BT staff answer charity call

IF you’re planning t o donate money to Sport Relief during tonight’s telethon, there’s a sporting chance your call might be answered in Dundee.

Around 100 big-hearted BT and EE staff are turning their offices at Telephone House in Ward Road into a Sport Relief pledge centre. The staff will be taking it in turns to answer calls after giving up their Friday evening.

BT’s Lois Brunton, who is helping to co-ordinate the activities, said: “As one of BT’s biggest contact centre operations, the team here in Dundee regularly supports telethons and staff have come up trumps once again.

“The excitement around the office is building.

“It’s great that so many employees have given up their own ti me t o get involved, and we’ve also been busy doing our own fundraising.”

Dundee is one of five Sport Relief pledge centres being manned by BT Group volunteers, and the only one in Scotland.

BT has supported Comic Relief since it began in 1988.

The gallery will be rebranded as the McMenace this summer in a nod to beloved classic character Dennis, thanks to some creative work by comic stalwarts the Bash Street Kids.

A special commission by Beano artist Nigel Parkinson shows the redesign taking place, with the kids and Teacher entangled in the “Waldella, Dundee” artwork — 200 lit up multicoloured plastic containers — one of the gallery’s most popular exhibits.

DC Thomson’s home at Meadowside is visible in the background — labelled in the illustration as the “Fun Factory”.

Mike Stirling, head of Beano Studios Scotland, said: “Dundee is the hometown of The Dandy and Beano and so for us there is no better partner than The McManus to celebrate our 80th milestone with.

“The exhibit will offer fans a glimpse into the history of the comics and showcase the rebellious and fun characters throughout the ages, and display how they still connect with children today.”

Opening in June, the new bespoke exhibition will chart the Beano’s birth and growth over the last eight decades, from the 2p comic launched in July 1938 to the magazine that continues to exist today.

The exhibition will also look at the introduction of some of the funniest and most loved characters over the years, including Dennis and Gnasher, Rodger the Dodger, Minnie the Minx and of course the Bash Street Kids, with their characteristic slapstick humour.

In particular, the collection will focus on the mischievous youngsters, whose conception was inspired by

THE McManus is undergoing a menacing transformation as part of the Beano’s 80th anniversary celebrations.