The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Final bow for Red Nose Day host Sir Lenny
Sir Lenny Henry hosted his final Red Nose Day last night after almost four decades at the helm.
The comedian and actor, 65, co-founded Comic Relief in 1985 alongside Love Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis and will still serve as life president.
The actor and comedian was joined by Joel Dommett, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuiness, Romesh Ranganathan, David Tennant, Maya Jama and Rosie Ramsey in hosting the fundraising show.
McCall called Sir Lenny “irreplaceable” as the televised fundraiser got under way on BBC1.
She said: “On behalf of all of us here tonight, and of course the entire nation, I’ve got to say you are 100% totally, utterly – am I right when I say – he’s irreplaceable.”
Sir Lenny said: “I don’t want to make too much fuss, it’s been an honour and a joy... it’s so not about me, it’s about the mirth and the money, it’s about comedy and compassion.”
Julia Roberts, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson were among the Hollywood actors who made a special appearance during the star-studded Red Nose Day show to raise money for Comic Relief.
The A-listers argued among each other to be named the most famous in a comedy sketch.
Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan and Catherine Tate also entertained on the night as boy band McFly opened the show with a medley of some of the mostloved Comic Relief singles from the last few years.
Titanic star Winslet treated viewers to a late night CBeebies Bedtime Story catered to parents as she reads F***, Now There Are Two Of You by Adam Mansbach.
Doctor Who star Tate, Vigil actress Suranne Jones, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey and Bridget Jones’s Diary’s Sally Phillips joined in a spin-off of BBC’s hit reality game show The Traitors, entitled The Traitors: The Movie.
Northern Irish actor Dornan transformed into his role as Elliot Stanley from BBC thriller The Tourist as he sat across from presenter Clive Myrie in the Mastermind chair.
The show also saw the return of Alan Partridge with a very special guest on his regional radio show.
The cast of spoof comedy series W1A also reunited on the night in a sketch to find Sir Lenny’s replacement as Red Nose Day host.
Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville returned in his role of hapless Ian Fletcher, the fictional head of values at the BBC, with Spaced actress Jessica Hynes as Siobhan Sharpe, Mr Bates vs The Post Office star Monica Dolan as Tracey Pritchard and Fleabag actor Hugh Skinner as Will the intern.
Money raised by Red Nose Day will go towards organisations helping to tackle some of the urgent problems faced by people here in the UK and around the world including providing shelter and offering someone to talk to in difficult times.