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Stars join Children in Need fun Children in Need hits £20.3m mark
(about 5 hours later)
Children in Need, the BBC's annual telethon, has raised millions of pounds for charity on a fun-filled night. The BBC's annual Children in Need show - featuring a host of stage, screen and music stars - has raised £20.3m.
EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing and Dragon's Den stars appeared early on the seven-hour show, hosted by Alesha Dixon, Sir Terry Wogan and Tess Daly. Performers from EastEnders, The Bill and the One Show were among those on the seven-hour show, hosted by Alesha Dixon, Sir Terry Wogan and Tess Daly.
Peter Kay joined dozens of children's TV characters to launch the official single and dance group Diversity spiced up the BBC newsreaders' routine. Peter Kay launched the official single, featuring dozens of children's TV characters, while dance group Diversity spiced up the BBC newsreaders' routine.
The £20.3m raised was just short of the total at the same point last year. The total fell just short of the figure raised at the same point last year.
Last year's event went on to raise a record £38m.
Other highlights of Friday's TV show included an exclusive preview of the Doctor Who Christmas episode, stars of Hollyoaks performing a tribute to Queen and appearances from boy bands Westlife and JLS.
Sir Terry Wogan and Peter Kay promoted the new charity recordSir Terry Wogan and Peter Kay promoted the new charity record
Dixon had joined the stars of Strictly Come Dancing to get the seven-hour show under way with a dazzling routine. Sir Terry said: "Another fantastic fundraising effort - we didn't get quite to £21m but we got pretty close.
Kay then performed alongside The Animated All Star Band, which features more than 100 characters from shows including The Woodentops, Bagpuss, Thunderbirds, The Wombles and Postman Pat. "By the time we give you the full total in a couple of months' time, I bet it's got to be pretty close to what we made last year."
It features a medley of material from the Beatles, Take That, Chumbawamba and others. Last year's event went on to raise a record £38m.
Among the show's other early highlights was Adrian Chiles joining fellow presenters from the One Show to give a gaudy rendition of Fame. BBC newsreader Kate Silverton acknowledged that she and colleagues Susanna Reid, Sophie Raworth and Fiona Bruce were "out of our comfort zone" when singing and dancing to Beyonce's Crazy In Love and Single Ladies.
Meanwhile, the Dragons' Den team donned hard hats and overalls to help renovate a Children in Need community centre in London. They were joined on stage by some of their male colleagues before going head-to-head with Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity for a dance-off.
Sir Terry showed off his acting talent in a special edition of period drama Lark Rise to Candleford, while there were musical contributions from the casts of soap operas EastEnders and The Bill. Strictly Come Dancing judge Dixon had joined the stars of the BBC One Show to get the telethon under way with a performance of her number five song The Boy Does Nothing.
For their segment, the residents of Albert Square took to the street for a highly-choreographed medley of Motown hits. Children in Need: Peter Andre sang new single Unconditional
Advertisement This year's Children In Need single - released under the name The Animated All Star Band - was then revealed.
Children in Need highlights The song's video features Big Chris from TV channel Five's Roary the Racing Car - voiced by comedian Kay - alongside more than 100 characters from shows including The Woodentops, Bagpuss, Thunderbirds, The Wombles, Postman Pat and In The Night Garden.
BBC newsreader Kate Silverton acknowledged that she and colleagues, Susanna Reid, Sophie Raworth and Fiona Bruce were "out of our comfort zone" when singing and dancing to Beyonce's Crazy In Love and Single Ladies. It features a medley of material from The Jackson 5, The Beatles, Take That, Chumbawamba, Elbow and others.
They were joined on stage by some of their male colleagues before going head-to-head with Diversity for a dance-off to top off the annual showstopper. Adrian Chiles, Christine Bleakley and other presenters of the One Show gave a gaudy rendition of Fame.
A string of musical acts including Madness, Spandau Ballet, Annie Lennox and David Gray also took to the stage. And the Dragons' Den team were shown donning hard hats and overalls to help renovate a community centre in south London.
Millions raised Motown medley
Sir Terry joined actors in a special edition of period drama Lark Rise to Candleford, while there were musical contributions from the casts of soaps EastEnders and The Bill.
For their segment, the residents of Albert Square took to the street for a medley of Motown hits.
A string of musical acts including Peter Andre, Spandau Ballet, Westlife, JLS, Stereophonics and Annie Lennox performed in the studio.
Alison Moyet was among stars to perform in the show
Other highlights of the show included a preview of the Doctor Who Christmas episode and Hollyoaks actors performing a tribute to Queen.
BT said it had handled 210,242 calls from viewers across the UK during the show.
It follows Thursday's transmission of a Children in Need charity concert, held last week at the Royal Albert Hall in London, that featured performances from Take That, Robbie Williams and Sir Paul McCartney.It follows Thursday's transmission of a Children in Need charity concert, held last week at the Royal Albert Hall in London, that featured performances from Take That, Robbie Williams and Sir Paul McCartney.
The programme, which also saw rap star Dizzee Rascal perform with Dame Shirley Bassey, drew an audience of 6.1m, according to early overnight figures.
Children in Need has raised more than £525m for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK since the first appeal was held in 1980.Children in Need has raised more than £525m for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK since the first appeal was held in 1980.
Earlier this month, Sir Terry said he planned to continue presenting the annual event "until hell freezes over".Earlier this month, Sir Terry said he planned to continue presenting the annual event "until hell freezes over".