Presenter interviews
Sport Relief is back for 2018 bringing a bumper night of entertainment, music and comedy to BBC One and for the first time the show will come live from Salford.
Published: 6 March 2018
We’re live for the first time ever from Salford, are you excited about the new venue and are you looking forward to presenting in front of a live audience?
I love it here and I spend loads of time at the BBC in Salford anyway so it’s become a bit of a second home for me. Of course being a northerner I know we’ll give the rest of the UK a great night of entertainment.
What are you most looking forward to on this year’s night of TV?
I’m going to be a keen spectator on the day when the twelve hour long 5-a-side matches take place. I can’t wait to see how Savage will cope with 12 hours of football - I’ll be on the side-lines to heckle him along of course - he’d expect nothing less from me!
Are you excited about working with your fellow presenters this year?
Absolutely. It’s such a great mix of people this year, some jokers in there for sure, it should be brilliant.
Spirit of 66... Sport Relief Special
Gary Lineker
We’re live for the first time ever from Salford, are you excited about the new venue?
I sure am, I know Salford really well of course as I’m here every Saturday for Match of the Day, but something that’s the scale of Sport Relief and the live studio audience is totally different.
What are you most looking forward to on this year’s night of TV?
There’s always someone who surprises you, who is secretly a serious athlete with a real competitive edge, so I’m looking forward to seeing who the dark horse in the great challenges we have going on will be this year.
We have a fantastic presenter line up for 2018, are you excited about working together?
Yes, it’s a very strong team and aside from the amazing projects we raise money for during Sport Relief, the team are why I always enjoy coming back. This year we have Ore, Paddy and Freddie joining the presenter line-up for the first time so it’ll be great to see them on the night.
You’re somewhat of a Sport Relief veteran, having presented the show from 2002. What has been your favourite memory or skit from years prior?
Wow, there are so many so it’s hard to choose just the one. I’ve always enjoyed taking part in the A Question of Sport specials for Sport Relief as I’m quite competitive and obviously like to think I know quite a bit about sport - it might look like fun but we all really want to win!
Another memory that stands out is taking part in Masterchef for Sport Relief in 2010. I cooked up good old steak and chips but I would honestly rather take a penalty shootout over that any day - it was so nerve-wracking.
Davina McCall
Are you excited about coming to Salford for this year’s Sport Relief?
It will be amazing, as a presenter it just doesn’t get more exciting than live TV… I love it… and the audiences up north are off the chart! It’s going to be a lot of fun!
What are you most looking forward to on this year’s night of TV?
For me, it’s all about the everyday heroes raising money to make a difference and pushing themselves through their own challenges. In the appeal films, you get to see just where the money goes and how many people it can help.
Are you excited to work alongside Gary, Claudia and Ore once more as well as welcome the news faces this year?
Love Claudia… she’s a very old mate so we are like two naughty school girls when we get together… in fact, we have a lovely bunch this year so hopefully between us we’ll keep everyone’s energy up and help keep the money rolling in as the night goes on.
Do you have any stand out memories from Sport Relief from years gone by?
My triathlon back in 2014 of course was a massive stand out moment for me. 500 miles of swimming, cycling and running was without question the hardest thing I have ever done - both mentally and physically. I think I’m only just about recovered from it now!
But that’s what Sport Relief is all about - going that extra mile, challenging yourself in ways you never thought possible and having that support network around you to get you through and cheer you on, so it’s something I’ll always be proud of.
Paddy McGuiness
We’re live for the first time ever from Salford, are you excited about the new venue and are you looking forward to presenting in front of a live audience?
For me, nothing beats live TV, even though it’s half exciting and half nerve-wracking. I know the audience will be well up for a night of fun and fundraising so it’s going to be great having some banter with the live audience and soaking up the atmosphere.
What are you most looking forward to on this year’s night of TV?
I’m looking forward to seeing John Bishop trying to help the England team win the World Cup. It’ll be good to watch the magic of SPOTY as well, as I do enjoy a good card trick
We have a fantastic presenter line up for 2018, are you looking excited about working together?
This is my first time presenting, so I’m excited for us all to get together, get stuck in and raise loads of cash for an amazing cause.
What has been your favourite memory from Sport Relief in previous years?
It’s got to be Clash of the Titans for Sport Relief 2016, when Harry Judd and I wrestled each other. He came out victorious, so I’ve only just finished licking my wounds… that said I obviously rock a leotard better than him so who’s the real winner, eh?
Ore Oduba
We’re live from Salford this year, how do you feel about coming to the North for the show?
It’s perfect! Manchester is one of the biggest sporting hubs in the universe! In fact the whole of the North West is sports-mad, so broadcasting Sport Relief’s big night from there makes complete sense. It was also my home for many years so it’ll be really special to go back and say 'Hi' to some familiar faces.
What are you most looking forward to on this year’s night of TV?
There are always too many highlights to choose from and this year promises to be no exception. Seeing how much is raised on the night is overwhelming, the way the British public gets behind us. Every penny is so gratefully received. And in return is an unforgettable night of entertainment... Keep an eye out for Chris Kamara in our Strictly Come Dancing special. Strictly unmissable!
We have a fantastic presenter line up for 2018, are you excited about working together?
Got to say, I’m pretty giddy with excitement! I’m a big fan of each of them and have been lucky enough to work with them all before. It’s going to be so much fun but also an incredibly humbling night. Sport Relief does nothing short of spectacular so I can’t wait to hook up with the team and make sure it’s a night to remember.
A Question of Sport Relief
Claudia Winkleman
Are you excited to present in front of a live audience in Salford this year?
Sport Relief is such a brilliant event to be part of and we’re all properly excited to be live in Salford this year. I can’t give too much away; people will be taking part in challenges all around us. I can’t wait.
What are you most looking forward to on this year’s night of TV?
I absolutely can’t wait to see the BBC vs ITV boat race. I know they’ve been training really hard.
You have presented Sport Relief for many years now, do you still get a buzz presenting alongside the team?
I genuinely do, the team behind Red Nose Day and Sport Relief are utterly brilliant. We’re all really passionate about Sport Relief and the incredible impact nights like this can have.
Do you have any fond memories from Sport Relief in the past?
I really enjoyed hosting Stand Up for Sport Relief in 2012. We had the likes of Michael Vaughan and Gabby Logan being trained to be stand-up comedians by Patrick Kielty so to say it was a fun day at the office is an understatement.
