Comic Relief 2011 - My Best Bits

Earlier this month, I blogged here and here about my Comic Relief favourite moments from the past 26 years from the release of the first charity single between Cliff Richard and the Young Ones, the first Red Nose Day in 1988 and the present day.

Well, I felt it only right to bring that up-to-date with my favourite moments from this year's festivities which culminated in the record breaking £74m raised for charity on the night alone.

A World Record
For the days running up to Red Nose Day, March 18th itself, Radio One stalwarts Chris Moyles and Comedy Dave set a new world record for a radio show of 52 hours. I'm not a Radio 1 fan - I'm more of a Radio 2 or Classic FM kinda guy so imagine my surprise at finding myself glued to the BBC Red Button channel 301, watching great chunks of this record attempt being played out in front of my eyes.

They raised a whopping £2.6m for Comic Relief from their attempt alone. Staggering. Here's the moment when they broke the World Record...



Another Red Nose Day hit was 'Smithy saves Red Nose Day 2011' . The Gavin & Stacey star teamed up with George Michael and stars from the entertainment and sporting world (and Gordon Brown!) for a hillarious sketch around possibly the biggest table ever!



Then there was the Alan Partridge sketch. Here he is he on North Norfolk Digitial Radio's Mid-Morning Matters supporting Comic Relief in his own inimitable way!





I must admit that I enjoyed the Masterchef spoof with Ruby Wax, Miranda Hart, Claudia Winkleman and David Cameron!





We also saw Andy Murray being Outnumbered!



But my highlight? Easy. Another masterstroke from the genius that is Peter Kay and his alter ego Geraldine McQueen. Dueting with Susan Boyle, they covered the 1980s Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson hit.

Currently at No.11 in the charts, 'I Know Him So Well'.

Well done Comic Relief - you've played another blinder!

Comic Relief (1988-2011) - My Best Musical Bits

Comic Relief has always captured my musical imagination.

Since the Comic Relief charity was launched on Christmas Day 1985, it has raised over £650m for good causes around the world.

Along the way, it has made us laugh...and laugh loudly...

The first Red Nose Day was held in February 1988 and the second was in 1989. Since then, they have fallen one every other year - usually in the 2nd or 3rd week of March. The next is this Friday, 18th March 2011.

So, I'm dedicating two blog posts to celebrate this truly British tradition of supporting charity through comedy. The first one here revolved around the comedy, this second revolves around the music.

So, here are some of my Comic Relief Red Nose Day 'Best Musical Bits'...

It all began in fact, not in 1988 on the first Red Nose Day but in April 1986. Comic Relief's first charity single was Cliff Richard and The Young Ones with Living Doll which topped the charts!



Next up was a Christmas re-make of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Mel & Kim (Mel Smith and Kim Wilde). It peaked at Number 3 in the charts in December 1987.



The first actual Red Nose Day single release was the Feruary 1989 version of The Beatles' Help! featuring Bananarama with French & Saunders and Kathy Burke. Again, it peaked at No.3 in the charts.



March 1991 saw Red Nose Day's 'The Stonk' by Hale and Pace and the Stonkers which topped the charts! This is the first Comic Relief single that I can vividly recall at the time.



April 1992 saw a time-out from Red Nose Day, as the Smear Campaign & Mr Bean released a General Election themed special - '(I Wanne Be) Elected'. It peaked at No.9 in the charts!



Red Nose Day 1993 witnessed Right Said Fred and Friends, 'Stick It Out' reach No.4 in the charts.



Also from 1993, this 're-make' of Bohemian Rhapsody by the favourites of the day. Personally, the weathermen's inclusion and that of the cast of 'That's Life' & Emmerdale are strokes of genius!

Hugh Laurie also plays a blinder! 'Ma-ma, just killed a chap...'



1994 saw the Pet Shop Boys release 'Absolutely Fabulous' for Comic Relief - it peaked at No.6 in the charts.



1995 saw a change in emphasis as the official Comic Relief singles for Red Nose Day became more serious in tone. Nevertheless, it didn't make them any less of a hit than those that went before.

The first, from that year, was the powerful and moving Love Can Build a Bridge by Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry and Eric Clapton. It would become the first of an incredible 9 consecutive Comic Relief singles chart toppers.



1997 saw the Spice Girls and the Sugar Lumps do their bit for Comic Relief with 'Mama / Who Do You Think You Are?'.



In 1999, it was Boyzone's turn and they made a popular cover of the favourite, 'When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going'.



In 2001, Ronan Keating's protégé Westlife took the mantle and upped the ante with their cover of 'Uptown Girl'.



