An impressive line-up of comedians, actors and musicians will join The Big Night In which sees Children in Need and Comic Relief come together for the first time ever to put on a special night of television.
The three-hour broadcast, hosted by Matt Baker, Zoe Ball, Lenny Henry, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuinness with Ade Adepitan and Greg James, hopes to offer some light relief and entertainment, whilst celebrating and rewarding those going the extra mile to support their communities in these troubled times.
As well as the previously announced brand new sketches from Little Britain, The Catherine Tate Show and The Vicar of Dibley, the BBC have today released more information about the night's stellar line-up whilst keeping some special surprises back.
Details of what that Little Britain sketch will entail won't be revealed until the night itself but we do now know that Geraldine Granger from The Vicar of Dibley will be delivering a Locdown Sermon, whilst Catherine Tate will return as Lauren the ‘Am I Bovvered’ teenager who gets home-schooled by David Tennant.
Miranda Hart has also reunited with her Miranda co-stars for a glimpse into their self-isolation, Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan both return to the BBC with something new from The Trip, Jack Whitehall and Matthew Horne reunite for a new Bad Education sketch featuring heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and the Kurupt FM are back with a new People Just Do Nothing sketch.
There'll be plenty of stand-up comedy from the likes of Jason Manford, Rosie Jones, Tez Ilyas, Dane Baptiste, Russell Kane, Lost Voice Guy, Nish Kumar and more! Plus Romesh Ranganathan will be offering us a glimpse into his Isolation Diary.
When it comes to music, Gary Barlow who has been entertaining the nation with his Crooner Sessions, will be joined by many of his friends including Liam Payne, Olly Murs, Leona Lewis, Nicole Scherzinger, Freya Ridings, Katherine Jenkins, Alfie Boe, Gregory Porter and more for a special performance of Sing.
Also performing on the night will be Sam Smith who'll perform Lay Me Down, Celeste who'll be covering Lean On Me and Dave Grohl and friends who will premiere a new BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge version of Times Like These. Plus Matt Lucas will perform his Baked Potato song with help from the BBC Orchestra. Plus Peter Kay and the British Public have remade Amarillo and Little Mix will be making an appearance.
Elsewhere, Ian Beale will be hosting a virtual EastEnders Queen Vic pub quiz, Joe Wicks will be sharing his exercise secrets, there'll be something new from Doctor Who and the Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers have come together and each choreographed 10 seconds of a new dance routine to Dua Lipa's Physical which they want he public to get involved with and on the night Tess and Claudia will be sharing people's efforts.
The Big Night In will celebrate the acts of kindness, humour and the spirit of hope and resilience that is keeping the nation going during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic with a special night of programming for BBC One. This is the first time the BBC’s biggest charitable partners, BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief, have come together and the aim of the evening is to celebrate and reward those going the extra mile to support their communities in these troubled times.
On the night, viewers will have the opportunity to donate, should they feel able to do so, to help support vulnerable people of all ages and backgrounds across the UK who will be significantly impacted by the crisis. Funds raised on the night will be split equally between BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief to provide essential support to local charities, projects and programmes across the UK to help those most in need.
The Big Night In will air Thursday 23rd April from 7pm on BBC One