Baldrick to read Blackadder Bedtime Story for Comic Relief
- BBC One's Red Nose Day show will include Blackadder character Baldrick reading a story about Cinderella
- Other sketches will spoof Love Island, Eurovision and The Traitors, and there's treats from Ghosts and Stath Lets Flats
- Friday 17th's TV show will be hosted by David Tennant, Paddy McGuinness, Zoe Ball, Joel Dommett and AJ Odudu - but Lenny Henry is absent
The BBC has revealed its plans for Comic Relief. The sketches due to be broadcast on BBC One on Red Nose Day 2023, Friday 17th March, are...
Baldrick's Bedtime Story for Comic Relief
As previously reported, Richard Curtis is reviving Blackadder for this year's telethon, however the new outing will only involve Sir Tony Robinson as Baldrick, and not Rowan Atkinson as the eponymous Edmund.
The premise of the sketch has now been revealed, with the BBC saying: "We'll see the exclusive return of one of the nation's most beloved comedy characters - Baldrick - as he reads his very own Blackadder Bedtime Story."
Blackadder's dogsbody will be focusing his story around the tale of Cinderella.
Speaking on Radio 2 in February, Curtis said: "For the first time in 20 years, Baldrick is going to be giving some kind of performance. We're just conspiring about it now, so I think there's going to be a marvellous, turnip-based thing with Tony Robinson now back in action, so I'm excited about that."
Curtis also joked: "Rowan's far too serious to do any of that!"
The last such Blackadder revival was part of Comic Relief's Big Night In, at the height of 2020's Covid-19 lockdown. It saw Stephen Fry reprise his role as Lord Melchett, now Head of the Royal Household, talking to Prince William via Zoom about educating his children.
Stath Lets Flats
Dermot O'Leary is visiting small businesses to see what they are doing to raise money for Comic Relief. And first up are the staff of Michael & Eagle lettings whose unique (and only) fundraising idea is to take Dermot on a sponsored tour of a rented flat.
Stath then showcases a brand-new song that he has written for Comic Relief - titled Comic Release - which stars Stath, his sister Sophie, Katia and Al - plus "some very special guest artists".
Stath Charalambos says: "I couldn't feel more pleasant to have met Dernot O'Really in 2023 for Comic Release. His clothes fit on his body perfectly. Thank you X factor."
Love Island
Stand-up comic and Love Island narrator Iain Stirling will voice a sketch linked to the ITV2 dating show.
The premise is described as follows: "Tonight on Love Island, Comic Relief turns up the heat and the laughs by sending an unexpected BOMBSHELL into the villa. Expect Maya Jama slow-mos, sarcastic quips from Iain Stirling and a romantic trip to the hideaway."
The skit will involve Asim Chaudhry playing his People Just Do Nothing character Chabuddy G.
Eurovision - The Audition Tapes
In this special sketch the UK may have found its Eurovision entrant for this year, but before the big night, our panel (Graham Norton, Lulu and Sam Ryder) will have to sit through aspiring celebrity auditions... of varying quality. Can Jamie Dornan sing? Have The Fizz made their mind up on their song choice? Has Tony Hadley still got it? Will Miranda's performance get laughs? Or will Bono outshine them all? And who will need a hug from Dermot O'Leary after it all?
Ghosts
Originally announced for last year's Comic Relief, but then postponed, this short special will see singer and actor Kylie Minogue guest starring.
The BBC has now revealed more specific plot details: "Hit BBC sitcom Ghosts is back with a spook-tacular special for Red Nose Day, and they have a surprise guest... none other than global superstar Kylie Minogue! When Kylie and her manager (played by Tanya Moodie) arrive at Button House to see if it's a suitable concert venue, the ghosts get the shock of their (after) lives."
The Traitors
As announced last week, Claudia Winkleman, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Mary Berry are amongst those to have filmed a Comic Relief sketch themed around The Traitors.