In 2003, Gareth Gates and The Kumars gave us 'Spirit in the Sky'.



2005 saw an innovation. The official Comic Relief single was McFly's All About You...



However, an unofficial single was also launched in 2005 courtesy of Peter Kay. It revitalised the career of Tony Christie and topped the charts for 7 weeks!

'(Is This The Way To) Amarillo'...



So in 2007, Comic Relief officially launched 2 charity singles for Red Nose Day - a song by a mainstream artist, and a comedy song.

The mainstream effort was 'Walk This Way' by Girls Aloud Vs The Sugababes.



The comedy effort again came from Peter Kay and again topped the charts. This time in the guise of Brian Potter & Andy Pipkin with the Proclaimers, it's 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)'.



2009 followed on the same theme. The mainstream effort was by The Saturdays with 'Just Can't Get Enough'. Theirs was however, the first Comic Relief single to fail to make the top of the charts since The Pet Shop Boys in 1994, peaking as it did at No.2.



The comedy version for the year however, returned Comic Relief to the top of the charts the following week. Bryn and Vanessa (Rob Brydon & Ruth Jones) with help from Tom Jones covered the country hit, '(Barry) Islands in the Stream'.



So it's been a memorable, musical 23 years of Comic Relief - here's hoping for many, many more!

Comic Relief (1988-2011) - My Best Comedy Bits

Comic Relief has always captured my comedic imagination more than Chilrdren in Need ever has. Maybe it's because its being held every other year adds to the excitment of its coming each time a delicious new installment of this now legendary telethon is offered to us.

Since the Comic Relief charity was launched on Christmas Day 1985, it has raised over £650m for good causes around the world.

Along the way, it has made us laugh...and laugh loudly...

The first Red Nose Day was held in February 1988 and the second was in 1989. Since then, they have fallen one every other year - usually in the 2nd or 3rd week of March. The next is this Friday, 18th March 2011.

So, I'm dedicating two blog posts to celebrate this truly British tradition of supporting charity through comedy. This first one revolves around the comedy, my second will revolve around the music.

So, here are some of my Comic Relief Red Nose Day 'Best Comedy Bits'...

It all began here, in 1988.



In fact, it began 240 years earlier. In 1648 to be precise. Here, Blackadder: The Cavalier Years  finds our famous favourite at the heart of the English Civil War - on the doomed side of the Royalists!

Best moment - King Charles I (played with a good touch of Prince Charles by Stephen Fry) meeting Oliver Cromwell (an excellent Warren Clarke!). Brilliant!




From that original programme also, University Challenge with The Young Ones!




Moving on to 1989, Rowan Atkinson again takes the chair but this time as the host of the 'Master Member' quiz with Lord Hailsham, David Owen, Gerald Kaufman, Kenneth Baker, Leon Britton, John Smith, David Steel and Shirley Williams.

Love it!



Again from 1989, a special Who's Line Is It Anyway, hosted by Clive Anderson with guests Stephen Fry, Josie Lawrence, Paul Merton, and John Sessions.



From 1991, a Hugh Laurie news sketch. Whatever happened to him?!



1993 saw Mr Bean's Red Nose Day.


It also saw Victor Meldrew take a bath and ask that immortal question - 'Is Nicholas Parsons dead?!'



1993 also saw a special Mr Bean's Blind Date!



In 1995, we saw a new skating star take to the ice. It's Torvill & Bean!



Moving forward, 1999 saw The Vicar of Dibley meet Johnny Depp!



1999 also saw Alan Partridge sing Kate Bush!



2001 saw Eastenders get in on the Comic Relief act - keep an eye out for some of the good old characters from a decade ago! Also, gotta love the writers in the 'Story Conference'!





2003 saw comedic turns in a Comic Relief Blankety Blank by, amongst others, Matt Lucas as Su Pollard, David Walliams as Ruth Madoc, Martin Freeman as Johnny Rotten and Simon Pegg as Freddie Starr. Peter Serafinowicz meanwhile perfected Terry Wogan!



2005 saw Little Britain's Daffyd interview Elton John!



Here, Lou and Andy meet George Michael!



2007 saw the Nan Taylor take on the Banker in Deal or No Deal!



It also saw the return of a now married Vicar of Dibley in a Celebrity Wife Swap with Sting!



The latest installment in 2009 saw Davina McCall Vs David Tennant at Comic Relief Mastermind!

There's so much more that I could've chosen but it gives at least, a glimpse of our comedic talent doing good through the ages.

Keep an eye out for my next installment - Comic Relief (1988-2011) - My Best Musical Bits