Red Nose Day 2026 - How to watch Comic Relief: Funny for Money, sketches, challenges and everything you need to know

The biggest night of comedy, entertainment, and spectacular fundraising in television is almost here as Red Nose Day returns.

This year’s show is set to be as fun-filled and energy-packed as ever, with an evening of live performances, amazing prizes, surprise cameos, and must-see sketches lined up, all to raise vital funds to help people access food, shelter and safety – the essentials everyone needs to survive, here in the UK and around the world.

Red Nose Day presenting royalty Davina McCall will front the full evening of entertainment, joined by comedy heavy‑hitters like Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed, Joel Dommett, and Catherine Tate (as Nan from The Catherine Tate Show).

Expect to see unmissable moments and surprises, along with a cackling collection of side-splitting sketches like ‘The Bank Job’, starring Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, and others featuring some of the BBC’s biggest shows, including The Traitors, and Amandaland, and more!

Comic Relief: Funny for Money is made by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions for the BBC, commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The Executive Producers for BBC Studios are Sophie Rogers and Colin Hopkins. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Katie Taylor.

Here's everything you need to know...

When is Comic Relief's Red Nose Day on TV and BBC iPlayer?

You can catch all the Red Nose Day action on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Friday 20 March from 7pm.

Comic Relief: Funny for Money will be the most accessible Red Nose Day big night of TV to date! An Audio Description (AD) of the show will be available on BBC One by selecting the AD button on TV remotes, via selecting the "Audio Described" category on iPlayer or by toggling the speech bubble icon, plus it will also be available to audiences via Freeview, Sky, and Virgin Media. Signing will also be available via the Red Button and on iPlayer.

For the very first time, you can also watch the live streamed simultaneously on the official BBC YouTube channel.

• Watch Comic Relief: Funny for Money on BBC iPlayer and add to your Watchlist

Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2026 Presenters

Hosting the action live from Salford will be an all-star lineup.

Red Nose Day presenting royalty Davina McCall will front the full evening of entertainment, joined by comedy heavy‑hitters like Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed, Joel Dommett, and Catherine Tate (as Nan from The Catherine Tate Show).

• Read more: Catch up with some of the Red Nose Day 2026 Presenters

Red Nose Day Sketches 2026

Bringing together some of the nation’s best comics and entertainers, the Big Night of TV will feature exciting sketches, including...

Amandaland

In an exclusive sketch for Comic Relief: Funny for Money, the BBC’s number one comedy of 2025 Amandaland gets the Red Nose Day treatment in a sketch that promises big names and big laughs.

Comical chaos is set to ensue in ‘Amandas-land’ when Amanda (Lucy Punch), joined by Anne (Philippa Dunne), are invited to BBC Broadcasting House for a special live radio interview with Sara Cox – and the pair unexpectedly encounter some of TV’s most legendary Amandas.

Caught up in the comedy of errors are Amanda Holden, Amanda Lamb, Amanda Barrie, Amanda Byram and Amanda Collier. Sara Cox’s overwhelmed radio producer is played by Lydia West, and the production runner is played by Lucia Keskin.

Expect mix-ups, misunderstandings, and classic slapstick humour in this unmissable Comic Relief Amandaland special.

The Bank Job

In an exclusive sketch for Comic Relief: Funny for Money, raising money for a good cause has never been so 'creative' as Idris Elba, star of award-winning crime thriller series Luther, gets in on the action alongside some other famous faces in the comically thrilling sketch The Bank Job.

Celebrities have gone to the extremes over the years in the name of charity, now Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are joined by a gang of celebrities as they go the extra mile in an attempt to raise money for Comic Relief.

Chris McCausland, Stephen Mulhern, Shona McGarty, Niko Omilana, Gladiator’s Sabre, and Natalie Cassidy are joining the heist to end all heists. Who will stay on the right side of the law? Who will put their (questionable!) intelligence, strategic prowess and artful deftness to the test in a bid to become 2026’s most-wanted bank robber? And how will they fare now that DCI John Luther is on the case?

The Traitors: The Movie – The Sequel

A stellar star-studded cast of award-winning actors and comedians, joined by the cast of this year’s mega-hit series, are set to star in the traitorous sequel sketch for Red Nose Day on BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and the official BBC YouTube channel.

The time for talk is over… In an exclusive sketch for Comic Relief: Funny for Money, THE blockbuster movie event of the year includes a huge cast of award-winning actors and comedians, alongside the cast of the mega-hit BBC series The Traitors, in the ultimate follow up sketch The Traitors: The Movie – The Sequel.

Announced on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, Anna Friel is set to put the cat amongst the pigeons as she undergoes the ultimate transformation into Claudia Winkleman. Joining her at the Round Table is a selection of the biggest names in showbiz, channelling their inner Traitors and Faithful – Vicky Pattison as Rachel, Scott Mills as James, Iain Stirling as Stephen, Amanda Redman MBE as Amanda, Alison Steadman OBE as Fiona, Fleur East as Roxy, Lewis Cope as Jack, and Jessica Hynes as Harriet.

These celebrities will be hoping their portrayal of the series four cast is faithful, as they will be joined in the sketch alongside the real cast, including Rachel Duffy, Stephen Libby, Faraaz Noor, Fiona Hughes, Ross Garshong, Jade Scott, and Judy Wilson.

