PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: 10pm, Friday 14 November 2025

BBC Children in Need’s 2025 Appeal raises £45.5m

BBC Children in Need thanks the public for their remarkable support in raising £45,507,536 to help make a difference to the lives of children and young people in communities across the UK

Friday 14 November 2025 – BBC Children in Need’s 2025 Appeal saw the public once again challenge themselves to go above and beyond to make a difference for children and young people across the UK, raising an incredible £45.5m during the charity’s 45^th Appeal show. ‘

Broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7:00pm on Friday, the charity’s 2025 Appeal Show marked the grand finale of this year’s fundraising efforts for BBC Children in Need. Hosted by Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay, Paddy McGuinness, Lenny Rush and Big Zuu from MediaCityUK in Salford, the show delivered an unforgettable evening of entertainment featuring a dazzling line-up of celebrity guests. Alongside the fun and excitement, the programme highlighted the real challenges faced by children and young people across the UK – and the urgent need for continued support.

The night began with a brilliant mini Apprentice sketch, which saw a suited and booted, savvy set of mini candidates from BBC Children in Need funded project, Haringey Shed, head in to Lord Sugar’s infamous boardroom to prove that they mean business.

The tables were turned for Lord Sugar, as this time it was the Apprentice boss getting a good grilling. The teeny tycoons didn’t hold back with their forensic interrogation of Lord Sugar, questioning him across a whole range of topics including his ‘saltiness’, wealth, football and business regrets.

To support the 2025 Appeal, BBC Children in Need teamed up with The One Show, Morning Live and BBC Radio 2 for The Challenge Squad. Made up of four inspirational young people who have benefitted from BBC Children in Need funding, the Challenge Squad were championed by Alex Jones, Roman Kemp and Sara Cox to undertake incredible personal challenges to help make a difference to young lives. Emotions ran high as two incredible challenges hit an emotional crescendo on air. First, 17-year-old Eloise wowed audiences with an awe-inspiring musical medley alongside the cast of Starlight Express. Later in the evening, 18-year-old Kat delivered a duet with Sam Ryder, performing a heartfelt rendition of Go Steady. In a truly celebratory moment, it was revealed that the Challenge Squad has already raised an amazing £2,153,614.

Fresh from completing her epic Radio 2 challenge, Sara Cox arrived in the studio triumphant after conquering a gruelling 135-mile journey – the equivalent of five marathons in five days. Beginning on Monday of Children in Need week, Sara’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge saw her run, jog, and walk across sweeping moorlands, steep ridges, and the rolling hills of Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire – all whilst carrying a very special Pudsey Bear backpack. This remarkable feat marks Radio 2’s longest-ever BBC Children in Need challenge. Celebrations erupted as it was revealed that Sara had raised an incredible £9,523,028, contributing to Radio 2’s overall total of £9,726,153, which also included funds from the spectacular Radio 2 Gala Performance in aid of BBC Children in Need at the iconic ABBA Voyage, hosted by Breakfast Show presenter Scott Mills.

Audiences were treated to an unforgettable moment as McFly’s Tom Fletcher performed for the first time on TV alongside his 11-year-old son, Buzz. The father-son duo delivered a moving rendition of Thread of Hope accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The song, written by Tom especially Pudsey and the Thread of Hope – a new 25-minute animated film for CBeebies, set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this December.

In addition to a sneak peak of the animation, viewers also got a first look at The Celebrity Apprentice, coming to BBC One and iPlayer later this year. For the first time, Lord Sugar has teamed up with Pudsey for BBC Children in Need in two special one-hour episodes set in snowy Lapland. The episodes will see twelve celebrity candidates face their toughest challenge yet: creating a festive gingerbread biscuit and pitching it to major UK retailers. In a show first, the winning biscuits will be sold in stores nationwide, with a share of profits going to BBC Children in Need – just in time for Christmas.

The night was also packed with unforgettable performances, from Ella Eyre igniting the stage with an electrifying rendition of Hell Yeah to Lewis Capaldi melting hearts with his poignant performance of Day That I Die. Audiences were also moved to tears by The Children in Need Choir, who delivered a beautiful cover of Coldplay’s Yellow – Pudsey’s favourite colour – before being treated to a truly magical reimagining of Perfect Day performed by Remember Monday and accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. As they performed six young people previously helped by BBC Children in Need projects revealed how their lives have been improved by your donations – and said thank you.

