Get ready for a night of heart and sparkle! BBC Children in Need is back and brighter than ever, a must-watch event that lights up the viewing calendar and warms the hearts of audiences everywhere. The three-hour extravaganza broadcast live from MediaCity UK in Salford promises to dazzle the nation whilst raising life-changing funds for children and young people across the UK. The need has never been greater as the charity is only able to fund 1 in 8 of the organisations who ask for money.

Ade Adepitan MBE, Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay, Chris Ramsey and Lenny Rush will present a jam-packed evening of sketches and performances featuring well-known faces as you have never seen them before.

Highlights on the night include:

This year, for the first time ever, the BBC Children in Need Choir will feature children from across all parts of the UK who’ve been supported by BBC Children in Need funded projects. They’ll come together in the studio to sing the anthemic Take That classic ‘Never Forget’.

Graham Norton’s Red Chair is back with a twist as a group of children from BBC Children in Need projects decide the fate of some famous faces who attempt to make the children laugh. Fail and they and the chair will be tipped up.

The One Show’s Challenge Squad, which features young people who have been supported by BBC Children in Need projects, will culminate in two live performances in the BBC Children in Need Studio, alongside some very special guests including the multi-platinum selling artist Ella Henderson. The audience can also expect a special performance from the cast of COME ALIVE! The Greatest Showman, which is a brand-new Circus Spectacular.

There is an out-of-this-world treat for Doctor Who fans as BBC Children in Need launches a very special auction. Plus, the fifteenth Doctor himself – Ncuti Gatwa – introduces a world exclusive preview from the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special.

Paddy McGuinness will find out the total raised by his Radio 2 Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge, which will see him cycle through three nations and eight countries in aid of BBC Children in Need’s 2024 Appeal.

Also viewers can look forward to a visit from the stars of BBC’s Gladiators, as you’ve never seen them before as well as a very special performance from Strictly Come Dancing as the professionals are joined by a Global Superstar. Other treats include an important pitch in Dragons’ Den and a very special CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Money raised during the 2024 appeal will help BBC Children in Need to continue working in communities across the four nations, funding amazing people in family centres, community spaces, youth clubs and refuges; homeless shelters, hospices and helplines. This year, BBC Children in Need is asking the public to make life lighter for children all across the UK.

Throughout the night, appeal films will feature some of the children and young people whose lives have been changed through the support of BBC Children in Need, and the project workers who work tirelessly to help them.

More highlights from the evening – including comedy sketches – will be announced in the coming weeks.

BBC Children in Need will air at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday 15 November