Children In Need Raises Record On-The-Night Total Of £50.1m

Children in Need raised a record-breaking £50.1m during Friday's show, which featured a Blue Peter Strictly Come Dancing special....
The five-hour programme also included a Weakest Link celebrity special, a singing EastEnders cast, and a teaser of the Doctor Who Christmas edition.

Tess Daly, Graham Norton, Mel Giedroyc, and Ade Adepitan presented the show.

The total raised surpassed 2016's previous on-the-night record of £46.6m.

The show began on BBC One at 19:30 GMT with Daly and Adepitan hosting, and included some of the children and young people whose lives have been changed through support from Children in Need.

During the evening, Car Share co-stars Peter Kay and Sian Gibson announced that the comedy series would return in 2018 with two new episodes.

"It's been a very tough secret to keep," said Kay.

Hosts Norton and Giedroyc took over presenting duties later on, followed by Marvin and Rochelle Humes.
Viewers were given a first look at this year's Doctor Who special, which included Peter Capaldi, in his last appearance as the 12th doctor, alongside a return from first doctor David Bradley and Mark Gatiss as a First World War officer.

Anne Robinson presided over the Weakest Link special. with celebrities John Thomson, Love Island winner Kem Cetinay and actress Chizzy Akudolu - the eventual winner - facing her questions.

Former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry lifted the Pudsey glitter ball trophy in the Children In Need Strictly Come Dancing special after impressing judges with his high kicks.

Five other current and former Blue Peter presenters also donned Strictly's sequins - Diane-Louise Jordan, Anthea Turner, Tim Vincent, Konnie Huq and Radzi Chinyanganya.

EastEnders fans saw their favourite characters sing popular numbers from classic West End musicals early in the show.

The cast of Countryfile also had a go at their own medley, opting for hit country tunes from John Denver, Dolly Parton and Nancy Sinatra.

There was also music from Rita Ora, The Vamps and Jason Derulo, while Joanna Lumley presented the Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year award to people who "go above and beyond to raise money".

Children in Need is the BBC's UK corporate charity and raises money for disadvantaged children and young people around the country.