Comic Relief's 40th Anniversary Red Nose Day Raises Over £34 Million

The milestone event combined comedy, music, and heartfelt stories to support urgent global issues, but faced criticism for declining entertainment quality.

The 40th anniversary Red Nose Day raised £34,022,590 to address global issues such as food, healthcare, and shelter for vulnerable communities.
Comic Relief has raised over £1.6 billion since its founding in 1985, supporting more than 100 million people worldwide.
The event featured comedic sketches from BBC shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Gladiators, as well as celebrity challenges, including Jamie Laing's ultra-marathons, which raised over £2 million.
Emotional highlights included Davina McCall reflecting on her health struggles and Sir Lenny Henry revisiting the charity's origins in response to the 1980s East African famine.
Critics described the telethon as one of the weakest in recent years, citing lackluster sketches and declining ratings despite its significant charitable impact.