Category: TV Ent
Date: 11.03.2005
Printable version
Comic Relief supporters raised an astounding £37,809,564 on Red Nose Day, Friday 11 March, the biggest ever total raised on a Red Nose Day night.
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The organisers praised the generosity of the British public who for the second time this year have shown their extraordinary generosity.
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Since Comic Relief began 20 years ago, it has raised £374,809,564 which has gone to help change the lives of people in the UK and some of the poorest countries in the world.
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The Red Nose Day campaign has seen official merchandise flying off the shelves with more than six million Red Noses sold, from Sainsbury's and Oxfam stores, and 150,000 t-shirts from TK Maxx stores.
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The Big Hair and Beyond theme proved to be a massive hit too, with 500,000 cans of hair spray, a third of a million red wigs and 127,000 special red deeley-boppers all being snapped up.
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More than 1.4 million school children up and down the
country wore Red Noses too, with over 30,000 schools across the UK fund-raising.
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The night of comedy on Â鶹ԼÅÄ ONE, presented by Jonathan
Ross, Lenny Henry, Davina McCall,
Graham Norton and Chris Evans, included
the television premiere of ten celebrity Little Britain sketches - featuring
amongst others Robbie Williams and George Michael
- a one-off My Family, Vicar of Dibley specials and Rowan Atkinson's
SpiderPlant Man.
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The grand final of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy was
also part of the night with Edith Bowman crowned queen
of the celebrity singers - with almost £1.4m being raised.
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Winner Edith said: "Oh my God, I can't believe it! Thank you so much for everyone who voted - you should be so proud of yourselves - we've raised so much money! - Back to the day job on Monday!"
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Peter Kay also previewed his video
for the single Is This the Way to Armarilio which will now be released
on Monday 14 March.
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Lenny Henry said: "It's been a great night and the total we have raised is amazing - the way people respond to Red Nose Day has been brilliant and its fantastic to celebrate the tenth Red Nose Day with the best on the night total ever raised."
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The campaign has seen thousands of fundraisers do amazing things across all areas of the UK - a regional list of some of them is available on this page.
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Corporate partners also added millions to the final total:
Sainsbury's £6.5m;
HMV £1.25m; TK Maxx £1.004m; Wine Relief £625,000;
McCain £500,000;
Walkers £500,000;
Persil £400,000;
Wella £300,000;
BT £250,000;
Flora £200,000;
Angelina Ballerina £100,000;
Racing Strips £90,000;
Punch Inns £25,000;
Smiffy's £40,000;
Littlewood Scratchcards £20,000;
Claire's Accessories £10,000;
Pret a Manager £10,000.
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BT yet again pulled out all the stops with 25,000 live operators volunteering across the UK to keep 14,600 automated lines live.
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Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, said: "It's been a truly amazing campaign and Friday 11 March has been more successful than we could have ever imagined.
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"And it's all down to the huge generosity of the British public."
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It isn't too late to get involved. Donations can still be made by calling 08457 910 910 (local rate apply); going online at www.rednoseday.com; at any bank, building society or Post Office.
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Or by sending a cheque made payable to Red Nose Day 2005, Ernst & Young, PO Box 678, London, EC4A 1NT.
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Celebrity Quotes
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Reggie Yates: "I have thoroughly
enjoyed being in Fame Academy, it has been an amazing experience and
I have made some great friends - it has been wicked. When I walked into
work the day after I left, I got a standing ovation and I thought is
this for me? Weird!"
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Ade Edmonson: "It has been such
a privilege to be part of Fame Academy which we know has raised so much
for Comic Relief. It has definitely been worth the sleepless nights,
and the loss of voice."
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Chris Moyles on the Red Nose Rally:
"Everyone has been so generous this week no matter where they were,
especially the Scots - they completely ruined their stereotype! Never
had so much money in my pocket at one time... you'll be pleased to know
it all went into the Comic Relief bucket at the end of the day... I
didn't keep a cent - not like I sometimes do with other charities...
I'm kidding, of course."
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Chris Evans: "Wonderful, this
is the highlight of my life let alone tonight, it's like a Jim'll Fix
It moment - Graham Norton was so jealous that I got to play live with
McFly. This is the real deal, being part of this is such a big deal.
It's one of those things you dream about being in the audience for,
let alone actually being on stage."
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Trinny & Susannah: "Chris Evans
is always a highlight - fashion wise, he's always brilliantly dressed!
Edith has been looking really good - what a transformation! She looks
great, she can pull off both looks with glamorous dresses on stage and
then the baggy trousers and beany hat - she's really scrubbed up well!"
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Fund-raising events around the UK
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Scotland
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Zetland Community Action Group in Stirlingshire held a disco for local kids.
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Wallacestone Primary School in Falkik Scotland managed to raise £741.68 for Comic Relief. They planned and organised the sale of Red Noses, held a bring and buy sale and encouraged the whole school to dump their uniform and come dressed as their favourite movie star.
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Wales
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One fresher at University of Wales, Aberystwyth put his manhood on the line for the sake of others - a full body wax. He had never been waxed before in his life. This is the full monty. In case people didn't believe it he walked around lectures dressed only in enough clothing to protect his feet and to prevent him getting arrested.
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Northern Ireland
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Vision Express in Lisburn, Co Antrim, cleaned glasses and performed glasses 'MOTs' for a small fee - all proceeds to Comic Relief.
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Catherine and her mates from Antrim were sponsored to
watch 15 hours worth of DVDs and videos with no breaks.
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Students at St Patrick's High School were sponsored to
transform the way they looked for Red Nose Day and walked around Keady
in County Armagh.
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Kent
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Michaela Freeman from Bexley Grammar School in Kent was sponsored to sing everything she said on Red Nose Day.
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Shropshire
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Whixall Primary School raised £800 in two hours by auctioning a giant Easter egg, donated by Magna, their local confectioners.
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Cheshire
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Daven Primary School in Congleton, Cheshire organised a veritable Red Nose Day fest - three-legged races, cake sales and all sorts of red fund-raising activities took place and they raised a wonderful £375.
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West Midlands
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The Shakespeare Institute Players from the University of Birmingham, based in Stratford-Upon-Avon, performed scenes of Shakespeare, from The Taming of The Shrew to A Midsummer Night's Dream. They are donating any money made from these performances to Comic Relief.
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South West
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Two students from Tamarside Community College in Plymouth were sponsored to stay silent for 24 hours.
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Joe Vinson and Dick Trinder from St Agnes in Cornwall dyed their hair for Red Nose Day, and got sponsored to do it!
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East Midlands
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Humberstone Day Nursery in Leicester went crazy for Red Nose Day - for example, they held a funky hair, fancy dress and face painting competition and loads more.
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North West
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Ski Rossendale in Rawtenstall planned a fun night on the slopes, with prizes for the best comedy moment and worst dressed 'lady'!
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East
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One fund-raiser from Norfolk did a 10,000 feet tandem
skydive in order to hopefully raise £1,000 for Comic Relief.
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Notes to Editors
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The final total isn't usually known for a few months when all the money has been collected.
