Children in Need: 8 talking points, from Andy Murray vs Peter Crouch to Cher singing Oasis

Charity event celebrated its 40th birthday this year

Children in Need 2020 trailer

Children in Need invited a star-studded cast to its 40th anniversary celebrations, from Dolly Parton and Cher to Andy Murray and Peter Crouch.

This year's event took place with safety restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic, with a number of performances taking place virtually.

Here are eight of the biggest talking points from the three-hour special…

Shawn Mendes performed his new single, “Wonder”

It seems a lifetime ago that we tuned in to watch Lady Gaga’s One World Together at Home event. While it was undoubtedly a moving and well-intended event, an obvious downside to these at-home shows is the fact that artists have to get creative with their performances. Some went above and beyond to entertain viewers, while others were content to strum an acoustic guitar in front of a white wall. Mendes, thankfully, managed to get his band together (along with some great lighting) and make us feel like we were *almost in the venue with him, as he performed a song from his forthcoming album.

Six the Musical

A musical in which the wives of Henry VIII are a girl band? Sign us right up. Yep, the cast of Six stopped by to perform an energetic mash-up of “Ex Wives” and “Six” in a wonderful tribute to the power of British theatre.

Brian the fundraiser

When it’s live, it’s live – anything can happen. Unfortunately in this case that meant that a lovely segment with a star Children in Need fundraiser went slightly awry, but in the most adorable of ways. Brian, who has raised thousands of pounds for the charity, suffered from some technical issues (hosts Mel Giedroyc and Stephen Mangan couldn’t hear him), despite some help from home. Thankfully he did get his award, and was apparently chuffed to bits.

Jesy Nelson misses the show

While Little Mix made an appearance on Friday night’s show along with Dick and Dom, they were without Jesy Nelson, who is currently ill. It’s the third TV appearance she’s missed with the band in the last week, leading fans to share their concerns for her on Twitter. We’re sending our love.

The “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” video makes its debut

With a star-studded line-up including Cher, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Lenny Kravitz, this year’s Children in Need single is a pretty special one. The video made its debut during Friday’s appeal show, with Twitter commentators comparing Cher’s feather-covered outfit to both Schitt’s Creek’s Moira Rose and CBBC’s Raven.

Andy Murray and Peter Crouch battle it out

One of the highlights of every Children in Need event is the sporting legends who, it turns out, have a great sense of humour. We already knew that about Murray and Crouch, obviously, but it was a treat to see them together as they faced off on the tennis court. Particularly with a teeny-bopper umpire who was supremely unbothered about their childish antics. Despite some appalling cheating from Crouch, it was Murray who triumphed in the end.

Carrie Hope Fletcher and Andrew Lloyd Webber perform “Bad Cinderella”

At a time when the theatre world has come to a standstill, it’s nice to know that good things are on the horizon. Carrie Hope Fletcher treated viewers to a performance of “Bad Cinderella” from Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s new musical Cinderella, which will be opening next year. Lloyd Webber also said that it’s his “crusade” to get live performance venues open again in time for panto season.

Pudsey inspired Dolly Parton

Yes, the legendary Dolly Parton appeared in this year’s Children in Need event to reveal how much the charity’s longtime mascot has inspired her. Did you know “Jolene” is Pudsey’s middle name? Us neither.

Key Points

• How to follow the show from home
• Read our review of Kylie’s latest album as she takes part in charity single

[13 November 2020 18:17 · Roisin O'Connor]

Hello and welcome to our liveblog for tonight’s Children in Need event! 

The main show is kicking off on BBC One at 7pm, and will be hosted live in London by Mel Giedroyc, Alex Scott, Chris Ramsey and Stephen Mangan.

"It's a bit stripped back," Giedroyc told BBC News earlier today, "but the key thing [is] the vibe will be exactly the same. There will be great sketches, there will be lots of famous faces turning up. Nothing has really changed."

[13 November 2020 18:22 · Roisin O'Connor]

What to expect tonight? Appearances from artists including McFly, Beverley Knight, and Shawn Mendes, as well as the cast of West End musical Six.

Look out for comedy from King Gary and The Goes Wrong Show. Former One Show host Matt Baker returns for the gruelling Rickshaw Challenge.

[13 November 2020 18:32 · Roisin O'Connor]

Dolly Parton is getting involved in this year’s charity event

[13 November 2020 18:37 · Roisin O'Connor]

Tonight’s launch show will also see the debut of the music video for Children in Need’s charity single, which has been performed by an all-star musical group.

Cher, Kylie Minogue, Lenny Kravitz and Robbie Williams have come together to  sing Oasis’s “Stop Crying Your Heart Out”.

They all feature on the track, which made its debut on BBC Radio 2 this morning (13 November).

[13 November 2020 18:45 · Roisin O'Connor]

If you can’t wait until 7pm, here’s the Children in Need charity cover

[13 November 2020 18:49 · Roisin O'Connor]

Joe Wicks completes 24-hour workout

Celebrity fitness star Joe Wicks has completed his 24-hour PE challenge for Children in Need this morning, raising over £1.5 million pounds.

The 34-year-old began the physical challenge at 9.25am on Thursday, live-streaming the event on BBC iPlayer and YouTube, and successfully completing it on Friday morning after 24 hours without sleep.

His day of marathon fitness included indoor rowing, cycling and boxing, and of course his famous HIIT (high-intensity) workouts.

Full story here: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/joe-wicks-24-hour-fitness-challenge-children-in-need-b1722340.html

[13 November 2020 19:00 · Isobel Lewis]

We’re kicking things off with boyband McFly, who’ve recorded a special version of their single “Happiness” with the help of BBC Radio 2 listeners.

Lots of cute home videos in that, which we can probably expect to see a lot more of in this socially distanced show!

[13 November 2020 19:03 · Roisin O'Connor]

Here we go! “We might have to stay two metres apart, but tonight Children in Need is bringing us all together,” says host Stephen Mangan. Aww.

[13 November 2020 19:05 · Roisin O'Connor]

Coming up… some special episodes of classic BBC shows, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is here with a song from his new opera, Cinderella, Strictly Come Dancing treat us to a performance, The Goes Wrong Show, and … Dolly Parton!

[13 November 2020 19:11 · Isobel Lewis]

Up first we have Kidzbop, which Google tells me produce child-friendly covers of pop songs. Well there you go.

They’re singing songs from each decade of Children in Need’s incredible 40 year history, doing Whitney Houston, Spice Girls, The Black Eyed Peas and Tones and I while making me feel very, very old.