Lenny Henry’s final event as host raised over \u00a337 million \u2013\u00a0a significant increase from last year’s total. <\/p>
Comic Relief has revealed that its annual\u00a0Red Nose Day<\/a> telethon raised over \u00a337 million after airing on BBC One last night.<\/p>\n That represents an increase of around \u00a36 million when compared to last year\u2019s event, which had seen the total drop from previous years.<\/p>\n Last night\u2019s show marked co-founder Lenny Henry\u2019s final time as host and he was joined on presenting duties by various big names including Joel Dommett<\/a>,\u00a0Davina McCall<\/a>,\u00a0Paddy McGuinness<\/a>,\u00a0Romesh Ranganathan<\/a>, David Tennant<\/a>, Maya Jama<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Rosie Ramsey<\/a> throughout the night.<\/p> Many of his co-hosts paird tribute to the incredible work he has done since originating the charity with Richard Curtis almost 40 years ago, with Tennant thanking him for \u201can amazing tour of duty\u201d and McCall calling him \u201cutterly irreplaceable\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile Henry himself said, \u201cIt\u2019s been an honour, it\u2019s been a pleasure\u201d and added: \u201cIt is not about me \u2013 it is about the mirth and the money, the comedy and compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking of the total raised he exclaimed: \u201cWow\u2026 that is a lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n As ever, the evening saw a varied selection of famous faces take part in a number of humorous skits \u2013 both live and pre-recorded \u2013 across the three-hour extravaganza.<\/p>\n Highlights included a spoof of The Traitors<\/a> starring Suranne Jones, Jonathan Bailey and Catherine Tate, a skit that saw Jamie Dornan\u2019s The Tourist<\/a> character Elliot Stanley take on Mastermind and appearances from The Gladiators, Alan Partridge and McFly.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile less than a week after Ryan Gosling performed a very memorable rendition of his Barbie hit I\u2019m Just Ken at the Oscars, Henry put his own spin on the track by singing a new version titled \u201cI\u2019m just Len\u201d while dressed up as the iconic doll.<\/p>\n And another moment that will live long in the memory was Henry being left \u201cspeechless\u201d after he was told that several audience members were previous beneficiaries of Comic Relief fundraising.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are so many people living tough lives in incredibly difficult situations here in the UK and beyond,\u201d he said. \u201cFor the last 40 years we\u2019ve made these films and you\u2019ve watched them, and every single time you\u2019ve come through.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking exclusively to\u00a0RadioTimes.com<\/a>\u00a0at the\u00a0Radio Times Covers Party <\/strong>back in January, Henry said of his decision to step down<\/a> as host: \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not going anywhere, I\u2019m just not going to host on the night. I might still make films for them and do voiceovers and things, but I think it\u2019s time for a newer generation to come and take the baton, because we\u2019ve been carrying it for a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got some people, so it\u2019s gonna be really, really good. There might be some competition, so I\u2019m looking forward to seeing how that goes. I hope they oil up and fight in the carpark!\u201d<\/p>\n\n