Changing lives for the better
Children In Need is celebrating 40 years of charity fundraising. MARION McMULLEN looks at the bear facts
CHILDREN In Need was always close to Sir Terry Wogan’s heart and he used to say he felt so passionately about the fundraising night that they would have to drag him off screaming if they ever wanted him to leave.
The broadcaster, who sadly died in 2016, said: “I gave up my radio show, with regret, but knowing I’d done it for a long time, the same with Eurovision, but Children In Need is different.”
It all began in 1978 when Terry made a five-minute appeal and did the same the following year. Then Children In Need went live from BBC Elstree Studios in 1980 and promptly raised a million pounds.
The telethon included short segments linking the evening’s programming and the new format was presented by Terry Wogan,
Sue Lawley and Esther Rantzen. It was aimed at raising money for charities working with children across Britain and 40 years later is still going strong.
Things did not always go smoothly during the live broadcast though and Terry once admitted it could be a little hair-raising.
He said: “I’ve seen my fair share of drama over the years in Children In Need. I had a close brush with mortality in 2009 when a chain collapsed from the studio rigging.
“I was in mid-sprout to camera when I heard an enormous crash behind me – a ton of steel had come down and smashed to the ground a few feet away.”
The famous Pudsey Bear made his first appearance in 1985 as a brown, cuddly mascot. He was created by BBC graphic designer Joanna Lane and she named him after Pudsey in Yorkshire where she grew up.
Joanne said: “It was like a lightbulb moment for me. We were bouncing ideas off each other and I latched on to this idea of a teddy bear. I immediately realised there was a huge potential for a mascot beyond the 2D logo.”
Pudsey has had a few makeovers over the years and in 1986 switched to his trademark yellow hue with a colourful bandana to match. The Pudsey look we know today dates back to 2007 when Pudsey underwent a few tweaks for his 22nd birthday.
Even Labour Leader Tony Blair joined Pudsey for a little guitar session in 1997 and Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore were also pictured with the charity mascot the same year.
Lou Reed, Bono, David Bowie, Sir Elton John and Sir Tom Jones were among those who featured on the first Children In Need charity single A Perfect Day in 1997.
The cast of BBC comedy Bread joined forces with Blackadder for the fundraiser in 1987 and were back again two years later with their own version of Hamlet.
Ainsley Harriott and his fellow Ready Steady Cooks also went the Full Monty in 1998 to do their bit to help raise money.
BBC Children in Need has grown over the last four decades and currently funds 1,294 local charities and projects across the UK supporting children and young people affected by poverty and deprivation.
In the last six months alone it as awarded funding totalling £3.7m to projects supporting children and young people affected by poverty through the charity’s Covid-19 response programmes.
Mel Giedroyc is one of this year’s presenters and says: “BBC Children in Need is 40, it’s older than me, I can’t believe it! It is an absolute honour for me to join the rest of the gang hosting a heart-warming, fabulous, surprising and entertaining show – it’s going to be blooming brilliant and a dazzingly delightful night of top telly!”
Sir Terry Wogan’s last year presenting BBC Children in Need was in 2014 and he will forever be linked to the fundraising night.
His former co-presenter on the show, Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess Daly said: “The highlight of my Children In Need years will always be getting to stand by the great man, Sir Terry Wogan’s side. What a pleasure and utter privilege that was.
“It’s hugely special being a part of something that helps change so many young lives for the better.
“Over a decade I’ve worked with Children In Need, I’ve seen first-hand the difference the money raised on the night makes.
“From funding specialist care centres for disabled children to providing fun days out for underprivileged kids who may not otherwise get the chance.
“It’s life changing for so many and always so inspiring that the great British public are so generous.”
The BBC Children in Need annual appeal show can be seen on Friday on BBC1 from 7pm.