Children in Need Christmas Special Prequel

Sir Terry Wogan will be joined by Fearne Cotton, Tess Daly plus Nick Grimshaw to host a bigger than ever, spectacular night of musical entertainment, sketches, special features, glitz, glamour and guest appearances.
Fearne Cotton, Terry Wogan and Tess Daly Fearne Cotton, Sir Terry Wogan and Tess Daly

The star-studded evening of entertainment will feature music performances from One Direction (who kick off the programme) plus Little Mix, Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, The Script, Paloma Faith, Il Divo and Tim Minchin. Pop superstars Girls Aloud will also reunite live in the studio for the exclusive first TV performance of their much anticipated official BBC Children in Need 2012 single entitled ‘Something New’.

Britain’s Got Talent 2012 winner Pudsey the dog will finally meet his namesake BBC Children in Need’s own Pudsey Bear for an exclusive dance performance extravaganza.

Around twenty of Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes including Tom Daley, Rebecca Adlington, Louis Smith, David Weir, Nicola Adams and Ellie Simmonds will switch their trainers for dancing shoes for their very own music video set to Basement Jaxx’s ‘Do Your Thing’ – including a special section featuring Zara Phillips and her 3 Day Eventing teammates dancing ‘Gangnam Style’.

Strictly Come Dancing viewers’ favourites Ann Widdecombe and Russell Grant will return to the dance floor on a wing and a prayer for an unmissable performance with their partners Anton Du Beke and Flavia Cacace.

Doctor Who featuring Matt Smith will also bring viewers an extra special ‘prequel’ to its Christmas special, with a bespoke storyline made for BBC Children in Need, including a world exclusive of the Doctor’s new companion. There will also be exclusive previews from the Doctor Who and Call the Midwife Christmas specials.

The BBC Newsreaders Fiona Bruce, Sophie Raworth and Bill Turnbull will be pitting their driving skills against each other in a special edition of Top Gear’s ‘Star in a reasonably priced car’. A host of comedy specials will also feature including an exclusive episode of Not Going Out with Lee Mack featuring a cameo appearance from Sir Terry Wogan himself.

The action will spread across the country, as presenter and former chorister Aled Jones leads The Choir which once more unites children across the UK’s nations and regions and leads a 2,500 strong chorus of young singers in an unforgettable performance of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.

Viewers will also get a rare treat as Pop princess Kylie Minogue performs re-workings of some of her classic hits accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, filmed at Proms in the Park in Hyde Park earlier this summer. Also EastEnder Shona McGarty (who plays Whitney) will be singing an extra special number.

The evening will feature films highlighting some of the vital work the charity is doing to change the lives of children throughout the UK. Fearne Cotton will introduce an appeal film on bullying and Robbie Williams will help tell the moving story of a family supported by BBC Children in Need through a time of grief. Olympian Tom Daley will front a film about a teenage hero who has been helped by BBC Children In Need and EastEnders actress Nina Wadia (who plays Zainab) meets a little boy whose life has been transformed by BBC Children in Need’s “Friendship Project”.

Totaliser updates will be dotted throughout the night to keep viewers up to date with the total amount raised.