The BBC says: "In a special parody of the hit psychological gameshow, The Traitors, a star-studded roundtable gathers to decide who should be banished. Claudia Winkleman (played by Dawn French) assembles the celebrity 'Faithful' and 'Traitors' for a discussion full of twists and turns. Which famous faces will be under the cloaks and who will be revealed as the ultimate Traitor?"
Update: Stephen Merchant, Danny Dyer, Rosie Jones, and Maddy and Wilf from Series 1 of The Traitors will also gather at the roundtable.
There will be musical acts; Tom Grennan will be singing his hit single You Are Not Alone, and Zara Larsson will be performing her new single Can't Tame Her. Also, the cast of Mrs Doubtfire The Musical will also be singing and dancing in their first UK performance of Make Me A Woman from the brand new stage show.
This year's telethon - which will run on BBC One from 7pm to 10pm - will be hosted by David Tennant, with Paddy McGuinness, Zoe Ball, Joel Dommett and AJ Odudu.
Notably, Lenny Henry - who has co-presented the Red Nose Day shows since they were founded in 1980s - does not appear to be part of the line-up.
Other Comic Relief related programming announced by the BBC includes...
When Comic Relief Did Big Brother (And things really kicked off!)
10pm, BBC Two
"In 2001, six celebrities entered the Big Brother house in aid of Comic Relief. It was eight days that had the nation hooked and helped raise millions of pounds. 22 years on since the original broadcast, winner Jack Dee and fellow housemates Vanessa Feltz, Claire Sweeney, Keith Duffy and Anthea Turner take a look back at this extraordinary moment in television history. From dancing in underpants to Vanessa writing on the furniture and Jack Dee's great escape, revisit where celebrity reality TV was born."
Comic Relief: The Best of the Best Bits
10.40pm, BBC One
"Comic Relief turns 35 this year and we're donning our retro-spectacles for some Red Nose-talgia and ransacking the BBC archives for some of the very best bits from Red Nose Day history! Expect some classic sketches, star cameos, one-off specials; prime ministers, A-listers, legends joining the doyennes, divas, rogues and rascals from the top table of British comedy talent in this giddy 60-minute rampage through three and a half daft decades of fun and fundraising."
Red Peter
5pm, CBBC
In a historical first, the much-loved children's TV show Blue Peter will become Red Peter.
"The special episode will not only see the iconic blue turn to red but the Blue Peter team will be pulling out all the stops to make it a jam-packed Red Nose Day extravaganza not to miss, with world record attempts, challenges, musical performances and much, much more."
Emma, Oti and Rylan's Big Red Nose Day Challenge
9pm, BBC One, Tuesday 14th March
A documentary following Emma Willis, Oti Mabuse and Rylan's turbulent trek to the top of Cairn Gorm Mountain in the wintry Scottish Highlands to raise money for Red Nose Day.
Acast presents Podcast Mashup
Meanwhile, in the world of podcasts, for the third year running, Acast's The Red Nose Day Podcast Mashup takes some of the UK's most popular podcasts, mixes and mashes them up, and creates "one-off, hilarious shows as you've never heard before - helping raise money to make positive change in the UK and around the world."
The 2023 lineup is:
- Off Menu and Films To Be Buried With: MENUS TO BE BURIED WITH JUDGEMENT DAY
- Dane Baptiste Questions Everything & Ain't Got A Clue: AIN'T GOT A QUESTION
- Drunk Women Solving Crime & Moon Under Water: DRUNK WOMEN SOLVING THE MOON UNDER WATER
- Betwixt The Sheets & The Gossip Gays: BETWIXT THE GOSSIP GAYS
All episodes are available on the podcasters' usual feeds and across every podcast listening app.
Samir Patel, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, said: "We are excited to be teaming up with Acast for the third year running and seeing some of the biggest podcasts in the UK collaborate in the most brilliant and unexpected ways for Red Nose Day. We hope listeners enjoy these special one-off takes on their favourite shows, and our enormous thanks go to Acast and all the podcasts involved who are using the power of laughter to help to raise life-changing money this Red Nose Day. It's never felt more needed to come together and make a difference."