From getting sexy with Cilla to nearly slipping a disc: Lenny Henry’s best Comic Relief moments
It’s the comedian’s final night as host of the TV telethon. As he hangs up his red nose for the last time, here are his most joyful highlights from 36 years of freestyle fundraising
January 2024
Sir Lenny Henry to host Comic Relief for final time this year
After 39 years, the charity’s co-founder steps down as presenter to allow ‘new and familiar faces’ to take the role
December 2023
Richard Curtis’s Christmas Actually raises the ghost of ropey light-entertainment past
Brian Logan
Festive variety show hosts Sanjeev Bhaskar and Jayde Adams are stodgier than Christmas dinner, with all the chemistry of a broken Bunsen burner
March 2023
Comic Relief raises over £34m as stars parody The Traitors and Eurovision
The Guardian picture essay
Comic Relief’s outlandish origin story – inside Nether Wallop festival
TV tonight
TV Tonight: a detective moves to Dublin to investigate her own daughter’s death
Comedy Q&A
Miranda Hart: ‘My preshow rituals? A banana and a poo’
March 2021
TV tonight
TV tonight: Kaley Cuoco stars in The Flight Attendant
The Big Bang Theory star heads up this new flashy thriller. Plus: Comic Relief rolls out the big names for charity. Here’s what to watch this evening
October 2020
Comic Relief stops sending celebrities to African countries
Move follows criticism that its promotional films reinforced ‘white saviour’ stereotypes
April 2020
The Big Night In review – telethon triumphs over the lockdown
Pass notes
The Vicar of Dibley is back – but is it the TV we need right now?
October 2019
The G2 interview
Lenny Henry: 'I wish somebody had taught me how to defend myself'
The comedian’s childhood was defined by racist abuse and his mother’s violence. As he publishes his autobiography, he talks about how it shaped him as a performer and activist
July 2019
The G2 interview
Stacey Dooley: ‘Some people don't understand why I'm on TV. But I deserve to be there’
Her critics say she is too emotional, has too many rough edges, even plays the ‘white saviour’. But the TV journalist gets the stories and is ratings dynamite
May 2019
Stacey Dooley 'would do the same' after Comic Relief row
Broadcaster says she has not spoken to MP David Lammy since ‘white saviour’ storm
March 2019
Brief letters
The two-bike, one-car way to go for a walk
David Lammy hits back at Tory MP over Comic Relief criticism
Red Nose Day raises £8m less than 2017, as viewing figures fall
Romesh Ranganathan’s midlife crisis
I’m proud to work with Comic Relief, despite the ‘white saviour’ row
Red Nose Day will raise millions, but ‘white saviours’ don’t help Africa
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi
TV tonight
TV tonight: Four Weddings and a Funeral comes back to life for Comic Relief
