Comic Relief 103084 224978854 2008-07-11T08:02:25Z 76.102.80.95 /* 2007 event */ {{for|the origin of the term|comic relief}} [[Image:ComicRelief.png|right|250px|Comic Relief logo]] '''Comic Relief''' is a British charity organisation that was founded in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter [[Richard Curtis]] in response to famine in [[Ethiopia]]. It was launched live on [[Noel Edmonds]]'s ''[[The Late, Late Breakfast Show|Late, Late Breakfast Show]]'' on [[BBC One|BBC1]], on [[Christmas Day]] 1985 from a [[refugee camp]] in [[Sudan]]. The idea for Comic Relief came from the noted charity worker [[Jane Tewson]], who became head of a British [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] [[Charity Projects]] and was inspired by the success of the first four ''[[The Secret Policeman's Balls|Secret Policeman's Ball]]'' comedy benefit shows for [[Amnesty International]] (1976-1981). Initially funds were raised from live events and the best known is a comedy revue at the [[Shaftesbury Theatre]] in [[London]] which was finally broadcast on television on the [[25 April]], [[1986]]. One of the fundamental principles behind working at Comic Relief is the 'Golden Pound Principle' where every single donated pound is spent on charitable projects. All operating costs, such as staff salaries, are covered by corporate sponsors or interest which is earned while money raised is waiting to be spent (granted) to charitable projects. Currently, its two main supporters are the [[BBC]] and [[Sainsbury's]]. The BBC is responsible for the live television extravaganza on Red Nose Day and Sainsbury's sells merchandise on behalf of the charity. == Red Nose Day == '''Red Nose Day''' is the main way in which Comic Relief raises money. It is held in the spring every second year and is often treated as a semi-holiday, with, for example, schools having non-uniform days. The day culminates in a live [[telethon]] event on [[BBC One]] starting in the evening and going through into the early hours of the morning, but other money-raising events take place. As the name suggests, the day involves the wearing of plastic/foam [[Comic Relief#The Red Nose|red noses]] which are available, in exchange for a donation, from many shops. The first "Red Nose Day" was on [[5 February]], [[1988]], and raised £15 million. The TV show was hosted by [[Lenny Henry]], [[Griff Rhys Jones]] and [[Jonathan Ross (television presenter)|Jonathan Ross]]. More than £300 million has so far been distributed to projects by Comic Relief. Red Nose Day was also copied in other countries. One of note was [[New Zealand]], which actually introduced a brief [[fad]] in 1990 of selling over-sized red-noses for car grilles for charity. ===Call Centres=== Comic Relief relies on several hundred [[call centres]] around the [[United Kingdom]] to process calls from the public. The call centres are connected through the [[BT]] network and each centre has a certain number of [[fixed lines]], all running off the main 0845 number. The centres, which are owned by various companies, provide support in the form of volunteers who usually work there. ==On television== The television programming begins in the afternoon, with [[CBBC]] having various related reports, money-raising events and a celebrity [[gunge]]ing. This is all in-between the regular programmes, but after the six o'clock news, the normal [[BBC One]] schedule is suspended at 7pm in favour of a live show, with a break at 10 O'Clock for the [[10 O'Clock News|News]]. While the [[10 O'Clock News|News]] is on [[BBC One]], Comic Relief continues on [[BBC Two]] and then resumes on BBC One at 10:35pm with each hour overseen by a different celebrity team. These celebrities do the work for free, as do the crew, with studio space and production facilities donated by the BBC. Regular themes throughout the shows include parodies of recent popular shows, films and events and specially-filmed versions of comedy shows. ''Smith & Jones'' and a [[parody]] sketch starring [[Rowan Atkinson]] are both regularly featured &ndash; the first being ''[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]'' (1988). ===1999 event=== The 1999 "Red Nose Day" was held on [[March 12]], [[1999]]. A parody of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' series, ''[[Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death]]'', starring [[Rowan Atkinson]] as the [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|Doctor]], was featured during the show. ===2001 event=== The 2001 "Red Nose Day" was held on [[March 16]], [[2001]]. In 2001 the total raised on Red Nose Day was £61,000,140. As well as donations on the night of the TV show money is raised from countrywide sponsored events and from merchandising, particularly of the red noses themselves. In 2001 5.8 million red noses were sold, approximately one each for 10% of the UK population. [[Jack Dee]] won ''[[Big Brother (UK)|Celebrity Big Brother]]''. This is the only day on record nobody committed suicide in the UK between 1993 and 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4566526.stm|title=100 things we didn't know this time last year|date=[[2005-12-30]]|accessdate=2007-02-02}}<small>''Citation from numbers 76 and 77''</small></ref> ===2003 event=== The 2003 "Red Nose Day" was held on [[March 14]], [[2003]]. The fund raising activities included Lenny Henry providing the voice of the [[speaking clock]] between [[March 10]] and [[March 23]] with the cost of the call going to Comic Relief. On the night of the live show itself, £35m was raised, an on-the-night record. A total of £61,477,539 was raised that year, setting a new record. Jack Dee stood outside at the top of a pole for the duration of the show, parodying the acts of [[David Blaine]]. ''[[Celebrity Driving School]]'' led up to the event, with the test results announced during the telethon: they all failed. The hosts of "Red Nose Day" 2003 were: *[[Jonathan Ross (presenter)|Jonathan Ross]] *[[Lenny Henry]] *[[Anthony McPartlin]] *[[Declan Donnelly]] *[[Vic Reeves]] *[[Bob Mortimer]] *[[Graham Norton]] ====Shows included==== As usual a variety of specially-filmed versions of television shows were made. Popular BBC talent show ''[[Fame Academy]]'' returned as ''[[Comic Relief does Fame Academy]]''. Other shows included: *''[[EastEnders]]'' *''[[Auf Wiedersehen, Pet]]'' *''[[University Challenge]]'' *''[[Celebrity Driving School]]'' ''Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan'' a parody of [[Harry Potter]] starring [[Dawn French]] as [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]], [[Jennifer Saunders]] as [[Ron Weasley]] and [[Miranda Richardson]] as [[Hermione Granger]]. ===2005 event=== The 2005 Red Nose Day was held on [[March 11]] and was hosted by a collection of television stars: *[[Chris Evans (British broadcaster)|Chris Evans]] *[[Lenny Henry]] *[[Davina McCall]] *[[Graham Norton]] *[[Dermot O'Leary]] *[[Jonathan Ross (presenter)|Jonathan Ross]] The 2005 event was also noteworthy for supporting the [[Make Poverty History]] campaign - many of the videos recorded for the MPH campaign (including videos by [[Bono]] and [[Nelson Mandela]]) were shown throughout the evening. Over £63m was raised as of November 2005. ====Shows included==== As usual a variety of specially-filmed versions of television shows were made. Popular BBC talent show ''[[Comic Relief does Fame Academy]]'' was attended by celebrities singing [[cover version]]s of songs. Viewers voted for their favourite, with the proceeds going to the cause and the celebrity. Other shows included: *''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' *''[[Little Britain]]'' ''I Want That One'' *''[[My Family]]'' *''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]'' *''[[Green Wing]]'' *''Wetty Hainthropp Investigates'', a [[Victoria Wood]] parody of [[Hetty Wainthropp Investigates]] *''[[Spider-Plant Man]]'', a parody of ''[[Spider-Man]]'' starring Rowan Atkinson. Mcfly also recorded the Comic Relief single "All About You" for 2005 and raised it all for Comic Relief. ====Donation progress==== Times approximate and amounts rounded to the nearest million where not stated exactly: *7:30pm - £2 million *8:30pm - £7 million *9:30pm - £18 million *10pm - £22 million *11:30pm - £30,503,394 *12:45am - £35,325,862 *02:00am - £37,809,564 Raised by March 2006: £65m ===2007 event=== {{main|Red Nose Day 2007}} 2007's Red Nose Day was held on [[March 16]] [[2007]]. Its tagline is "The Big One" which is also representative of the novelty nose. As well as Sainsburys; [[Walkers]], [[Kleenex]] and [[Andrex]] are promoting the charity. <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Bigone2007.gif|thumb|150px| The Big One, Logo]] --> Some of the sketches shown were: ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6229007.stm|title=Vicar of Dibley