Celebs to co-host BBC radio show for Comic Relief

A host of famous faces will join a BBC local radio show to guest co-present for Comic Relief 2026.

BBC Radio Stoke's breakfast show presenter Lee Blakeman will be joined by a different celebrity each day, starting on Monday and continuing to Friday, to celebrate the national fundraising campaign.

He will have broadcaster Nick Hancock with him on Monday and he will then be followed by darts player Phil Taylor, sprinter-turned-bobsledder Ashleigh Nelson, long jumper Jazmin Sawyers and former Emmerdale star and Strictly Come Dancing winner Kelvin Fletcher.

Blakeman said he could not wait to welcome "such a great group of guests" to the show for Comic Relief.

"Nick, I've been a huge fan of since I was growing up. Ashleigh, Jazmin and Kelvin I've had the pleasure of working with before, so it will be great to work alongside them again," he added.

"And Phil Taylor, the greatest person to ever throw a dart, say no more!

"It should be a brilliant week."

Aftab Gulzar, executive editor at BBC Radio Stoke, said he was excited to welcome the celebrity guests.

"We see first-hand the difference Comic Relief funding makes to local charities," he said.

"It's a privilege to have such big names joining us to help raise money for such a great cause.

"You can expect plenty of fun and some unmissable moments across the week.

"We're even hoping to break a world record with one of our celebrity co-hosts, so watch this space!"

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