Comic Relief
- TV variety
- BBC One
- 1988 - 2025
- 22 episodes
Every two years the biggest British comedy stars and shows come together to raise money for charity. Stars Lenny Henry, Jonathan Ross, Griff Rhys Jones, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and more.
Episode menu
Comic Relief 2013
Further details
Rowan Atkinson appears as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
Jessie J shaves her head live in the studio.
One Direction perform their smash hit Comic Relief single.
Miranda Hart stars in a unique (or in her words, 'ruined') edition of Call the Midwife
Miss Piggy graces us with her presence.
There is a special edition of EastEnders.
Lenny Henry meets the surviving celebrities from this year's extraordinary Zambezi River challenge.
Jack Whitehall and Micky Flanagan 'cook off' for Dame Edna Everage in MasterChef[/i.
Peter Kay presents the results of his very own physical challenge - something to match anything achieved for the charity by the Zambezi team.
Plus the return of David Brent.
10:30pm - News
The comedy continues on BBC2.
11pm
The fundraising spectacular continues, as Jonathan Ross and Jack Whitehall are joined in the studio by everyone's favourite ex-Doctor, David Tennant.
Citizen Khan travels down from Birmingham to be with us and we premiere another Comic Relief spectacular courtesy of David Walliams, in which we meet all the celebrities that he's been 'intimate' with over the last 12 months.
Peter Kay introduces a very special pop promo from his recent Comic Relief challenge, featuring his usual staggering array of willing celebrities.
Dynamo attempts a hugely ambitious illusion from the heart of BBC Television Centre.
Russell Howard serves up some especially [i]Good News.
We relive the very best bits from Graham Norton's recent marathon chat show on BBC Three [Comic Relief's Big Chat With Graham Norton].
1:30am to 2:50am - Grimmy's Comic Relief Late Nighter
Man of the moment Nick Grimshaw enjoys a rare late night as he hosts the now legendary Comic Relief clip show featuring the very best sketches from the last 25 years of the telethon, mixed with his favourite comedy clips from the last 12 months. Burning the late night oil with him will be Citizen Khan and special guests.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Friday 15th March 2013
- Time
- 7pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 480 minutes
Videos
Harry Hill - Red Nose Day 2011
A special Autumnwatch sketch featuring Harry Hill and some strange mammals.
Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders Radio 2 Takeover Meeting
Dawn & Jennifer work out who's who at BBC Radio 2 the day before they takeover the airwaves.
Red Nose Day 2013 Montage
A montage of some of the action from Red Nose Day 2013, and a thank you to everyone who raised money for Comic Relief.
Press
Rowan Atkinson's Comic Relief sketch cleared by Ofcom
The Rowan Atkinson skit, in which he played a fictional clergyman who said praying doesn't work, did not breach broadcasting code.
Mark Sweney, The Guardian, 1st July 2013Rowan Atkinson angers his older brother over sketch
Rodney Atkinson says he was 'appalled' by his brother Rowan's foul language in his Comic Relief sketch about the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Tim Walker, The Telegraph, 20th March 2013Rowan Atkinson's Comic Relief sketch attracts complaints
More than 2,000 complaints have been made to the BBC about Rowan Atkinson's Archbishop of Canterbury sketch shown on Red Nose Day.
British Comedy Guide, 19th March 2013That's Jessie J under the swirl of shaving foam, and the reason she's posing like the queen of the Oompa Loompas is that she'll be shaving her hair off as part of tonight's culmination to Red Nose Day. Yes, it's time for the stunts and dares and unlikely comedy mash-ups to reach their bubbling live climax.
As ever, we can expect unmissable moments delivered by an almost obscenely starry line-up. Presenters include Michael McIntyre, Rob Brydon, John Bishop, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and (careful, now...) Russell Brand. Ricky Gervais will bring David Brent out of retirement. There are mini-eps of Call the Midwife and Fresh Meat, a cook-off between Jack Whitehall and Micky Flanagan, and of course a new novelty pop promo from Peter Kay.
The trick for viewers is to flash the cash early. Text the donation line or get out the credit card at an early stage, then relax as the night rolls by. You'll never make it through all those heartbreaking appeal films if you don't know your money's on its way.
David Butcher, Radio Times, 15th March 2013Barbara Windsor learns kung fu for Comic Relief
Former EastEnders star Barbara Windsor is used to fight scenes in Albert Square - but now she's been learning kung fu for Comic Relief.
The Sun, 11th February 2013Rowan Atkinson to perform sketch for Red Nose Day
Rowan Atkinson will appear as the Archbishop of Canterbury in a sketch for Comic Relief. Other Red Nose Day stars will include Michael McIntyre and Miranda Hart.
British Comedy Guide, 31st January 2013