to be resurrected|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=[[2007-01-03]]|accessdate=2007-02-02}}</ref> Also intended to be shown was ''A Question of Comedy'', a comedy quiz utilizing the format (and set) of ''[[A Question of Sport]]'', and hosted by [[Jack Dee]], with team captains [[Frank Skinner]], [[Dara Ó Briain]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jackdee.com/wp/?p=45|title=A Question of Comedy|publisher=JackDee.com|date=[[2007-01-01]]|accessdate=2007-02-02}}</ref>and [[Mr. Bean]] and guests including [[Jade Goody]]. However, in light of [[Celebrity Big Brother 2007 (UK)#Accusations of racism and bullying|Big Brother events]] involving Jade and racism, the pre-recorded segment has been scrapped by BBC producers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=431835&in_page_id=1773|title=Can anyone save Jade?|publisher=www.dailymail.co.uk|date=[[2007-01-27]]|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6385761.stm|title=Jade Goody axed from Comic Relief|date=[[2007-02-22]]|accessdate=2007-02-24}}</ref> In the lead up to Red Nose Day many different fund raising events occurred: * Beginning Friday [[9 March]] [[2007]], The [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]] [[The Chris Moyles Show#Current team members|breakfast team]] staged a tour around the UK entitled ''The Chris Moyles Rallyoke''. The tour involved seven [[Karaoke]] nights held in a well known UK location featuring members of the public and well known celebrities and music artists. Most Radio 1 shows report on their progress and hold competitions to win tickets to be at the final on Red Nose Day and also to win the contents of a truck donated by various celebrities. As well as raising money at each event the profit of the phone in competitions go to Comic Relief making a total of [[GBP|£]]600,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chrismoyles/rallyoke/|title=The Chris Moyles Rallyoke|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=2007-03-16}}</ref> * Televised events included a third series of [[Comic Relief Does Fame Academy]] and a celebrity version of ''the Apprentice'' entitled [[Comic Relief Does The Apprentice]] has also been screened. Also a special hybrid of ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'' titled ''[[Top Gear of the Pops]]'' was made for Red Nose Day. It featured its presenters [[Jeremy Clarkson]], [[Richard Hammond]] and [[James May]] singing with [[Justin Hawkins]], as well as Top Gear segments such as The Cool Wall. * Fund raising merchandise sold during the 2007 campaign includes the Big One (Red Nose) itself, '[[Walkers|Walkears]]' an Andrex Puppy with a red nose, a special [[Little Britain Live]] DVD and the official single which is a cover of [[Aerosmith]]'s 'Walk This Way' sung by [[Girls Aloud]] and [[Sugababes]]. *The last episode of the ''[[Vicar of Dibley]]'' was aired in the show; all the usual [[actor]]s and actresses were in it. It featured [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], in which he is taking part with a celebrity and non-entity television show, swapping wives with the vicar's husband Harry. *The special [[Little Britain Live]] featured famous people such as: [[Dennis Waterman]], [[Chris Moyles]], [[Jonathan Ross]], [[Kate Moss]] and [[Russell Brand]]. [[Kate Moss]] played a [[chav]], [[Russell Brand]] played a transvestite and both [[Chris Moyles]] and [[Jonathan Ross]] were brought on as either small parts or people who came up to the audience to be [[embarrassed]]. *There were several sketches from [[Catherine Tate]], in which [[David Tennant]] became a school teacher, [[Daniel Craig]] falling in love with Tate, mouthy teenager Lauren was given work experience at [[10 Downing Street]], and led to [[Tony Blair]] using her catchphrase "Am I bovvered?" and foul-mouthed "Nan" appearing with [[Noel Edmonds]] on ''[[Deal or No Deal (UK)|Deal or No Deal]]''. *To gain additional money, [[Peter Kay]] and [[Matt Lucas]] released a cover of [[The Proclaimers]] hit, [[I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)]], and released it as a single 'I would roll five hundred miles' (because both were playing wheelchair bound characters from ''[[Little Britain]]'' and ''[[Phoenix Nights]]''. It also featured numerous celebrity guests. *There was also a live show from [[The Mighty Boosh]]. By 16th November 2007, a record-breaking £67,250,099 had been