Red Nose Day is alive and thriving as it celebrates its 40th anniversary on March 21, 2025, promising a night packed with laughter and inspiration. This beloved fundraising event, aired annually by the BBC, aims to bring together a variety of performances, sketches, and heartwarming stories to support critical charitable causes across the UK and beyond.
Tonight's festivities will commence at 7 PM and run until 10:40 PM, concluding with a special retrospective show titled Comic Relief: 40 Years of Funny just before midnight. Viewers can tune into BBC One and iPlayer to see what promises to be a remarkable celebration.
While the overall excitement brews, audiences are in for a treat with sketches featuring stars from popular television shows. Among them are James Buckley and Joe Thomas, who have reunited to portray the iconic Oasis brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, in a timely nod to the band's much-anticipated reunion world tour announced in August 2024.
This year’s Comic Relief is hosted by an eclectic mix of celebrities including Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark, and Alesha Dixon. From 10 PM onward, the hosting duties will transition to Tom Allen and AJ Odudu, who will take over for the final stretch on BBC Two.
Throughout the evening, viewers can expect to see various performances spanning the length of BBC's comedic repertoire including sketches from hit shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Gladiators. As always, the event aims not only to entertain but also to spotlight social issues including homelessness, poverty, domestic abuse, and childhood development through impactful appeal films.
In addition to the sketches and star-studded hosting lineup, celebrity challenges have become a beloved tradition of Comic Relief. This year has seen Jamie Laing running an ultra-marathon challenge, pushing himself to complete five ultra-marathons in five days, culminating in his appearance at the studio in Salford on the same night.
Further inspiring the audience is Billy Monger, a former racing driver, who is featured in a documentary documenting his ambition to become the youngest double leg amputee to finish an Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
More endurance highlights will be showcased by Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton, who are set to take on a 24-hour roller skating endurance challenge, streamed live on Morning Live and BBC iPlayer throughout the night.
Adding nostalgic flair to this year’s event, Jonathan Ross, who hosted the very first Red Nose Day in 1988, returns to guide audiences through this legendary charity occasion. He expressed, “I presented the first few years alongside Sir Lenny Henry and Griff Rhys Jones, and it was incredibly exciting to be involved. Over the years, I’ve stayed on the periphery, stepping in whenever asked. When they invited me back, it felt like a great way to commemorate the very first show.”
As the world tunes into the festivities, the goal remains simple yet profound: to raise funds needed to support vulnerable communities. Over the past 40 years, Comic Relief has raised an astonishing £1.6 billion, aiding more than 100 million people by providing essential resources such as food, healthcare, and warmth to those in dire situations.
Viewers will not want to miss out on the fun, laughter, and a chance to contribute towards positive change. Comic Relief: Funny For Money airs tonight at 7 PM on BBC One and continues streaming on iPlayer, inviting all of the UK to participate in this magnificent charity drive.
For those looking for a follow-up, a follow-up special titled Comic Relief: Even More Funny For Money, featuring a look back at the highlights of 2025, will air on BBC One at 4:30 PM on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The legacy of Comic Relief continues to prove that laughter is not just the best medicine; it’s a powerful tool for change.
