‘I’ve grown up wearing Pudsey ears’

We catch up with married presenting duo Rochelle and Marvin Humes about what it’s like to work on TV’S glitziest charity extravaganza

What is your favourite part about presenting BBC

Children In Need?

ROCHELLE, 29: I love it. The atmosphere is always electric in the studio and we just have so much fun, but all in the name of BBC Children In Need. MARVIN, 33: It’s such a massive show to be a part of. I grew up watching Pudsey on BBC Children In Need – it’s pretty much a British institution and something that we all know and get involved with over the years. Also, I get to host with Rochelle – we love working together. Marvin, it must be great working with your wife again… There’s no one better to work with than the person you know best and is your best friend, so I’m really lucky to be working with her. It doesn’t feel like work when I’m with Rochelle. Have there been any stories from previous years that have particularly moved you? Always, but I remember getting choked up about a story of a family who had lost not one but two of their children, especially when Rochelle and I have two little girls [Alaia-mai, four, and 20-month-old Valentina]. It really hit home to us. Is there anything you do to prepare yourself for the evening? ROCHELLE: I have to watch every film before the live show. I find them so moving, and I think when you have kids of your own, everything sort of hits you tenfold and I have to desensitise myself a tiny bit to the film. I try to watch it about three or four times before that evening because I will always just full-on cry and it’s not about me crying. We’re there to raise money and do a job, so I just want to hold it together as much as I can. Why do you think people should tune in this year? MARVIN: It’s always a great night, there’s no night on British TV like it. There are so many different presenters and so many different walks of talent across all boards. Of course, there are going to be moments where it’s going to hit home, but that’s all part of the reason we get together – to spread a great message and hopefully raise as much money as we can. ROCHELLE: First of all, by tuning in, you are already doing a great job and I’m certain that you will want to donate. We also have a lot of fun – it’s a great balance of knowing why we are there and having a ball. Viewers will see things in BBC Children In Need that you don’t ever really see, such as big names giving up their time up to do something really random and fun, which is always brilliant! How does it make you feel when you find out the staggering amount of money that is raised each year? ROCHELLE: Every year we have beaten the total from the previous year, and it’s just amazing to see that people still put their hands in their pockets – that will always touch everyone’s heart. I’ve grown up making cakes at school on non-uniform day and wearing Pudsey ears – my children do it now – and to be a part of that, it’s just great.