Comic Relief 2011

[tammyy2j]

Dermot O'Leary, Craig David and Lorraine Kelly are among a team of celebrities planning to trek across a desert in aid of Comic Relief.

The trio - alongside impressionist Ronni Ancona, singer Olly Murs, Strictly Come Dancing champion Kara Tointon, actress and TV presenter Nadia Sawalha and radio presenters Scott Mills and Peter White - will travel across one of the world's most inhospitable deserts - the Kaisut Desert in north Kenya.

The team will start their journey over the tough terrain later this month.

They will cover 100 kilometres across the barren desert in five days and face temperatures of up to 38C.

After walking all day under the scorching sun they will camp in the desert and may encounter some deadly snakes - including the Black Mamba and the Puff Adder.

They will be leading a caravan of camels which will be carrying their camping gear and other equipment they need for the journey.

Due to heat and the gruelling task, experts have estimated that each member of the team will burn around 8,000 calories each day.

The BT Red Nose Desert Trek will raise money for Comic Relief projects which benefit deprived people across Africa and in the UK.

A Comic Relief spokeswoman said the team will be highlighting the issue of sight and the money they raise will prevent thousands of people in Africa from going blind or contracting eye conditions.

During their journey they will encounter people who are losing their sight and need urgent eye care.

[Chloe O'brien]

I will need to get to Sainsbury to get my red nose.

[tammyy2j]

Katie Price is among the latest names confirmed for the new series of BBC's Let's Dance for... Comic Relief.

The former glamour model is joined by Marcus Brigstocke, Joe Swash and Waterloo Road star Philip Martin Brown on the lineup. Previously-announced names include Noel Fielding, Caroline Flack and Lulu.

Jo Wallace, BBC executive producer, said: "We're so excited to announce these latest names, they add to an already fantastic lineup and this year's show is shaping up to be a fun packed, high energy event all in the name of charity."

Steve Jones and Alex Jones will host the series, in which the celebrities pay homage to and perform iconic dance routines in front of a live studio audience and panel of judges.

Let's Dance For Comic Relief starts on Saturday, February 19 on BBC One.

[tammyy2j]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4IFtly5_Ow

[Perdita]

The nine celebrities taking part in the BT Red Nose Desert Trek have completed their fundraising challenge across North Kenya's Kaisut Desert.

The group - Dermot O'Leary, Olly Murs, Kara Tointon, Craig David, Nadia Sawalha, Lorraine Kelly, Peter White, Scott Mills and Ronnie Ancona - finished their 100 kilometre journey this morning.

Having faced temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, the celebrities arrived at a sight camp where they met residents who are awaiting treatment for their conditions.

"They've done it! 100km and the desert is awash with tears. WELL DONE TEAM CAMEL (sic)," the official Red Nose Day Twitter account revealed. "They made it. The team are greeted by singing children as they complete what was a mammoth challenge."

A message posted on Olly Murs's account revealed that the group have now raised "over £850k!"

A number of the personalities faced problems with severe blisters and chafing throughout the five day trek. Their journey has been filmed for a BBC documentary which will be broadcast in the run up to Comic Relief next month.

DS

[Siobhan]

Did anyone see Famous, rich and slumming it last night? It was really good program.. Had to laugh at the woman who tried to convince Angela Rippon to sell her body to make money (it is a sad situation but the look on Angela's face was classic)

[Perdita]

The Wanted, Adele and JLS have been confirmed as performers on this year's Comic Relief show.

The chart-topping trio will be joined by the legendary Annie Lennox, Take That and Mercury Prize winners Elbow at the March 18 broadcast, the BBC has announced.

The Wanted are set to perform the official Red Nose Day single 'Gold Forever', while JLS will entertain with a special rendition of 'Eyes Wide Shut', which the corporation promises will be "true water-cooler TV".

Adele, meanwhile, is preparing to belt out her Brit Awards favourite 'Someone Like You' and Lennox is due to entertain with her 2010 track 'Universal Child'.

"Me and all the boys always want to get involved with Red Nose Day and Comic Relief," JLS star Marvin Humes commented. "It's a fantastic cause and it's great to be a part of it. It's always an amazing night and raises so much money."

The members of Take That similarly stated: "It's great being part of Red Nose Day and we're all really looking forward to performing on the night. It's such a fantastic event that helps so many people and it's always an honour for us to be involved."

When quizzed about the responsibility of performing the official Comic Relief single on the big night, The Wanted's Nathan Sykes said: "Red Nose Day is such a fantastic day and it's amazing to be a part of it. We're really proud of this single - although in hindsight I suppose we should have recorded 'Red Forever' instead of 'Gold'!"

DS

[alan45]

Not many people can have thought they would ever see Archie and Peggy Mitchell back together.

Archie is six feet under, and ex-wife Peggy was one of the chief suspects in his murder, as they were divorced and he had taken her beloved Queen Vic pub from her.

But Barbara Windsor and Larry Lamb, who play the pair, have been reunited on screen for the first time since they left Albert Square in a new advert for Comic Relief.

Larry asks Babs: "Have you missed me?", before she covers his face with a cream cake, topped with a Comic Relief red nose.

The advert for jackpotjoy.com draws attention to Red Nose Day games on offer, with profits going to Comic Relief.

Barbara is set to give five other celebrity friends the cream cake treatment in subsequent adverts.

Could ex Frank Butcher be next?