Comedy sketches, 24-hour challenges, bake sales and celebrities donning red noses means only one thing: Red Nose Day 2023 is upon us. Co-founded by Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry in 1985, it is a day, also known as Comic Relief, which brings people together to raise money, enjoy a few laughs and "help people through the toughest times of their lives" with a joyful and emotional evening of star-studded performances to be broadcast on BBC1. In 2022, the event raised over £42 million.
There are so many way to lend your support to comic relief, whether that be by wearing a big ol' red nose, buying a t-shirt - created in partnership with TK Maxx, raising money by taking part in a challenge or bake sale.
And as it returns this year once again, you may notice something a tad different about the standard 'red nose' that so many people don for one day and one day only - unless, of course, your occupation is that of a clown. Stars of stage and screen were amongst the first to don the new Nose, including AJ Odudu, Amanda Holden, Frankie Bridge, Greg James, Jay Blades, and Miranda Hart are some of the first to try on the brand-new Noses.
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This year's red nose has been manufactured to be completely plant-based and magically transforming. And once again, celebs from far and wide are amongst those helping to celebrate the occasion. But when is red nose day? Which celebrities will be hosting the show? What can we expect on the evening?
Here's everything we know so far...
When is Comic Relief?
Red Nose Day 2023 will take place on Friday, March 17, with the annual live television coverage returning to BBC One with AJ Odudu and Joel Dommett hosting the night for the first time alongside Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness and David Tennant. As in previous years, it's likely the live show will begin at 7pm.
Viewers will be in for a treat as the evening is set to showcase an evening of unmissable comedy, music and sketch shows with appearances from some famous faces.
Who is appearing?
According to the Independent, Kylie Minogue is set to star in a one-off special of BBC's Ghosts, while Gethin Jones will be taking part in a 24-hour dance challenge starting on Thursday, March 16. It's also been revealed that a Love Island parody will be shown which will feature an "unexpected” contestant on the search for love while Sir Lenny Henry has starred in a new film written by Diane Morgan and Richard Curtis - to showcase the Nose's brand new eco-friendly look.
The new Nose
As you can probably tell from pictures circulating, the Red New has adopted a brand new look this year for the first time since 1988. Designed by Jony Ive, it has been constructed almost entirely from plant-based materials - paper, bagasse and PLA (derived from corn) - and starts as a small flat crescent but once opened, "springs into a beautiful honeycomb-paper sphere".
He said, speaking about the new Nose: "We’ve grown up with Comic Relief and are proud to support their remarkable work. This new and seemingly simple Red Nose has been a fabulously complex little object to design and make and has involved our entire team. We hope it brings a little moment of joy to everyone who wears one."
To celebrate this new chapter for the Red Nose, Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry – the co-founders of Comic Relief – have teamed up with comedian and actress Diane Morgan on a new film to showcase the new look. The short film is available to watch here.
Richard Curtis - of Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral - said: “The Red Nose has always been a tiny thing that makes a huge difference. It’s been on quite a journey over the past three decades and has transformed in the most wonderful ways – from a slightly painful piece of plastic to a tomato to a sponge to woodland themed creatures. Now we enter a new era and are delighted to bring you a completely new Red Nose to enjoy, thanks to our friend the design genius, Jony Ive.
"One thing that will never change though, is that when you buy a Nose you help to change lives. We know times are tough for many people right now, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supports us this year. We really hope you enjoy our new Nose and wear it with pride this Red Nose Day, knowing the difference you are making."
Where to buy the new Nose?
The new nose is now available to purchase on Amazon for £2.50 - the "new home of the Red nose". The money raised from these sales will support those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and will aim to tackle issues like mental health, homelessness and food poverty around the world, reports the official site.
For more information, see the Comic Relief website.
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