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Millions of people in the UK and around the world do not have the basic essentials needed to survive. Money raised this Red Nose Day will help provide people with basic essentials everyone needs to survive – vital support and food, shelter and safety
Red Nose Day will take place on Friday 20 March
This year, Red Nose Day is all about ‘taking yourself funny for money’ to show that simple acts of silliness can make a serious difference
Joe Marler, Jill Scott, and Tia Kofi kick-off Red Nose Day 2026 by making themselves the punchline in an utterly farcical film released today. Watch here(opens in new window)
Public embarrassment will be taken to extreme new heights for Big Zuu, Davina McCall, La Voix and Miranda Hart later this afternoon – more to be revealed at 7:30pm!
The BBC will serve up its biggest night of comedy and entertainment of the year, with Catherine Tate’s ‘Nan’, Katherine Ryan and Nick Mohammed making their Red Nose Day night of TV presenting debuts, alongside Comic Relief stalwarts Davina McCall and Joel Dommett on BBC One, 7pm, Friday 20 March
Criminal masterminds or comedic sleuths? Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are the first names revealed as starring in The Bank Job night of TV sketch
Jodie Whittaker, Joe Lycett and Rosie Jones try out this year’s Red Nose collection – including the first ever design your own Nose and exclusive collaboration with world famous artist, Mr Doodle. The Noses are available to buy now on Amazon(opens in new window), the official home of the Red Nose
Money raised will support people in the UK and around the world with the vital support and basic essentials that everyone has the right to – food, shelter and safety
Find out more how to get involved in Red Nose Day at comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window)
Tuesday 3 February: Alison Hammond, Big Zuu, Catherine Tate as ‘Nan’, Davina McCall, Dermot O’Leary, Jodie Whittaker, Joe Lycett, Joe Marler, Jill Scott, Miranda Hart, Nick Mohammed, and Tia Kofi are among the stars of comedy and entertainment coming together to officially launch Red Nose Day today.
This year, Red Nose Day is tapping into one of the things Brits do best – having a laugh at their own expense and happily being the punchline of jokes to bring a smile to others. It’s all about the nation harnessing the typically British love of self-deprecating humour to come together, have a laugh at themselves and raise life-changing money to support people with the vital support and basic essentials they need to survive – food, shelter and safety – on Friday 20 March.
To kick things off, the nation’s favourite hundy Joe Marler has teamed up with former Lioness and Queen of the Jungle, Jill Scott, and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World series 2 winner, Tia Kofi in a new, farcical Comic Relief film. Available to watch on YouTube (opens in new window)now, the short film sees the trio making true rear-ends of themselves with panto horses, tiny bikes, costumes, wigs and make-up aplenty.
Joe Marler said: “I absolutely love the theme of this year’s Red Nose Day – I couldn’t agree more that we all just need to have a good laugh, and why not let it be at our own expense? Never did I think a drag queen could make me look so bloomin’ gorgeous. So come on, do something daft with me and help raise lots of lovely money."
Samir Patel, Comic Relief CEO, said: “Red Nose Day has always been about bringing people together through the wonderful British sense of humour and showing that joy and laughter can inspire incredible moments of care and compassion. For millions of people, the foundations that should be guaranteed in life are no longer there. Increasingly more and more people in our local neighbourhoods and across the world are suffering hunger, homelessness and harm. We’ve reached a critical point in society, and it just can’t go on like this anymore. This Red Nose Day is the chance to come together, take yourself funny for money and turn a day of silliness and having a much needed laugh into something that makes a world of difference. Funds raised this year will specifically help people get the basic essentials they need to survive – food to eat, a safe place to sleep, a life free from fear and harm."
Getting in the spirit of taking themselves funny for money this Red Nose Day, Big Zuu, Davina McCall, La Voix and Miranda Hart have given their blessing to Comic Relief to take their public embarrassment to new and extreme heights. More will be revealed at 7:30pm this evening!
On Friday 20 March, the Red Nose Day night of TV on the BBC will bring the nation together for an unmissable fun-filled evening of comedy, live performances, amazing prizes and must-see sketches. Rolling out the red carpet for viewers will be presenting royalty Davina McCall who will be joined by comedy icons Joel Dommett, Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed and, in a Red Nose Day first, Catherine Tate - who will appear as her legendary character 'Nan' from The Catherine Tate Show. Plus, more names to be announced.