raised. Now, it's become £67,726,409! ====Donation progress==== Times approximate: * 7.25pm - £2,256,037 * 8.19pm - £7,430,542 (£2,000,136 raised by [[TK Maxx]] selling [[Red Nose Day]] t-shirts in store) * 9.09pm - £15,139,826 (£1,001,219 raised by [[Walkers]] WalkEars) * 9.48pm - £22,148,068 (£7,008,242 raised by [[Sainsbury's]]) * 9.54pm - £26,820,554 * 11.30pm - £27,420,554 (£600,000 raised by [[BBC Radio 1]]) * 11.31pm - £27,771,803 (£351,249 raised by [[Müller (company)|Müller]]) * 11.52pm - £34,269,843 * 12.39am - £34,346,177 (£76,334 from [[Andrex]]) * 01.35am - £38,157,240 * 03.03am - £40,236,142 ===2009 Event=== Coming in March 2009 A new verison of Comic Relief Does The Apprentice will air , with [[Sir Alan Sugar]] offering [[Jonathan Ross]], [[Tim Lovejoy]], and [[Dominic Littlewood]] rumored to appear. [[Gavin & Stacey]] will return for a 1 off special to be aired out during the Comic Relief Show and could possibly be the last episode of the hit BBC series, with the show to air this Christmas for a one off special. The Comic Relief special will feature guest appearances from Welsh songstress [[Duffy (Singer)|Duffy]] as well as a possible appearance from [[Lily Allen]] and [[David Tennant]]. [[The Ting Tings]] will produce the comic relief single of 2008, although this is not yet confirmed although the 2 piece band have been approached. ==Merchandise== Various items of merchandise have been sold to promote and raise money for Comic Relief. In 1991, ''The Totally Stonking, Surprisingly Educational And Utterly Mindboggling Comic Relief Comic'' was published by [[Fleetway]]. Conceived, plotted and edited by [[Neil Gaiman]], [[Richard Curtis]], [[Grant Morrison]] and [[Peter K. Hogan]], it featured contributions from a vast array of British comics talent including [[Jamie Delano]], [[Garth Ennis]], [[Dave Gibbons]], [[Mark Millar]], [[Simon Bisley]], [[Mark Buckingham]], [[Steve Dillon]], [[D'Israeli]], [[Jamie Hewlett]] and [[Bryan Talbot]] (arguably Britain's most famous comics writer, [[Alan Moore]], was not credited as working on the book having sworn never to work for Fleetway again, but was said<ref>[http://www.neilgaiman.com/faqs/comicsfaq Neil Gaiman - Comics FAQ]</ref> to have worked with partner [[Melinda Gebbie]] on her pages). The comic was unique in that it featured appearances by characters from across the spectrum of comics publishers, including [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[DC Comics|DC]] superheroes, ''[[The Beano|Beano]]'', ''[[The Dandy|Dandy]]'', ''[[Eagle (comic)|Eagle]]'' and ''[[Viz (comics)|Viz]]'' characters, ''[[Doctor Who]]'', the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', in addition to a cavalcade of British comedy figures (both real and fictional). These were all linked by the twin [[framing device|framing narratives]] of the Comic Relief night itself, and the tale of "Britain's meanest man" Sir [[Edmund Blackadder]] being persuaded to donate money to the event. The comic "sold out in minutes", raising over £40,000 for the charity, and is now a highly prized collectors' item. Comic Relief have also sold [http://www.sockshop.co.uk/sportrelief Fairtrade Cotton Socks] from a number of vendors. This is mainly for their Sport Relief charity. In 1993, a computer platform game was released called [[Sleepwalker (game)|Sleepwalker]]. The game featured voice overs from [[Lenny Henry]] and [[Harry Enfield]] and several other references to Comic Relief and tomatoes; the theme for the 1993 campaign. In 2007 [[Walkers]] complemented the usual merchandise by adding their own take on the red nose promoting red ears instead. The large ears, dubbed 'Walk-ears' are based on a very old joke involving the actual ears of ex-footballer [[Gary Lineker]] who has fronted their ad campaign since the early 1990s. Walkers previously promoted the charity in 2005 making four limited edition unusual crisp flavours. The 2007 game for Red Nose Day can be played here www.rednoseday.com/letitflow . This game has been developed by worldwide viral marketeers - Matmi. The game is called “Let it Flow” and it’s set in the African wilderness. Mischievous hyenas have messed up the water irrigation system that feeds the crops. Using your brain you have to help re-arrange the pipes to let the water flow to the crops to keep them alive. Once the pipes are arranged, you need to operate the elephant’s trunk to pump the water through the water