Children In Need

Did you know that Children In Need has been going for over 50 years?  The very first appeal was broadcast on the radio on Christmas Day 1927 and raised £1, 143 18s 3d which was shared between four charities.

In 1955 a 'Children's Hour Christmas Appeal' was broadcast on the TV for the first time on Christmas Day and starred Sooty and Harry Corbett.  These Christmas Day appeals carried on until 1979 on both Radio and Television.  

The first telethon format show was in 1980 presented by Terry Wogan, Sue Lawley and Esther Rantzen and the donations increased dramatically. Over a million pounds was raised for the very first time.  Last year in 2011 an incredible £26,332,334 was raised on the night.  The final total awarded to projects throughout the UK was over £46 million. 

Pudsey & Joanna Lumley

Did you know that Pudsey Bear first appeared in 1985 and he was brown?  He was named after the birthplace of his designer Joanna Ball.  It was only the next year that he became the official logo for Children In Need and he was turned yellow and given the red and white spotted bandage.

Terry Wogan is still fronting the show in 2012 with a variety of sidekicks and this years Official Song is sung by Girls Aloud.  Altogether Children in need has raised over £650 million over the years.