Comic Relief 2017: EVERYTHING you need to know!

comic relief 2017

by Stevie Martin |
Published on

Yes, it's that time of year again - Comic Relief is here to make you laugh, cry and donate money to some VERY worthy causes. But exactly what can you expect from this year's show? Well, here's EVERYTHING you need to know...

When is Comic Relief?

Red Nose Day is Friday 24th March with the Comic Relief telly kicking off on BBC1 at 7pm. It'll be filmed at The O2 in London, after everyone has (hopefully) been wearing their red noses, and taking part in individual charity-raising events for Red Nose Day. The show's theme this year is slightly vague: "A Comic adventure". We guess you'll just have to watch and see what that means...

Where can I buy Comic Relief red noses?

This year the noses have personalities all their own. Including Dr. Nose, Sneezecake, The Snorcerer, Snuffles, DJ Boogie, Norse Nose, Snootankhamun, Sniffer and Nose-it-all - as well as the ultra rare Frankinose, which unlocks a load of cool content on rednoseday.com.

comic relief 2017
The Red Nose Day Noses (Credit: BBC) ©BBC

You can buy the noses at Sainsbury’s, Oxfam and on the Red Nose Day website - it's only £1, with 60p going to Comic Relief. If you haven't bought one already, then go on. It's a quid. Yes, it'll fall off and you won't be able to breathe, but it's worth it.

Comic Relief in numbers

comic relief 2017
Credit: BBC ©BBC

Comic Relief has some pretty snazzy stats. Like, for instance, did you no(se) that that 700 million noses have been sold in the UK so far this year? Crazy, right!

Where does the money from Comic Relief and Red Nose Day go?

Red Nose Day money goes to people all over the UK and Africa who are in need, aiming to free the world from poverty. Since it started, back in 1988, it's raised over £1billion, with Red Nose Day coming round every two years. It's the biggest fundraiser event, alongside Sport Relief.

Who will be presenting Comic Relief 2017?

Lenny Henry is back at the helm, but will be assisted by Jonathan Ross, Sally Phillips, Warwick Davis and Miranda Hart, as well as comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.

The Comic Relief 2017 TV highlights:

Love Actually is reunited

comic relief 2017
Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor are back for Love Actually (Credit: BBC)* ©BBC

If you haven't heard about this, where in the name of Hugh Grant's dad-dancing have you been? One of the biggest, and most anticipated, sketches on thsi year's Comic Relief sees the original cast of Love, Actually reunite, directed by Emma Freud. And we can't wait.

Piers Morgan is silenced for the day

Did the Comic Relief team hear our silent prayers, hopes and dreams or something? Either way, Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan announced that he would stay off Twitter for 24 hours if £5,000 was raised for the charity. Which Lord Alan Sugar promptly paid. So now Piers has upped the stakes and not only will be silent all day, but has pledged to wear a Tottenham football shirt if they hit the £50,000 mark. Which is all well and good, but, we're way more into the silence thing.

The prize draw for the Comic Relief auction

It really is the best auction ever - go here to enter with a chance to either bid on some incredible experiences OR enter yourself into the prize draw! And yeah, the prizes are amazing. From a part in Richard Curtis's next film right through to flying out to LA and hanging with James Corden on the set of the Late, Late Show. And winners will be revealed on Friday 24th - so fingers crossed and good luck!

A recreation of La La Land's opening credits featuring Ed Balls doing Gangnam Style.

This really is epic. A load of comedians have been spotted filming a rumoured recreation of the opening musical number from La La Land - from Lenny Henry and Miranda Hart through to Warwick Davis and Katy Brand. And yes, Ed Balls may be doing Gangnam Style. Our life is complete.

Johnny Vegas and Joe Lycett's pizza place

comic relief 2017
We want Joe Lycett to serve us pizza (Credit: BBC) ©BBC

Er, one of the odder (but excellent) features of the evening will be Johnny Vegas and Joe Lycett donning aprons and running a "popular pizza restaurant" (We're guessing it's the one that rhymes with Schmizza Schexpress) on site at The O2 throughout the evening. We can't wait to see how this one goes.

Smack The Pony will reunite

GAH. For the first time since 2003, the Smack the Pony comedians Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips will reunite to perform all our faves from the awesome sketch show. Which has led us to do a right YouTube binge...

Middle-class Jeremy Kyle

David Walliams will play Jeremy Kyle in this parody episode of the daytime telly guilty pleasure. Even better - the guest is Jeremy Kyle himself, who will be taken to task by David. ABOUT TIME, TOO.

Ed Sheeran x People Just Do Nothing

You've probably seen the TV adverts, and you can watch part of the sketch online, but Friday is the world premiere of the music video from MC Grindah, DJ Beats and the Kurupt FM crew and, yes, Ed Sheeran. Judging by what we've seen already, this should be good.

Where can I find the Comic Relief timetable?

Er, right here! Check out what's on, when.

## 7-10pm (BBC1)

James Corden's Car Pool Karaoke special Take That are in LA with The Late Late Show host for a very special sing-a-long

Red Nose Day Actually The big reunion

Peter Kay's Car Share Exclusive first look at the second series of Peter Kay's BBC iPlayer sitcom

Smack the Pony The comedians reunite for the first time

Mrs Brown's Boys Agnes Brown gives us a sneak peek of her new chat show All Round to Mrs Brown's

Johnny Vegas and Joe Lycett The pizza restaurant takeover!

Middle Class Jeremy Kyle David Walliams pranks the loud-mouthed talk show host

10pm - 10.35pm (BBC2)

Greg Davies gets rude at 10pm If the kids are still up when the action switches to BBC2, then send them napping. Mainly because it's highly likely Greg Davies is going to get fully nude, and fully rude.

Hecklers Anonymous Frankie Boyle, Rebecca Front and Russell Brand star in a sketch about a community support group for people addicted to heckling.

**Philomena Cunk **Moment of Wonder Cunk offers her 'unique' take on the concept of charity.

Making Love Actually Behind the scenes on the making of the movie follow-up

## 10.35-midnight (BBC1)

Graham Norton's Big Chat Live Switch back over to BBC1 to catch the chat show host, y'know, CHATTING to loads of guests - and Ed Sheeran presenting his collaboration with the People Just Do Nothing cast.

Midnight - 1am (BBC1)

Russell Brand's Stand off An hour of stand-up comedy presented by Russell Brand. He might be doing some stand-up too...

comic relief 2017
Russell Brand for Comic Relief (Credit: BBC! ©BBC

**1am - 2.30am (BBC1) **

Fantastic Beats and Where to Find them Jonathan Ross and new Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding present the musical highlights from Red Nose Days gone by.

**5.35pm Sunday (BBC1) **

If you fell asleep, or had some sort of glitteringly vibrant social life which meant you weren't able to stay in all Friday night, check out the highlights! AND DONATE.

What have you done this year to get involved with Comic Relief? Dressed up? Given yourself a challenge? Or donated money? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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