Children in Need’s most-loved moments as iconic BBC telethon turns 40

Pudsey has become a middle-aged bear since Children in Need first aired on our screens 40 years ago.

In those four decades the charity telethon has raised over a billion pounds for good causes.

But it’s also raised a good few laughs (and the odd eyebrow) along the way as stars do their bit to keep the money rolling in.

As the event prepares for its 40th broadcast at the end of next week, here are 40 of the best moments from Children in Need.

1. “Perfect Day” (1997)

The official Children In Need Single, led by Lou Reed, brought together the great and the good from the world of music to incredible effect. Gulp.

2. The naked chefs (1998)

A memory burned on to the retinas of the nation – Ainsley Harriott, James Martin, Antony Worrall Thompson and Brian Turner doing The Full Monty. Good news: they didn’t go the whole way. Bad: because of red satin thongs.

3. Katie and Peter – A Whole New World (2005)

The couple whose marriage was even less solid than their grasp on musical notes performed A Whole New World, dressed all in white, like the angels neither has the voice of.

4. Corrie does Oliver (2004)

Stars from the cobbles dressed up as the cast of Oliver and performed Consider Yourself in a bid to get viewers to consider others…

5. Simon Cowell being sawn in half (2003)

As amateur magician Pete Waterman admitted before he started: “There might be two Simon Cowells at the end of this – there’s a downside to everything.”

6. Newsreader Time Warp (2002)

The newsreaders’ performance has become a yearly highlight of Children In Need, and never more so than when we got to see Jeremy Vine in fishnets.

7. Sir Terry Raps (1995)

In the 70s, Sir Terry Wogan had a hit with a song called Floral Dance. Definitely time to update it with an urban rap version, right?

8. Pudsey’s Makeover (1986)

Red bandanas became SO last year when Pudsey made like fellow icon Madonna and reinvented himself.

9. Especially For You (1998)

Who needs Kylie and Jason when you can have Big Breakfast golden couple Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen singing their classic duet instead?

10. Smellovision (1995)

Noel Edmonds introduced the system that released odour during the projection of a film to the public. Gee thanks, Noel.

11. Top Gear meets Ashes to Ashes (2008)

Phillip Glenister’s mission was slightly delayed by Richard Hammond begging to take his motor for a test drive. Fire up the Quattro!

12. Peter Kay’s All Star Band (2015)

Peter Kay gathered together some famous faces – like Thomas The tank Engine, Bob The Builder, Peppa Pig, Postman Pat and Fireman Sam – for a very animated musical medley.

13. Joanna Lumley Strips (1983)

“Technical issues” meant a sketch where Olympian Sharron Davies stripped off couldn’t be shown, so good old Lummers stepped in instead. Terry Wogan didn’t know where to look.

14. Three Little Maids (1991)

EastEnders’ Dot and Pat (June Brown and Pam St Clement) and Corrie’s Vera (Liz Dawn) went back to the classroom with this performance from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedy opera.

15. Paul McKenna – Celebrity Hypnotism (1996)

The most famous hypnotist in the country tries to persuade some celebrities to fall under his spell… what could possibly go wrong? Luckily, lots!

16. Vogue (2002)

Trinny and Susannah, the straight-talking stars of What Not To Wear showed the world that the answer to that question is sometimes pointy breasted corsets.

17. Doctors Who? (2007)

There was more than one doctor in the house.

David Tennant met Peter Davidson, now his real life father-in-law.

18. Donny Osmond and the Kumars (2003)

There is only one place in the universe that the worlds of the Osmonds and Kumars would have collided – the Children In Need stage.

19. Eddie Redmayne’s Search for Pudsey (2016)

The Fantastic Beasts star phoned a few friends – including Jamie Dornan, Britney Spears and Paul Hollywood – trying to track down the mascot.

20. Taylor Swift (2009)

Taylor, aged 19, sings live on the show and then donates 13 grand.

21. Peggy Mitchell v Lauren (2005)

It was a proper clash of the titans when EastEnders’ Peggy Mitchell took on Catherine Tate’s not bovvered schoolgirl.

22. Tony Blair v Tony Balir (2005)

It was double (vision) trouble when Jon Culshaw impersonated Tony Blair, and then doorstepped him, sounding more like him than he did himself.

23. Newsreaders v Diversity (2009)

What’s more surprising than a bunch of newsreaders joining street dance troupe Diversity? The fact they weren’t actually all that bad…

24. The Bill Musical (2008)

Stars sang Crocodile Rock, Everybody Needs Somebody and Shake Your Tailfeather – a medley never tried before or since.

25. Superman flies in (1986)

Christopher Reeve joined Terry Wogan, providing some A list fundraising power.

26. The Spice Girls (2007)

The famous five revived an old classic for Children In Need – Stop.

27. Children Strictly in Need (2008)

It’s a CIN/Strictly mash up, with host Tess Daly partnered by Anton Du Beke and Sir Terry with Flavia Cacace. No marriages were harmed in the making of this sketch.

28. Team GB Dance Off (2012)

An array of famous London Olympics sporty faces, including Tom Daley in his trunks, Victoria Pendleton, Ellie Simmonds and Nicola Adams, cut a rug for the charity to Do Your Thing.

Also featured the rare chance to see a member of the royal family doing Gangham Style. Nice moves, Zara Phillips!

29. Ulrika and Kermit (1997)

Things you would only see on Children In Need, part 267: Ulrika Jonsson singing Making Whoopee while writhing on top of a piano played by Kermit The Frog.

30. Barry Norman’s Movie Quiz (1994)

One of the team captains is a young star of Sunset Boulevard by the name of John Barrowman… whatever became of him?

31. Dead Ringers Meet Doctor Who (2003)

Various Timelords on The Weakest Link… but was it the real Doctor Who, or a Dead Ringer?

32. Peter Kay’s Car Share (2017)

Fans of Peter and co-star Sian Gibson’s vehicle-based comedy had been waiting with bated breath for this little exclusive… and they weren’t disappointed.

33. Joe Wicks’ Schools Workout (2019)

In an eerie premonition of lockdown PE lessons to come, Joe visited schools across the country and put kids through their paces.

34. The Royle Family (2008)

Jim is “delving into his savings “ for charity – or checking for loose change down the side of his armchair.

35. EastEnders Does Thriller (2002)

Dedicated performances throughout, none more so than Barry (Shaun Williamson).

36. Loose Women Sing Girls Aloud (2010)

Not everyone can pull off sexy number The Promise in gold dresses… so, do it for charity so people can’t be too mean about it.

37. The All Star Choir (2014)

Gareth Malone brought together an impressive array of voices to perform the official CIN single Wake Me Up.

38. Pudsey Goes to Casualty (2009)

He is rushed to the secret bear ward with low spirits… which turn out to be raised by donations, obviously.

39. Walford meets Weatherfield (2010)

Walford’s residents hit the cobbles while Rovers regulars propped up the bar in the Queen Vic.

40. A tribute to Sir Terry Wogan (2016)

He’d presented CIN for three decades, but sadly Sir Terry died in January 2016. This tribute didn’t leave a dry eye in the house.

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