Children in Need 2018: the best moments – Boyzone do Strictly, EastEnders does Disney and Doctor Who makes a fan's day
Dear old Pudsey Bear and his bandaged eye took over the BBC schedules on Friday evening for the annual Children in Need telethon.
A record-breaking ￡50.6m was donated during the five-hour programme, which means the charity has now raised over ￡1bn since the event began in 1980. But what were the best bits for those of us watching from the sofa?
Doctor Who proved why female Time Lord was needed
Jodie Whittaker invited two brave new companions into the TARDIS for a heart-warming Doctor Who segment that made dreams come true.
We were introduced to nine-year-old Who superfan Anna Mark, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and has been supported by Children in Need. Along with her big brother Alex, Anna got a chance to go on-set in Cardiff and get shown around by companions Yaz (Mandip Gill), Ryan (Tosin Cole) and Graham (Bradley Walsh). Anna was even kitted out with a miniature copy of the Doctor’s costume, complete with sonic screwdriver.
However, the biggest surprise came when Whittaker herself arrived to surprise Anna and Alex with a tour of the TARDIS. Plucky Anna concluded that the 13th incarnation was: "So much better than the boy Doctors. I think it's good to show boys that we can do just as much as they can. She made me feel supported and that someone is on my side.”
It served as a poignant reminder of why the time was right for a female Doctor.
Boyzone added some Strictly sparkle
A special mini-episode of Strictly Come Dancing saw the four members of “manband” Boyzone, currently celebrating their 25th anniversary, compete for the Pudsey Glitterball Trophy. Frontman Ronan Keating took to talent contest clichés like a dancing duck to water, saying it was "totally out of our comfort zone”.
After some training from Strictly pro “Ginger Neil” Jones, the quartet donned classic tails to hit the Elstree Studios ballroom floor for a group dance to “Puttin' On the Ritz” – thankfully eschewing the godawful rave moves from their infamous TV debut on Ireland's Late Late Show back in 1993
There were tricks, ungainly lifts and some nifty cane-ography in an entertainingly jazzy, shamelessly nostalgic routine. Even judge Craig Revel was complimentary about it. Darcey Bussell came over all-aflutter, confessing that she was a Boyzone fan back in the day. Bruno Tonioli praised member Shane Lynch for "starting like a true leading man” and after conferring with the judges, awarded Lynch the win.
However, we reckon Mikey Graham was robbed after he demonstrated some twinkle-toed Argentine tango footwork. He was partnered with pro Katya Jones, so perhaps the judges were still punishing her for the snog-gate scandal with Seann Walsh. Oh well.
Please stand up. Not you, madam
One of the funniest moments of the night was an unplanned one. When presenter Tess Daly asked carers and charity volunteers in the studio audience to stand up so they could be applauded, one lady got to her feet by mistake – and hurriedly sat down again when she realised her blunder.
Her poor panicked face was a picture, as was her husband’s mirth at her faux-pas. Social media immediately lit up with tickled viewers. Bless you, madam.
Fantastic Beasts and how to prank them
"What I really want to do is arm-wrestle Daniel Radcliffe.” A one-off sketch saw actors Eddie Redmayne and Zoe Kravitz play a practical joke on The One Show presenter Alex Jones, with the help of three cheeky children.
As Jones struggled in vain to conduct a straight-faced interview with the stars of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the mischievous kids secretly gave them instructions through earpieces, such as chronic sneezing, making sheep noises and gargling water. Kravitz was told to correct the presenter by claiming her surname is spelled "C-R-A-B-I-T-S".
Jones was just beginning to look less then amused when the pair confessed to the prank. "I'm so glad you said, because I was thinking ‘What is wrong with these two?’” she laughed, visibly relieved. “They are being so weird.” Oscar-winner Redmayne was particularly game for a laugh.
Jessie Wallace stole show in EastEnders musical medley
It’s become an annual tradition for East End to met West End as the Cockney soap’s cast unleash their jazzhands and secretly audition for stage roles. This year’s production was a Disney-themed musical medley to (tenuous excuse alert) celebrate Mickey Mouse's 90th birthday. Riiiiight.
Once upon a time in Albert Square, Sharon (Letitia Dean) opened an animated parcel and unleashed some Disney magic around London E20. Whitney (Shona McGarty) opened proceedings as Belle from Beauty & The Beast, with Kush (Davood Ghadami) as Gaston and Masood (Nitin Ganatra) as LeFou.