‘Directed’ by the incomparable Ruby Wax OBE, the most anticipated movie event of 2026 will see audiences revisit some of the most iconic moments of series four, produced by Studio Lambert Scotland.

Withering Heights

In an exclusive sketch for Comic Relief: Funny for Money, Katherine Ryan and Jon Richardson are set to embody Cathy and Heathcliff in an unmissable Wuthering Heights sketch this Red Nose Day.

Have you ever wondered who else may have auditioned for the leading roles in smash-hit film Wuthering Heights? Or rather, why Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi ended up in the role? Fret no more, as this Red Nose Day we are set to get a sneak peek at the exclusive audition tapes as Katherine Ryan takes on the role of Cathy, and Jon Richardson gives it his best Heathcliff, in ‘Withering Heights’.

Sir Lenny Henry's Red Nose Day Message

In an exclusive film for Comic Relief: Funny for Money, Sir Lenny Henry delivers a powerful Red Nose Day message and call to action to the UK that is not to be missed.

Sir Lenny Henry is one of Britain’s best known and best loved personalities – actor, writer, comedian and television presenter who co-founded Comic Relief in 1985. Opening the show, Lenny will deliver an extra special message that is more important than ever – rallying the UK to come together in the way that Lenny does best.

Challenges

Radio 1’s Longest Ride with Greg James

Radio 1’s Greg James is taking on his toughest challenge yet – an epic 1,000km endurance tandem cycle across the UK to raise life-changing funds for Red Nose Day. Setting off from Weymouth on Friday 13 March, Greg is spending eight relentless days pushing himself to the limit, riding through England and Wales before crossing the finish line in Edinburgh on Friday 20 March.

Spending up to eight hours a day in the saddle, the challenge marks his third for Comic Relief, making it a hattrick of challenges despite previously insisting he had hung up his cycle helmet for good after completing five triathlons in five days in 2016, and Pedal to the Peaks challenge in 2018, where he cycled and climbed Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis.

Broadcast live throughout the week on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds, with daily weekday coverage on BBC Morning Live, plus weekend coverage on BBC Radio 2, and across social media, the journey will see Greg joined by Radio 1 presenters, special guests and even one lucky listener along the route – with plenty of encouragement, surprises and support as he clocks up huge distances. Greg’s ride will be live-tracked, encouraging local communities, schools and workplaces to come out and cheer him on as makes his way across the country.

Passing through cities, towns and villages where Comic Relief-funded partners provide essential support, the challenge will highlight the impact of the funds raised – helping to provide food, safe shelter and protection for people facing hardship in the UK and around the world.

• Listen to BBC Radio 1 live for regular on-the-road updates
• Follow live coverage as Greg heads to Edinburgh

Additional Programmes

Comic Relief Does The Weakest Link

At 10pm the funny will continue on BBC Two, as Romesh Ranganathan hosts a very special episode of Comic Relief Does The Weakest Link. The gloves are off in this late-night version of the iconic quiz show for Comic Relief and nobody is safe from Romesh or their fellow players. Facing questions will be six comedians all hoping to avoid the walk of shame. Who will beat their rivals to be crowned the champion and take home the trophy?

Comic Relief: More Funny For Money / Comic Relief’s Hits and Hidden Gems at the BBC

Saturday 21 March will see a special highlights show from the big night of TV, Comic Relief: More Funny For Money, air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. There will also be a brand-new compilation, Comic Relief’s Hits and Hidden Gems at the BBC, with much-loved performances from artists including Adele, One Direction and The Spice Girls, sitting alongside rarely-seen gems from Sam Smith and John Legend, Helen Mirren and Robbie Coltrane - and Alan Partridge channelling Kate Bush. It's a collection of iconic musical moments showcasing Red Nose Day's rich archive, and airs on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two.

The One Show

On Thursday 19 March, The One Show will be helping to get the nation ready for Comic Relief’s big day. There’ll be an exclusive preview of the biggest sketches and studio moments, including a behind the scenes trip to Amandaland and a live look at how rehearsals are going in Salford. Plus, they’ll be cheering on BBC Radio 1’s Greg James at the finish line of the penultimate leg of his epic Longest Ride for Red Nose Day.

Red Peter: Red Nose Day Takeover!

On Friday 20 March, Blue Peter becomes Red Peter, as they join in the Red Nose Day fun in a special episode. As well as turning red, the stars of Gladiators Epic Pranks and CBBC’s Saturday Mash Up join for a last to laugh challenge, and Joel takes himself funny for money as he attempts springboard diving.

The Creator Band for Red Nose Day

This Red Nose Day, four of the UK’s most exciting digital creators are swapping ring lights for stage lights as they take on a challenge that hits all the right notes. For the first time ever, Ayame, Sarel, Victor Kunda and Specs Gonzalez are coming together to form a real band, stepping far outside their comfort zones and straight into the spotlight for a live performance on the Red Nose Day night of TV.

This unlikely group will rehearse, harmonise and hilariously try to stay in time as they prepare for their one‑night‑only debut. Fans won’t miss a moment thanks to a special Comic Relief YouTube series – allowing them to follow, support and donate along the way. Expect vocal coaching, choreography bootcamp and more than a few moments where they wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can sing. With some very special cameo guests dropping in along the way, their journey will be packed with honest highs, lows and plenty of laughter.

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