Red Nose Day loses a million viewers in a year according to overnight figures
An average audience of 2.6 million viewers watched the BBC programme as Comic Relief celebrated its 40th anniversary.
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Red Nose Day: Who are the BBC Comic Relief 2025 presenters?
The annual fundraiser is back for its 40th celebration with a host of famous faces
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Comic Relief is returning to viewers screens for another year as it celebrates 40 years since it first started, as it airs live from MediaCity UK in Salford.
Taking place every March, the charity was founded by scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Sir Lenny Henry. Its aim is to support people in poverty, those at risk of domestic abuse and families affected by conflict and climate change.
Article continues belowIn 1988, the first Comic Relief saw 30 million people tune in to watch Blackadder - the Cavalier Years and the Young Ones on University Challenge. They raised a huge £15 million for their first televised fundraiser.
Last year it was Lenny Henry's final time as the host of Comic Relief, after nearly four decades of presenting. The public helped to raise £38,631,548, and the night of TV saw some extra special moments for Sir Lenny throughout the course of the night.
Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore also took on the Arctic as they trekked through unforgiving conditions to raise a grand total of £630,294.
Speaking of his decision to stop hosting the fundraiser, Lenny previously shared: "I'm a life president for the charity and I'm still going to be supporting other Comic Relief and Red Nose Day projects throughout the year, like recruiting new talent, doing voiceovers etc. So I'll still be around, just not onscreen."
He added: "I think it is time to hand over the reins because there is an extraordinary new generation of talent and we need to give these people and their audiences access to what Comic Relief can do and how we can raise money together."
There will be various Comic Relief sketches shown throughout the night including an Oasis Reunion, a Strictly professionals "documentary", and an EastEnders special.
This year, Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark and Alesha Dixon will present on BBC One from 7-10pm, before Tom Allen and AJ Odudu take over from 10pm on BBC Two.
Jonathan is an English broadcaster, film critic, comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He's best known for his celebrity evening talk show The Jonathan Ross Show and also hosted the UK airing of The Oscars for the last two years. He's been a judge on the Masked Singer since it first aired too.
When asked why he's come back to present, he said: "I presented the first few years alongside Sir Lenny Henry and Griff Rhys Jones, and it was incredibly exciting to be involved. Over the years, I've stayed on the periphery, stepping in whenever asked. When they invited me back, it felt like a great way to commemorate the very first show."
Davina is a TV presenter who has starred in various hit shows including Big Brother, The Million Pound Drop, Five Minutes to a Fortune and Long Lost Family. Comic Relief 2025 will be her first live show since undergoing surgery for a benign brain tumour.
She shared: "The thing I love about Comic Relief is that it works with so many different charities, and its reach is so wide, and it goes to the places that need money the most. I feel extremely privileged in my life, and to be able to give back in some way means a lot, but to be able to do it with a charity that I trust and respect so much means everything."
Joel is a comedian who started out as an actor who appeared on shows such as Casualty and Skins before he took on stand-up comedy. He's also the presenter of the Masked Singer and was a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2016.
When asked about his favourite Comic Relief sketches, he said: "I’m 40 this year too! I’m the same age as Comic Relief! I assume that means Comic Relief is starting to find grey hairs everywhere and contemplating botox.
"In terms of sketches, there are too many to mention! Every year I have favourites but I always remember Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean on Blind Date, David Beckham on Only Fools and Horses, James Corden as Smithy with the England football team. There are so many. IT'S SO GOOD!"
Alison has become a national treasure ever since she appeared on Big Brother, and now finds herself as a regular host on This Morning as well as in the tent alongside Noel Fielding in the Great British Bake Off.
Speaking about why she wanted to host Comic Relief, she admitted: "I think I got a little leg up this year because I interviewed Sir Lenny Henry and he said, 'I'd love you to present the show. I'd love you to get involved.' And I was like, 'Do you know what? I’ve wanted to do this for years.'
"So when he said that, I thought 'Absolutely, I’d love to present it.' It was a no-brainer for me, and I feel over the moon that they said yes. I’ve watched the show every year and I love the concept, using comedy to raise money for charities. So it’s an absolute honour, and I feel like it’s been a long time coming so I’m thrilled!"
Alesha is an English singer, rapper, dancer, television personality who first rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the R&B group Mis-Teeq. Since then, she's been on the judging panel of Britain's Got Talent.
She shared: "It’s a true gem! An icon and one of the most powerful and heartfelt events on British television. It unites us for a higher purpose than ourselves and that taps into the heart of humanity.
The singer added: "I grew up watching Comic Relief and it’s always been like a friend that you return to every year. It’s left an imprint on all of us with its impactful work, big heart and ambitious nature. It always leaves me feeling hopeful, as difficult as some of the stories are, we can clearly see the humanity in people wanting to do their small bit to make a huge difference to so many people’s lives."
Rylan first came onto viewers screens when he appeared on The X Factor as a contestant in 2012. After he was eliminated ninth, he's found more success in his presenting career - appearing on Celebrity Gogglebox, This Morning, Supermarket Sweep and Big Brother.
Recalling his favourite sketches from Comic Relief, he shared: "Oh there are so many – French and Saunders doing The Spice Girls’ Who Do You Think You Are was iconic, Dawn getting off with Hugh Grant, and I love all the Doctor Who ones! The Traitors sketch last year was SO funny."
Tom is an English comedian, actor, writer and presenter who won the So You Think You're Funny contest at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2005.
Speaking about becoming a presenter on this year's Comic Relief, he said: "I grew up loving Comic Relief and still feel really excited that a night of entertainment on telly can be used to do some good."
He added: "I think people fundamentally want to do good and if they hear about someone in need they want to help them. Coming together as a community - as a country - to do that is something a television event like this can do so well. And if people can have a laugh whilst doing it then even better!"
Article continues belowAJ is a television presenter best known for Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother alongside Will Best. In 2024, AJ also presented Channel 4's Married at First Sight: Afters and has starred on Strictly Come Dancing.
After presenting Comic Relief in 2023, upon her return this year she admitted: "It was an immense honour to host Comic Relief back in 2023 and I’m so excited to be back for their 40th birthday.
"There’s nothing like being part of Red Nose Day and the way it brings people together while making a genuine difference. To once again be a part of supporting and raising such vital funds was a no brainer. Plus, it’s always a night to remember!"
 without their falsies. %23cardib)