Keegan (Zack Morris) Louise (Tilly Keeper) swapped black cab for flying carpet as they transformed into Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, with Karen (Lorraine Stanley) popping up as the Genie. Strictly alumnus Louisa Lytton (who plays Ruby) led an impressive tap-dance clad in a gold leotard. There was even a cameo from silent barmaid and cult heroine Tracey (Jane Slaughter).
The star turn, though, was Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), who swapped her usual leopard print for a sparkly sky-blue frock to become Elsa from Frozen. As she crooned an impressive rendition of ubiquitous anthem Let It Go, her magical powers covered the Walford playground in ice.
It’s just a shame that Queen Vic landlord Danny Dyer didn’t get a singing role. Then we really would have lived happily ever after. "Get outta my pub, Goofy!"
Musical performances were patchy
The night was awash with musical numbers. Some worked well, some less so.
The hits? Jamie Cullum crooned this year's official Children in Need single Love is in the Picture. The Children’s Choir sang Greatest Showman anthem A Million Dreams in unison with choirs across the nation, from Glasgow to St Ive’s, totalling nearly 1,500 children’s voices. There were rousing tunes from actress Sheridan Smith, karate champion-turned-popstrel Anne-Marie and the cast of hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
The misses? Licking the show off with the cast of School of Rock, whose medley had the distinct whiff of primary school end-of-term talent show. Boyzone should have stuck to dancing. And former One Directioner Liam Payne had about as much charisma as a damp flannel, hence being throughly outshone by his collaborators Jonas Blue and Lennon Stella.
Christmas came early for Call the Midwife
A scene from Sunday evening’s Doctor Who wasn't the only sneak peek to which viewers were treated. Call the Midwife stars Jenny Agutter (who plays sister Julienne), Helen George (Trixie) and Jennifer Kirby (Valerie) arrived to deliver an exclusive clip of their festive special.
The scene saw fashion plate Trixie trying on a new frock and some “Parisian nylons” before being interrupted by urgent knocking at the Nonnatus House door. A Poplar local has gone into labour in a nearby phonebox and the midwives sprang into action, telling the panicking father to “call an ambulance and tell them to prepare for a BBA”.
That’s “Born before arrival”, acronym fans. We’ll see what happens on Christmas Day but judging by previous years, it will involve snow, nappies and an emotional rollercoaster. It will also see Sister Mildred (Miriam Margoyles) arrives unexpectedly with four Chinese orphans.
Mel without Sue was the pick of presenters
The five-hour epic was helmed by a tag-team of presenters, including Tess Daly (shortly before leaving for tonight’s Strictly Blackpool special), Graham Norton, Ade Adepitan, Rob Beckett, and Rochelle and Marvin Humes.
However, by far the best of the bunch was former Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc, who added a welcome dose of daftness.
She wore a wimple and rode a child’s bike to introduce Call The Midwife. She riffed on her lust for weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker. She teased Norton for not knowing girl band Little Mix were a four-piece. She quipped that when it came to bakery-based fundraising, Greggs were “on a roll”. Good bake.
Mastermind's host was inadvertently insulted
Comic actor Stephen Mangan hopped into John Humphrys’s comfy brogues to host a one-off edition of Mastermind. Four children who have been supported by a BBC Children in Need-funded project were joined by celebrity partners to brave the black leather chair in pairs.
Cold Feet’s John Thomson and footballer-turned-pundit Steve McManaman did their pint-sized team-mates proud but EastEnders actor Tony Clay proved almost as much of a dimwit as his character “Halfway”. The prize was won by veteran thespian David Bradley (aka cantankerous caretaker Argus Filch) and young Harry Potter fan Matty.
However, the highlight was when Mangan tried to give 12-year-old Amy a hint about an answer and she guessed that Mangan's age was “80”. Just the 30 years out.
The weepy bits
There wasn’t a dry eye on sofas nationwide at the films about Children in Need’s admirable work with disadvantaged youngsters.
Particularly tear-jerking were the stories of severely autistic Sam and his therapy dog Willow, leukaemia sufferer Archie and Connie, who was diagnosed with genetic disorder Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD).
Of course, such segments are necessary because they nudge sniffling viewers to donate to a cause that helps change half a million children’s lives each year. So please dig deep.
To donate ￡10, text the word DONATE to 70410. To donate ￡20, text DONATE to 70420, or to donate ￡30, text DONATE to 70430. You can also call 0345 7 33 22 33 and make a donation over the phone, or donate online here.