pipes. For the 2007 campaign Andrex, known for their ad campaign fronted by a Labrador puppy, are giving away toy puppies with red noses. ===The Red Nose=== The most prominent symbol of Comic Relief is a rubber/foam red nose which is given in various supermarkets in exchange for a donation to the charity. People are encouraged to wear the noses on [[Comic Relief#Red Nose Day|Red Nose Day]] to help raise awareness of the charity. The design of the nose has been changed each year, beginning with a fairly plain one, which later grew arms, turned into a [[tomato]] and even changed colour. In 2007, the red nose was made of foam; this was to facilitate the "growing" of the nose (by rolling it in the user's hands) to keep in line with that year's tagline, ''The Big One''. See the table below. Larger noses are also available and are designed to be attached to the fronts of cars and even buildings. However, the nose's material used was classed as a fire hazard and were banned from the Comic Relief Does Fame Academy shows. ====Chronology of noses==== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Type of nose |- | 1988 | The Plain Red Nose |- | 1989 | The Smiley Face - with face (known as Harry), made with rose scented plastic |- | 1991 | The Stonker Nose - with hands and face |- | 1993 | The Tomato Nose - with stalk and face |- | 1995 | The Colour Change Nose - changed either yellow or pink with 'MY NOSE' on |- | 1997 | The Furry Nose - clear plastic shell covered in red fur |- | 1999 | The Big Red Hooter - faceless, gold glitter and when squeezed it 'hoots' |- | 2001 | The Whoopee Nose - red head with inflated cheeks, when squeezed the tongue inflates |- | 2003 | The Big Hair Do - with gooey eyes that squeeze out and a tuft of red hairs came with gel for the hair |- | 2005 | Big Hair & Beyond - with smiley face (known as Chad) and colourful elastic hair came with red and yellow face paint and stickers for the nose |- | 2007 | The Big One (The Nose That Grows) - Made of [[foam]] which makes it more comfortable; comes with Chocpix and stickers to decorate the nose with. |} ==Comic Relief charity singles== In April 1986 the first Comic Relief [[charity record|charity single]] was released. It featured [[Cliff Richard]] and the cast of ''[[The Young Ones (television series)|The Young Ones]]'' in a rendition of "Living Doll". Some of the money raised from the sale of each single is donated to Comic Relief. Normally a song is released just before the official [[Red Nose Day]]. There have been exceptions, such as "(I want to be) Elected" which was released to coincide with the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 UK general election]]. Before 1995's song, they were all more-or-less comedy records, mostly involving an actual [[musical band|band]] or [[singer]] and a [[comedian|comedy]] group. From 1995 on they have been generally more serious, although the videos still feature comical moments. {| class="wikitable" ! Release Date ! Title ! Artists ! Highest chart position reached |- | April 1986 | "Living Doll" | [[Cliff Richard]] and the cast of ''[[The Young Ones (television series)|The Young Ones]]'' | No. 1 |- | December 1987 | "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" | Mel & Kim ([[Mel Smith]] and [[Kim Wilde]]) | No. 3 |- | February 1989 | "[[Help! (song)|Help!]]" | [[Bananarama]] & Lanananeeneenoonoo ([[French and Saunders]] with [[Kathy Burke]]) | No. 3 |- | March 1991 | "The Stonk" | [[Hale and Pace]] (backing band includes [[David Gilmour]] and [[Brian May]]) | No. 1 |- | April 1992 | "(I Want to Be) Elected" | Smear Campaign ([[Bruce Dickinson]], [[Rowan Atkinson]], [[Angus Deayton]]) | No. 9 |- | February 1993 | "Stick It Out" | [[Right Said Fred]] and friends | No. 4 |- | May 1994 | "[[Absolutely Fabulous (song)|Absolutely Fabulous]]" | Absolutely Fabulous ([[Pet Shop Boys]], [[Jennifer Saunders]], [[Joanna Lumley]]) | No. 6 |- | March 1995 | "[[Love Can Build a Bridge]]" | [[Cher]], [[Chrissie Hynde]], [[Neneh Cherry]] and [[Eric Clapton]] | No. 1 |- | [[3 March]] [[1997]] | "[[Mama/Who Do You Think You Are]]" | [[Spice Girls|The Spice Girls]] | No. 1 |- | March 1999 | "When the Going Gets Tough" | [[Boyzone]] | No. 1 |- | March 2001 | "[[Uptown Girl]]" | [[Westlife]] | No. 1 |- | March 2003 | "[[Spirit in the Sky]]" | [[Gareth Gates]] and the [[The Kumars at No. 42|Kumars]] | No. 1 |- | [[7 March]] [[2005]] | "[[All About You/You've Got