The fundraising programme returned to screens for the 45th year
Children in Need 2025
People watching Children in Need tonight noticed the same thing just moments into the 2025 live show. Each year stars join forces for BBC Children in Need’s 2025 appeal show.
The Children in Need appeal first appeared on television screens across the country in 1980. An impressive £1m was raised in the first ever show and since then it has raised more than £1bn in total. The three-hour live broadcast from the BBC’s Salford studio is being shown on BBC One and also available to stream on BBC iPlayer after starting at 7pm today, November 14.
As the show started, presenters Paddy McGuinness, Mel Giedroyc, Lenny Rush, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay and Big Zuu all joined the stage to introduce the show.
Throughout the show, viewers will see performances from Lewis Capaldi and Eurovision contestants Remember Monday, plus sketches from popular BBC shows including Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice and Gladiators, the Manchester Evening News reports.
McFly singer Tom Fletcher will also be performing for the first time with his son Buzz Fletcher.
As the 2025 appeal show began, things kicked off with a The Simpsons style introduction as Media City UK, Salford welcomed the huge fundraiser.
With the presenters on stage ready to start the show, viewers made the same observation.
On X (formerly known as Twitter), @mjw_f1 wrote: “I remember the days when they only needed two presenters and it was on until 1 in the morning.
“Why so many presenters for a three hour show, most of which features pre-recorded clips”.
@stmiddleton_1 added: “Does it really need 5 people to host the opening of the show??”.
Another viewer, @valleyboy1977 wrote: “Why all these presenters for a 3 hour show”.
@VaderDarthVade1 said: “How many presenters are there 6 on stage and in Yellow room we have another 6 trainee ones introducing each other #ChildreninNeed.”
@hurleyfunbags posted: “The team of presenters on children in need is absolutely abysmal. Why do they need so many?”
During the BBC show, viewers will also find out the grand total that radio star Sara Cox raised for her Great Northern Challenge after covering the distance of five marathons over five days.
At the end of her run it was confirmed her total was well over £7m so far.