Last year's appeal raised �26m for needy children

The final total after Friday night's event was �15,305,212 - beating the record �13.5m raised last year.

Organisers are hoping to beat last year's final total of more than �26m raised from all donations.

A total of 12 million people watched the show, about 47% of the total television audience, the BBC said.

Among the highlights of the extravaganza was a star-studded spoof of The Wizard Of Oz.

Proceeds will go towards helping young people affected by homelessness, HIV, sexual abuse and drug addiction.

EastEnders actor Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon, opened the TV show with a cover of the Queen hit, We Will Rock You.

He also appeared later to perform this year's Children in Need single, a cover of the Wham hit, I'm Your Man, which is released in the shops on Monday.

Cheeky Girls

The casts of Holby City, Casualty, EastEnders, and Merseybeat were among those taking part in the 24th annual appeal.

Celebrity chefs Ainsley Harriott and Antony Worrall Thompson recreated a famous Morecombe and Wise kitchen sketch.

EastEnders actor Shane Richie performed a Wham cover

Pop stars including the Cheeky Girls, Holly Valance and Sophie Ellis Bextor performed from Weymouth, Stoke and Maidstone respectively.

BBC news presenters also did their bit, with a rendition of some Motown classics.

Thousands of people and businesses across the country have been holding their own fundraising events for the annual appeal.

Among them were two pub workers from Wales who were inspired to 'do a David Blaine' by spending 30 hours in a cage suspended 30ft above the River Dee.

Andrew Coke and Steve Roberts from The Boat Inn in Erbistock near Wrexham, climbed into their box at 1530 GMT on Thursday and re-emerged at 2130 GMT on Friday.

BBC Children in Need started in 1980, and has raised more than �325 million.