a Friend]]" | [[McFly (band)|McFly]] | No. 1 |- | [[14 March]] [[2005]] | "[[Is This the Way to Amarillo]]" {{fn|1}} | [[Tony Christie]] & [[Peter Kay]] | No. 1 |- | [[12 March]] [[2007]] | "[[Walk This Way#Sugababes Vs. Girls Aloud|Walk This Way]]" | [[Girls Aloud]] vs. [[Sugababes]] | No. 1 |- | [[19 March]] [[2007]] | "[[I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)]]" {{fn|2}} | [[The Proclaimers]] & [[Brian Potter]] & [[Andy Pipkin]] {{fn|2}} | No. 1 |- | [[TBC]] [[2009]] | "[[TBC]]" | [[TBC]] | TBC |} *{{fnb|1}} "Is This the Way to Amarillo", though released expressly with the intent of proceeds going to Comic Relief, was not an official Comic Relief single. The song was originally performed by Peter Kay (lipsynching to [[Tony Christie]]'s voice) during the evening, and was later released as a single. It was the number one single for seven weeks, and in its first week it outsold the rest of the top 20 combined. *{{fnb|2}} In 2007, a version of [[The Proclaimers]] song "500 Miles" released on [[March 19]], featured [[Peter Kay]] and [[Matt Lucas]] as their wheelchair-user characters [[Brian Potter]] & [[Andy Pipkin]]. Before its official release the song reached number 3 based on downloads alone. The single reached number one on [[March 25]], knocking official Comic Relief single "Walk This Way" off the top spot. In addition, the first Red Nose Day Schools' song ('Make Someone Happy') was published in 2007. A CD of the song together with backing tracks and fundraising ideas was sent free of charge to all primary schools in the UK in February by the education music publisher 'Out of the Ark Music'. Schools will be free to use the song in assemblies, singathons or other fundraising activities == Criticism == {{weasel words}} On [[5 October]], [[2004]], the [[Burma Campaign UK]] criticised Comic Relief for its association with the multinational [[DHL]], a partner of [[Myanmar Post and Telecom]]. John Jackson, head of [[Burma Campaign UK]], noted that they were aiding war victims in [[Rwanda]] while funding the military regime in [[Myanmar]]. In March 2005, several [[Catholic]] schools in the UK were banned from supporting Red Nose Day by church leaders because of claims that money raised would fund abortions in [[Africa]]. Reports of this were denied by other church leaders. {{Fact|date=April 2008}} Some have questioned whether the celebrities who appear donate themselves, arguing that many benefit financially from the exposure these charitable shows give. The counter argument to this point is that without the talents of the performers the show would lose its unique appeal. It's something of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. On [[18 July]], [[2007]], it was discovered the ''Comic Relief'' breached editorial standards. During Red Nose Day 2007, viewers were told that by phoning in and donating, they would enter a prize draw. According to reports, "The first two callers taken on air gave incorrect answers. The other waiting callers were lost and a third caller was heard on air successfully answering the question. This caller was in fact not a viewer but a member of the production team."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6905095.stm BBC to suspend phone competitions] Written on [[18 July]], [[2007]]. Accessed on [[18 July]], [[2007]].</ref> However, this was something beyond the charity's control and was a decision made by the BBC and its production team on the night. == Similar events outside the United Kingdom == ===In the United States=== Inspired by the British charity, a [[United States]] '''Comic Relief''' charity was founded in 1986 by [[Bob Zmuda]]. Comic Relief is an irregularly held event, televised on [[Home Box Office|HBO]], that has raised and distributed nearly $50 million toward providing health care services to homeless men, women, and children throughout the [[United States]]. [[Comedian]]s [[Robin Williams]], [[Billy Crystal]], and [[Whoopi Goldberg]] are hosts of the event. The 1989 HBO Comic Relief show debuted the song, "Mr. President," written by [[Joe Sterling]], [[Ray Reach]] and [[Mike Loveless]]. The song was sung by [[Al Jarreau]] and [[Natalie Cole]]. On [[November 18]] [[2006]] the event was revived as a fundraiser for those affected by [[Hurricane Katrina]] and was [[simulcast]] on [[TBS (TV network)|TBS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-comicreliefhbotbs,0,1080956.story?coll=zap-news-headlines|title='Comic Relief' Returns to HBO|publisher=zap2it.com|date=[[2006-09-06]]|accessdate = 2007-02-02}}</ref> Richard Curtis also created the [[Idol Gives Back]] special for [[American Idol]], which follows the same basic premise as Comic Relief, with specially filmed shorts, performances and footage of the stars of the show visiting impoverished countries. === In Australia === In 1988, the Red Nose Day concept was adopted by the [[SIDS and Kids]] organisation to help raise funds for research into [[sudden infant death syndrome]]. Since then, Red Nose Day in [[Australia]] is held annually on the last Friday of June.