With a host of new and exclusive sketches set to be announced in the lead up to the Red Nose Day night of TV, Comic Relief is excited to today reveal first details of The Bank Job. Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are the first members of a star-studded cast to be announced in this heist to end all heists. Who will stay on the right side of the law? Who will put their (questionable!) intelligence, strategic prowess and artful deftness to the test in a bid to become 2026’s most-wanted bank robber? More will be revealed soon!
The big night of TV will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm, live from MediaCity UK in Salford.
Jodie Whittaker said: “I think we are in a very turbulent time, and I think that what is always so important to remember, is that every single person can do something. It doesn't matter the size, and it doesn't matter how grand or how small, but if every single person on Red Nose Day does one little thing to contribute to their community, their society, donate a pound, donate twenty pounds – that little goes such a long way. I think that that's such a wonderful thing for us all to feel a part of one gigantic family, where in this time particularly it can feel a little bit broken. I think things like Comic Relief just feel like we're all uniting and aiming for the same wonderful outcome which is to raise loads of money for really good causes. And, the best bit, it makes you laugh when you do it."
Also revealed today is this year’s new Red Nose collection featuring the first-ever Design-Yer Nose, a blank canvas Nose that allows people to use their imagination and creativity to design a Nose that is uniquely their own while spreading humour, kindness and compassion. The Nose is available now on Amazon, the official home of the Red Nose. The collection also includes an exclusive collaboration with world famous artist Mr Doodle who has created five doodle Nose designs, in addition to the classic Red Nose. Mr Doodle has also designed a limited-edition bucket hat and pin badge in his iconic style, with all these must-have items available to buy on Amazon(opens in new window), with free, One-Day Delivery for all customers.
A host of stars from the worlds of screen, stage and sport are among the first to get their hands on this year’s Red Nose collection, including: Dianne Buswell, Ellie Goldstein, Ellie Taylor, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Iain Stirling, Jodie Whittaker, Joe Lycett, Joe Sugg, Montell Douglas, Natalie Cassidy, Nish Kumar, Phil Wang, Rickie Haywood-Williams and Rosie Jones.
Mr Doodle said: "I’ve always believed that drawing should be fun, playful and something that makes you feel good, so it's been amazing to partner with Comic Relief this Red Nose Day and design my own range of doodled Noses – and I can't wait to see all the different ways people get creative with their own Design-Yer Noses too. There's something really special about turning art into something that can genuinely help people, and the best bit is anyone can do it. So grab your Nose from Amazon and get doodling!"
Rosie Jones said: "I love Red Nose Day because it proves that being silly can make a serious difference and it brings people together through laughter in so many ways. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to experience it all with Comic Relief – the fun, the daftness, the creativity, and seeing how much it helps to change lives. This year’s Design-Yer Nose is all those things rolled into one – how could I resist?"
John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager of Amazon, said: “Red Nose Day brings the whole country together for an incredible cause, and we're enormously proud to support Comic Relief in our fourth year as the official Home of the Red Nose. Every Nose purchased makes a real difference, and we're looking forward to joining people across the UK in raising vital funds. We will be designing and wearing our Red Noses with pride."
TK Maxx and Comic Relief have teamed up with Disney Winnie The Pooh to bring a new range of T-shirts, totes, mugs, bag charms and more featuring best friends Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore. This collection, full of kindness and friendship, will support Comic Relief to help change the lives of children and young people in the UK and around the world. Shop now in TK Maxx stores and online at tkmaxx.com(opens in new window) and comicrelief.com/shop(opens in new window).
There are a host of ways to get involved and fundraise this Red Nose Day. Whether it’s wearing a silly costume on the morning commute, creating a self-portrait in bake form, sharing your best worst photo on Instagram, or buying a Nose or t-shirt – there’s a way for everyone to Take Yourself Funny for Money and become the nation’s punchline.
Money raised this Red Nose Day will help people access food, shelter and safety – the essentials everyone needs to survive, here in the UK and around the world.
Red Nose Day 2026 takes place on Friday 20 March. For more information on ways to get involved visit comicrelief.com/rednoseday.
ENDS
ASSETS AVAILABLE
Photos: https://dam.gettyimages.com/comic-relief/red-nose-day-2026-launch(opens in new window)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLbtnxVo4XM(opens in new window)
Quotes: Additional quotes are available upon request from Dianne Buswell & Joe Sugg, Ellie Goldstein, Ellie Taylor, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Iain Stirling, Jodie Whittaker, Natalie Cassidy, Rickie Haywood Williams, Tia Kofi
Ellie Taylor said: “You know, it feels like it's just sort of bleak time at the moment, doesn't it? It feels like there's a lot of hate in the world and people aren't ‘for’ things very much. People are against things, and there's a lot of division and I think something like Comic Relief, which brings together the nation and it's multi-generational. Everyone's heard of it. Everyone wants to get involved, everyone can get involved in a small way. Whether you're going to do a massive challenge or even get involved in a little way by buying a Red Nose – it's so accessible. It's so joyful and it’s hopeful. It's bringing people together to have a laugh, but also raise money for really incredible, important causes. And I just can't think of a better thing to do right now."
Iain Stirling said: “We [Brits] have an institutional hatred of ourselves but in a really brilliant and understanding way. I think being self-deprecating is a really wonderful thing and it shows a level of self-awareness and of a level of empathy that other people may lack. I think being able to be self-deprecating about yourself opens yourself up into this world of possibility where you can understand other people's flaws and be understanding and more caring - so it's actually a lot more important. And also, it's just funny to make fun of yourself."
Natalie Cassidy said: “For years, Comic Relief has been about laughter and getting people together and raising that money and love and kindness. And more than ever, we need to get together and do these things. And laughter is always the best medicine. No matter what state you’re in, how sad you are, if you can laugh about it, you’ll always feel better."
Rickie Haywood-Williams said: “Now more than ever, it's a great thing to get behind something like Red Nose Day because we're going through quite a lot of tough times at the moment. Globally, locally just in the UK, there's a lot of stuff going on. There's a lot of division and I feel like Red Nose Day is part of our heritage. Part of British culture, it's been around for a long time, and it brings people together. And I think the British public are really good at banding together and trying to help others less fortunate. So, this is a great way to do it."
Tia Kofi said: “Supporting Red Nose Day is really special to me because I grew up watching Red Nose Day, Comic Relief every single year. And I feel like it's something that inspired me to share humour, share joy and share empathy. A lot of good causes are supported by Comic Relief, and they do it through humour and entertainment. And I feel like that's something that I try and do with my drag in this world, on the time that I have on this earth. It's to sort of share that joy and have empathy for other people. Because I think we probably need a little bit of empathy in 2026, more than we ever had before."
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Comic Relief Press Office
0207 820 2500
Media@comicrelief.com(opens in new window)
www.comicrelief.com/media-centre
Out of hours enquiries: 0207 820 2444
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Red Nose Day
This Red Nose Day, Friday 20 March 2026, it’s time to take things a bit less seriously. It’s time to lighten up a little, take ourselves funny for money and celebrate the undeniable power of laughter.
Whether it’s running a marathon in a mankini, baking your mate’s face in cake, sharing your best worst photo, or popping on a Red Nose and going about your day – let’s turn those silly moments into serious goodness! This March, get ready to be silly, be daft, be the nation’s punchline and help raise shedloads of cash.
The money raised this Red Nose Day will help to support people with the basic essentials that everyone has the right to – food, shelter and safety.
There are lots of ways to get involved and take yourself funny for money. Visit www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday or follow @comicrelief on social media to find out more.
Red Nose Day is an initiative of Comic Relief.
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief is a UK charity that uses the power of entertainment and popular culture to work towards a vision of a just world free from poverty. We raise money to support organisations that are closest to the communities who can make change happen. We support work that will tackle the impact of poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change in the UK and around the world.
Since launching in 1985, we have raised over £1.6 billion thanks to the huge generosity and kindness of the public and our partners.
For more information on our work, visit www.comicrelief.com(opens in new window) or follow @comicrelief on Facebook(opens in new window), Instagram(opens in new window), LinkedIn (opens in new window)and TikTok (opens in new window)for the latest content and news.
Comic Relief is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730).
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.co.uk/about(opens in new window) and follow @AmazonUK on Instagram (opens in new window)and Facebook(opens in new window).
