Radio 2 has raised an incredible £7,697,361 in aid of this year’s BBC Children in Need

During the Radio 2 Breakfast Show from Monday to Thursday this week, presenter Chris Evans auctioned a record twelve extraordinary packages including tickets to the Ultimate Christmas Party with Rick Astley, Dine and Disco with Take That, tickets to a special show by Peter Kay and a Super Cher VIP Package that offered the top two bidders the opportunity to meet Cher at her show in Las Vegas.

Between 7am and 7pm on Children In Need appeal day, Radio 2 put children at the heart of everything. Each presenter was joined by celebrities from the worlds of children’s TV, music or movies to help them co-host parts of the show, read out text dedications and speak to kids doing something for Children In Need. The celebrities included The Vamps performing live, Craig David, Blue Peter’s Lindsey and Radzi, Jessie Ware, Peppa Pig and Daddy Pig, Nick Grimshaw, plus Matt Baker phoning in to give updates on the Rickshaw Challenge.

Each hour, the music playlist was chosen by staff, volunteers and kids from a different Children In Need supported project from around the UK.

Presenter Chris Evans says: “Once again the response to Children In Need has been incredible, and from the bottom of my heart I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated to this important cause.”

Lewis Carnie, Head of BBC Radio 2, says: “The generosity of the Radio 2 audience has been amazing, raising an incredible amount of money for BBC Children In Need. It is a highlight of the Radio 2 calendar and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated for their support and contributions.”

Chris Evans started the auctions on Monday with two amazing packages which raised a total of £809,621. The Ultimate Office Christmas Party with Rick Astley, who joined Chris on the show to help launch the auction, raised an impressive £559,379; and celebrity chef Rick Stein’s Ultimate Office Christmas Lunch at his new restaurant in Barnes raised £250,242 - with Joanna Lumley,Judy Murray and Mary Berry dialling in to share their excitement at being involved with proceedings too.

Tuesday’s auctions included The Super Swing Package: Pro-Am at Wentworth, the return of The Magnificent Seven Marathon Package and Chris was joined in the studio by Luke Harvey and Victoria Pendleton to share the details of The Cheltenham Gold Cup Package: At the Races. The three auctions raised a combine total of £412,178.

The annual Dine and Disco auction took place on Wednesday and raised a grand total of £1,868,526. The auction offered the top fifty bidders two tickets to the 2018 Dine and Disco; it raised a total of £1,624,212. The premium rate text competition provided listeners the chance to win the final pair of tickets; it raised £244,314. Mark Owen from Take That dialled in to share his excitement about the band being confirmed to perform at the event in New Forest on Saturday 16 June, 2018, along with The Feeling, who were on the show performing live to help get listeners in the party mood.

Thursday saw six amazing packages up for auction. Peter Kay was live on the show to auction off his special package, Peter Kay live in Blackpool for Children In Need, which raised £633,225. The Full On Kerridge Experience with Tom Kerridge raised £52,774 and Carry On Camping: At CarFest North & South raised a combined total of £232,045 by offering the top five bidders and their families the opportunity to join the CarFest Royal Family. The Supervet Package with Professor Noel Fitzpatrick raised £48,389 and the package offering the highest four bidders the chance to attend the Henley Regatta with Olympic rower James Cracknell raised £88,133. The Super Cher VIP Package offering the top two lucky bidders and their guest a luxury trip to Las Vegas with VIP tickets to Cher’s show and the opportunity to meet her raised £105,613.

Chris Evans’s annual CarFest - an event that combines classic cars, live music and food while raising money for Children in Need - raised an outstanding £3,112,348.

Prior to the Children In Need week, Radio 2 also held their annual celebrity Gala Lunch, this year hosted by Michael Ball, it raised £112,275. Plus Ken Bruce hosted a special Gala Performance of School of Rock - The Musical which raised £21,399.

The generosity of the Radio 2 audience continued, with a total of £38,266 raised through collections, text and online donations.

Last year BBC Radio 2 raised a total of £5,813,784 for BBC Children In Need.

KW2

Related Media Centre Links

• Scot Squad and River City stars join forces for Children In Need mash-up with Pudsey
• Children in Need 2017
• Barra and Jo ‘Do Their Thing’ for BBC Children in Need
• Helena Bonham Carter to narrate Saying Goodbye, a special film for BBC Children in Need which will shed a light on Childhood Bereavement
• Katie Melua to release BBC Children in Need’s official single for 2017
• Here’s one they rehearsed earlier! Six Blue Peter stars take to the Strictly ballroom for Children in Need
• Star-studded presenter line-up announced for BBC Children in Need
• Stars come together to ask the public to get fundraising and Do Your Thing for BBC Children in Need’s 2017 Appeal!
• BBC Children in Need rocks the 80s!