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.rednoseday.com.au/|title=Australian Red Nose Day Homepage|accessdate=2007-02-02}}</ref> An Australian version of Comic Relief, [[Comic Relief Australia]], has also been set up. ([http://www.comicrelief.org.au]). It plans to divide the money raised between Australian causes (at least 40%) and overseas charities largely in Asia Pacific (at least 40%) {{Fact|date=February 2007}} Following a campaign encouraging people to buy articles such as red wristbands, the first [[telethon]]-style event was held on [[November 6]] [[2005]] on the [[Seven Network]]. It followed the established format, with comedy interspersed with examples of the sorts of charities to benefit. According to its website,<!-- accessed 2006-04-12, for the record --> this raised over AUS $800,000. Another telethon was broadcast on [[November 27]] [[2006]] on [[Seven Network]]. The 2006 Comic Relief Show was held under the title '50 Years of Laughs' celebrating 50 years of Television in Australia. It was hosted by [[Colin Lane]] and featured presenters such as [[Amanda Keller]], [[Mikey Robbins]], [[Ugly Dave Grey]] and [[Derryn Hinch]] interviewing [[Kylie Mole]]. === In Germany === The German TV station [[Pro 7]] initiated a similar event in 2003. By selling red noses money is collected for the charity foundations PowerChild, ''Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung'' (lit., German Child and Youth Foundation), and Comic Relief. The event is called 'Red Nose Day' and took place annually in March or April from 2003 to 2006. However ratings and the collected donations fell way short of expectations in 2006. The Red Nose Day Germany 2007 is confirmed to take place on the 22nd of December at PRO7. === In Russia === A similar charity campaign, entitled "Red Nose, Kind Heart", was launched in Russia on April 1, 2007. The main goal of the drive, held between April 1 and May 19, 2007 by the [http://life-line.ru Liniya Zhizni (Life Line)] foundation, is raising money to help children afflicted with serious diseases (such as heart diseases). == See also == *[[Charity record]] *[[Children in Need]] *[[ChildLine]] *[[Jane Tewson]] *[[Sport Aid]] *[[Sport Relief]] *[[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] *[[USA for Africa]] *[[The Secret Policeman's Balls]] ==References and notes== <references/> ==External links== *[http://www.rednoseday.com Red Nose Day web site] *[http://www.comicrelief.com Official Comic Relief web site] *[http://www.moblog.co.uk/blog/red_nose_day Red Nose Day Moblog] ([[Moblog|Mobile Blogging]]) *[http://www.frenchandsaunders.com/rednoseday Red Nose Day mini-site] *[http://www.comicrelief.org Official Comic Relief USA web site] *[http://www.comicrelief.org.au Official Comic Relief Australia web site] *[http://www.rednoseday.ru/ Красный нос - доброе сердце!] (Red Nose- Kind Heart) *[http://society.guardian.co.uk/charitymanagement/story/0,8150,1319580,00.html ''Comic Relief condemned over Burma link''] from [[The Guardian]] *[http://www.sockshop.co.uk/sportrelief Official Comic Relief Fairtrade Cotton Socks] *[http://www.intelligentgiving.com/charity/326568 Intelligent Giving profile of Comic Relief UK] *[http://www.tamba.co.uk/rednoseday07 Red Nose Day Game 2007] *[http://www.intelligentgiving.com/articles/features/no_funny_business_with_comic_relief ''Article: No funny business with Comic Relief''] [[Category:Charities based in the United States]] [[Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Seven Network shows]] [[Category:Telethons]] [[Category:BBC television programmes]] [[cs:Comic Relief]] [[de:Comic Relief (Wohltätigkeitsorganisation)]] [[nl:Comic Relief]] [[pl:Comic Relief]] [[pt:Comic Relief]] [[ru:Комическая помощь]] [[fi:Comic Relief]] [[sv:Comic Relief]]