed in an empty studio.

In an amusing skit filmed before the coronavirus pandemic, Andy Murray and Peter Crouch went head-to-head in a game of Paddle Tennis, with the latter causing hilarity when he started cheating on the advice of Tim Henman. 

Earlier in the show, host Alex announced that Noel Gallagher hac donated his Stop Crying Your Heart Out single presentation plaque to Children In Need. 

Match: In an amusing skit filmed before the coronavirus pandemic, Andy Murray and Peter Crouch went head-to-head in a game of Paddle Tennis


Come on, Andy! The Tennis ace seemed at ease on the paddle tennis court as he played against Peter

Messing around: Peter caused hilarity when he started cheating and trying to get on Andy’s nerves  so that he could win


Long time, no see! Peter cheated upon the advice of Tim Henman, who he called to ask how he could beat Andy

In a change to past years, Strictly Come Dancing held a special performance alongside fans of the show as they followed along with pre-recorded tutorials from the 2020 stars and professionals.

The various videos were then cut together to create a wonderful performance, after COVID-19 restrictions meant the show could not do the type of competition they would usually put on.

Pop stars Cher, Kylie Minogue, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams, Paloma, and a slew of other stars performed the song in a special pre-recorded performance that wowed viewers. 

Joining the pair on the track were Izzy Bizu, Clean Bandit, Mel C, Jamie Cullum, Ella Eyre, Rebecca Ferguson, Jess Glynne and Sheku Kanneh-Mason. 

Showstoppers: In a change to past years, Strictly Come Dancing held a special performance alongside fans of the show as they followed along with pre-recorded tutorials from the 2020 stars and professionals

Doing their best: The various videos were then cut together to create a wonderful performance, after COVID-19 restrictions meant the show could not do the type of competition they would usually put on


Wow! Pop stars Cher, Kylie Minogue, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams, Paloma, and a slew of other stars performed the song in a special pre-recorded performance that wowed viewers

 Music legend: Cher also took part in the special version of the song which helps raise money for the charity

Rounding out the line-up are KSI, Lauv, Ava Max, James Morrison, Gregory Porter, Nile Rodgers, Jack Savoretti, Jay Sean, Anoushka Shankar, Robbie Williams and Yola. 

Danny Dyer also made an appearance on the show, as he hosted a special edition of The Wall alongside his EastEnders co-stars to raise money for Children In Need.

Children news readers delighted fans as they discussed how the public helped to raise money on behalf of the charity with the help of mascot Pudsey. 

In an awkward moment, Mel talked over a man named Brian, who was named the winner of fundraiser of the year, after sound issues meant she was unable to hear him. 

Brian was unable to talk about the amount he raised for the charity in honour of his son who was an avid supporter of the charity but passed away at the age of 17.

Doing his part: Danny Dyer also made an appearance on the show, as he hosted a special edition of The Wall alongside his EastEnders co-stars to raise money for Children In Need

Save the arts: Carrie Hope Fletcher performed the song Bad Cinderella from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella The Musical, and the composer also took part in the performance


Beautiful: Beverly Knight gave a moving performance of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here

Great performance: The cast of the musical Six also took to the stage to perform a song from their production

Later in the show Mel apologised for talking over Brian, and informed viewers that he would be appearing on BBC’s Morning Live on Monday instead. 

BBC Children in Need exists to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

Since its first major Appeal in 1980 BBC Children in Need has raised over £1 billion, and is currently supporting over 3000 local charities and projects in communities across the UK

These charities help children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma. 

Technology gaffe: In an awkward moment, Mel talked over a man named Brian (pictured), who was named the winner of fundraiser of the year, after sound issues meant she was unable to hear him

Unfortunate: Brian was unable to talk about the amount he raised for the charity in honour of his son who was an avid supporter of the charity but passed away at the age of 17, and Mel later apologised for cutting him off

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