Other highlights of the evening included:

• Joe Wicks MBE joined the Strictly professionals and Gladiator Steel on  the stage to celebrate the amazing schools in communities across the UK raising a life-changing £3,000,000.
• A hilarious and chaos filled sketch that saw children taking over the BBC
• A very special Spongebob Squarepants celebration
• A Wicked Surprise!

The real stars of the night were the children and young people who shared their stories, showing how the money raised will make a life-changing difference for those in urgent need of support across communities in the UK – at a time when the need has never been greater. The evening also shone a light on the power of positive relationships and the importance of having people who believe in you and champion your potential. Right now, the charity can only help 1 in 6 of the projects that ask for support, which makes tonight’s generosity even more vital.

Commenting on the evening, Claire Hoyle, Chief Campaigns and Engagement Officer at BBC Children in Need, said: “The generosity shown this evening has been truly extraordinary – especially at a time when life is so challenging for so many. Across the UK, children and young people are facing unimaginable struggles, often carrying burdens far too heavy to bear alone, but thanks to the UK public, we can continue to fund the vital projects and incredible project workers who bring hope when it’s needed most. To every single person who gave so generously this evening, it is thanks to you all that we can help create more positive relationships, the kind that truly transform lives and futures when it is so urgently needed –  thank you.”

This evening’s night of entertainment marked the crescendo of this year’s Appeal which has seen a plethora of fundraising feats and inspiring programming, including:

• The return of the Countryfile Ramble, which saw Countryfile presenters and inspirational children and young people rambling at Peatswood Farm, contributing to Countryfile’s incredible 2025 fundraising total of £2,358,855.
• BBC Stations across the Nations & Regions taking on the Thousand Mile Challenge fundraise and help make an impact to young lives in communities across the UK.
• The DIY SOS team taking on an ambitious build to expand and transform The Joshua Tree, a children’s cancer support charity in Cheshire, raising a remarkable £807,369.
• The Newscast Team undertaking an epic 25 hour podcast-athon
• Greg James taking to the skies with The Red Arrows to inspire the nation to Challenge Yourself
• Social media sensation DJ AG delivering an epic four-hour live set from  Pudsey’s Piazza outside the Children in Need studio, completing his incredible challenge to bring together 25 special guests during the stream.
• Backstage hosts Ash Holme, Charley Marlowe, and Jack Remmington capturing all the behind-the-scenes fun from the celebrity ‘Yellow Room,’ live-streaming interviews with stars and fundraisers across BBC Children in Need’s digital channels.

BBC Children in Need 2025 is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer and viewers can also watch The Best Bits on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 1.45pm on Sunday 16 November.

BBC Children in Need is commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning. Commissioning Editors for the BBC are Ruby Kuraishe and Jo Wallace. Executive Producers are Andrew Cartmell and Peter Davey and the Series Producer is Adam Wydrzynski, BBC Studios.

~Ends~

• BBC Children in Need contact: [email protected]   

Notes to Editors

BBC Children in Need’s 2024 Appeal show culminated with an on-the-night total of £39,210,850.

The Celebrity Apprentice biscuits are available from Asda, Tesco (larger stores only), Boots (larger stores only), Debenhams, One Stop, Ocado Retail, Amazon, Lola’s Cupcakes, Knoops, Haven Holidays, Wenzel’s The Bakers and Greenhalgh’s bakeries.

About BBC Children in Need

Children in Need believes that every child should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be. For this to happen, we want every child to have someone they can turn to for help or support to overcome challenges they face.

We make sure there’s someone able to give food, clothes and beds to a child living without; someone qualified to talk a child who is anxious, isolated or grieving; someone trained to mentor teenagers in communities facing inequality, violence or lack of opportunity; someone to be there for children living with serious illness, disability or carrying a load that’s just too heavy to manage alone.

Right now, we can only help 1 in 6 organisations that asks us for support.

Further information on BBC Children in Need can be found at www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk