Red Nose Day 2025 confirmed for Friday 21st March
- Red Nose Day is on Friday 21st March 2025
- Joanna Lumley and Amelia Dimoldenberg have filmed a sketch to introduce the 40th year of Comic Relief's fundraising efforts
- Jonathan Ross - who presented the first TV show in 1988 - will be amongst the BBC One presenter line-up, with Alison Hammond joining the team for the first time
Red Nose Day 2025, the annual Comic Relief fundraising effort, will take place on Friday 21st March.
The charity says: "It's time to celebrate 40 years of going big, giving big and feeling good with Comic Relief."
Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has filmed a sketch with Amelia Dimoldenberg to publicise the launch:
The charity says: "The launch of Red Nose Day marks the start of an exciting milestone year for Comic Relief, as the charity kick-starts its 40th birthday celebrations in 2025. Together with the unwavering support of the nation, Comic Relief has been using the power of solidarity and silliness since 1985, to help tackle some of the most urgent problems faced by people here in the UK and across the world.
"For 40 years, communities, schools, nurseries, workplaces, and families have all come together year after year to help to raise over £1.6 billion that has supported over 100 million people. Thanks to the public's enormous generosity, Comic Relief has been able to work with fantastic organisations who are supporting communities by providing food, essential healthcare and safe shelter to the people who need it most - as well as so much more.
"But as the world keeps changing, the difficult situations many find themselves in change too. With so many people facing the toughest times of their lives, this year's Red Nose Day is an opportunity to come together once again and go big on the joy and laughter whilst helping to raise vital funds to support people who are being forced to make truly impossible choices, every single day. Because changing lives for the better is needed as much today as it was in 1985."
Red Nose Day will culminate in the traditional evening broadcast on BBC One, with producers promising "a nostalgia-fuelled evening of live performances, star-studded sketches, hilarious comedy, spectacular fun and so much more".
Alison Hammond will be joining the TV presenting team for the first time, appearing alongside AJ Odudu, Alesha Dixon, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Rylan and Tom Allen. Additionally, Jonathan Ross - who presented the very first Red Nose Day night of TV back in 1988 - will present again.
Promoting the red noses that people can buy to wear via Amazon, Jo Brand says: "I think it's really important for everyone to get involved more than ever these days because life hasn't been easy for a few years and just getting together with people and thinking that you're helping people out that have been struggling in whatever way they are - and a lot of people are struggling these days - is just a fantastic thing to do."
Speaking about why she is supporting the charity drive, Joanna Lumley says: "Red Nose Day is something that has always appealed to people for one simple reason - it's sensational. We've been treated to so many fantastic, silly, and ridiculous things over the years; you can't help but want to get involved and have some fun. Most importantly, we all want to make a difference and help others however we can, because that's the way we are. For 40 years Comic Relief has been a constant in all our lives, bringing us together to help inspire change around the world and here at home. It's lovely, I adore it. One might even say it's absolutely fabulous."
Amelia Dimoldenberg adds: "Comic Relief is something I've grown up with all my life, so I was naturally thrilled to be asked to take part in helping to launch this year's Red Nose Day campaign. And that was before I knew it was going to be alongside the one and only Joanna Lumley - I mean, what an honour! It's such an important cause that has helped inspire so much positive change for 40 years now, but we know there's so much more we can do to help. Whether it's big or small every donation counts, and it's just a great thing to be involved in with regardless, because not only are you raising money for an incredible charity, you're having fun while doing it."
Other fundraising initiatives related to Red Nose Day will include a TK Maxx range of clothes and a Omaze Million Pound House Draw worth £6m.
To find out more about Comic Relief and support the charity visit comicrelief.com