COMIC RELIEF TONIGHT: RED NOSE DAY RETURNS, PRESENTERS AND SKETCH HIGHLIGHTS REVEALED

Red Nose Day is back, and it’s coming live from Media City UK, Salford – a huge night of comedy and entertainment celebrating 40 years of fundraising and fun with a birthday party not to be missed!

The epic, three-hour extravaganza will entertain the nation with hilarious sketches, live performances, big surprises and stunning music acts whilst raising much-needed cash for good causes at home and across the world.

The star-studded presenting team includes Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark, Jonathan Ross, Alesha Dixon, Tom Allen and AJ Odudu.

NOT GOING OUT x BEYOND PARADISE

Sally Bretton, who plays both Lee’s wife Lucy in Not Going Out and DI Humphrey Goodman’s wife Martha Lloyd in Beyond Paradise, takes on both roles in a hilarious mix-up of mistaken identities.

Joining Sally Bretton are her onscreen husbands: Lee Mack, who plays Lee in Not Going Out, and Kris Marshall, who plays DI Humphrey Goodman in Beyond Paradise. Zahra Ahmadi also appears as Esther Williams from Beyond Paradise, and fans will spot more familiar faces from both shows throughout the sketch.

The sketch sees the characters’ worlds unexpectedly collide, setting the stage for a comedy of errors that’s not to be missed.

STRICTLY COME DANCING

Starring Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the sketch follows the journey of Melissa (Rachel Parris) and Johnny (Russell Kane), two unlikely newcomers who take on the challenge of joining the Strictly professional lineup due to new inclusivity rules, which require a certain percentage of professionals to be... amateurs!

Filmed in an observational documentary style, the sketch tracks their surprising audition process as Melissa and Johnny land the job as Strictly’s first-ever amateur professional dancers. But in a sad twist of fate, both their celebrity partners mysteriously pull out of the next series at the last minute, citing identical farcical injuries.

GLADIATORS

Kurrupt FM’s self-appointed manager Chabuddy G is stepping into the legendary Gladiators arena for an exclusive Red Nose Day 2025 showdown.

Full of confidence and bravado, Chabuddy G arrives at Sheffield Arena convinced he’s about to join the ranks of the mighty Gladiators. But his dream of arena domination is short-lived when he discovers he’s not a Gladiator at all – he’s a contender whose first challenge is a head-to-head duel with none other than human powerhouse Bionic.

OASIS: THE REUNION: THE MOVIE

In an exclusive sketch for Red Nose Day 2025, an Inbetweeners reunion is on the cards as James Buckley and Joe Thomas take on the roles of legendary Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, in a parody charting their journey from Manchester lads to global rock superstars.

Expect all the drama, sibling showdowns, and unexpected celebrity cameos, wrapped up in a heavy dose of Britpop nostalgia, iconic 90s music moments, and cheeky humour.

And if that wasn’t enough, The Sugababes will take to the Red Nose Day stage for the first time since 2007, The Rock Choir will perform a moving rendition of Keane's classic Somewhere Only We Know, and a host of 80s legends will open the show with a medley of hit tracks from the decade.

We’ll see Billy Monger and Jamie Laing return after their epic challenges and a very special fashion show that you won’t want to miss! There will also be films highlighting incredible and inspiring stories of the people supported by some of Comic Relief’s projects in the UK and around the world.

Later in the evening, Emma Willis and Asim Chaudhry keep the Comic Relief 40th birthday party jumping way past sensible bedtimes with 40 Years of Funny – a retro romp full of red nose-talgia, greatest hits, side-splitters and jaw-droppers from the great and good of British comedy and the traditional remarkable raft of celebrity cameos.

Classic capers from French and Saunders, Alan Partridge, Mr Bean et al, and special tributes to some of the legends of the game who have gone above and beyond for the nose, including Peter Kay, Catherine Tate and James Corden’s Smithy.

Alongside the crown jewels of the Comic Relief archive, expect lesser-spotted rarities, deep cuts and a few surprises from the last four decades. We’ll also be casting a critical eye over all the official singles – including the 14 number one chart-toppers and (un)scientifically declaring the greatest one of all. It’s not The Stonk. It might be Amarillo. Who knows?

And though we’ll have one foot in the past, we’ll also be cracking open some modern-day treats with the Comic Relief takes on The Traitors, Ghosts and Love Island, to name but three... an hour of vintage and not so vintage hijinks 40 years in the making.

And don’t forget, donations can be made throughout the night by visiting bbc.co.uk/rednoseday, calling 03457 910 910 or to donate five, ten, 20, 30 or 40 pounds, simply text the word FIVE, TEN, TWENTY, THIRTY or FORTY to 70702.