Children In Need telethon tops 2007 total

15/11/2008 - 09:19

BBC's Children In Need is on course to beat the £37m raised last year, following its annual star-studded telethon on BBC1.

The total raised at the end of the seven-hour show, which ended in the early hours of Saturday morning, was £20,991,216. The 2007 show raised over £19m on the night, with the final appeal total topping the £37m mark.

Show host Terry Wogan described Friday's extravaganza as the "greatest" Children In Need show to date.

A host of famous faces including the casts of Coronation Street, EastEnders and The Bill took part, along with a host of musical performances from the likes of Girls Aloud, Will Young, Sugababes, Leon Jackson and Take That.

McFly began the show with a performance of this year's official Children In Need single Stay With Me.

Other highlights included the cast of Ashes To Ashes in a sketch with the presenters of Top Gear, and the BBC newsreaders dressing up in flares and platforms to perform a medley of Abba classics.

Meanwhile presenters Terry Wogan and Tess Daly took part in a special edition of Strictly Come Dancing - which was won by the show's co-host Tess. Wogan failed to impress the voters after judge Bruno Tonioli described his dance as "a good performance for radio".

Fans of Doctor Who also had the chance to see a sneak preview of the opening moments of the Christmas special, featuring a second Doctor played by David Morrissey.

And the cast of the forthcoming West End musical Oliver - whose leading lady Jodie Prenger was chosen on the BBC1 show I'd Do Anything earlier in the year - also performed.