Biggest Red Nose makeover in history revealed with help from AJ Odudu, Amanda Holden, Frankie Bridge, Miranda Hart, and Sir Lenny Henry

1st February 2023

  • As Red Nose Day returns on Friday 17 March, it’s never been more important to remember how even the smallest of acts can make a huge difference

  • Brand new, magically transforming Red Nose designed by Sir Jony Ive revealed today

  • Sir Lenny Henry features in new film narrated by Diane Morgan and written by Richard Curtis to proudly present the Nose’s new look and feel

  • Stars 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

  • The little Red Nose that makes a really big difference is now available to buy on Amazon for the first time

  • AJ Odudu, David Tennant, Joel Dommett, Paddy McGuinness, and Zoe Ball announced as presenters of the BBC One night of entertainment

  • Red Nose Day night of TV will see Kylie Minogue feature in Ghosts sketch and an unexpected contestant looking for love in Love Island parody

  • Gethin Jones set to make big Red Nose Day announcement live on BBC’s Morning Live today

  • Sue Perkins and Richard Curtis to host Red Nose Day panel events at Just for Laughs London Comedy Festival

  • Much more to be announced over the coming weeks!

  • Money raised will support people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, and food poverty

  • Find out how you can get involved at www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window)

  • Watch the film on YouTube here(opens in new window)

Wednesday 1 February 2023: A brand new magically transforming Red Nose created by legendary designer Sir Jony Ive has been revealed today, with help from AJ Odudu, Amanda Holden, Diane Morgan, Frankie Bridge, Miranda Hart, and Sir Lenny Henry to mark the official launch of Red Nose Day 2023.

Over the past year, Comic Relief’s famous round icon has been through the most dramatic makeover since its debut in 1988. Designed by Jony Ive, the creative genius behind Apple’s most sought-after products, this truly is a Red Nose like no other.

Made almost entirely from plant-based materials, the Red Nose starts as a tiny, flat crescent and springs into a beautiful honeycomb-paper sphere. It is now available to buy on Amazon(opens in new window), the new home of the Red Nose.

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 Diane Morgan on a new film to proudly present the new look and feel of the little Red Nose that makes a really big difference. Released today, the short film is available to watch here(opens in new window).

Jony Ive said: “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."

AJ Odudu, Amanda Holden, Frankie Bridge, Adam Thomas, Gethin Jones, Greg James, Jay Blades, Miranda Hart, Sindhu Vee, Sir Lenny Henry, and Vicky Pattison have come together to help kick things off and be some of the first to try on the new Red Noses.

Sindhu Vee said: “When I saw the new Red Nose for this year, I was very impressed. It’s very delicate and very beautifully made. I wanted to get involved with Red Nose Day this year because as a comic it’s one of those things where you’re waiting, hoping to be asked! It’s for a good cause, it’s funny, and it’s funny to everyone you know. And I mean, who doesn’t like a Red Nose?!"

While the design has changed, the purpose hasn’t. With every Red Nose bought, supporters will be helping people through the toughest times of their lives.

Richard Curtis 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."

Richard added: “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."

John Boumphrey, UK country manager at Amazon, said: “We are enormously proud to partner with Comic Relief to be the new home of the Red Nose, and help to support this year’s appeal. Delivering Red Noses is just one of the ways our team at Amazon is supporting this year – our new Comic Relief store has been set up to raise vital funds, and our colleagues are taking part in various fundraising initiatives to add to the £1.8 million we have already donated to the charity since November. Comic Relief does remarkable work, and we know that every Nose helps to change lives. We’ll be wearing ours with pride on Red Nose Day."

Red Nose Day returns at a time of great uncertainty and worry for many across the nation, as the grip of the cost-of-living crisis continues to tighten, and daily poverty rises. Times are difficult, but millions of people in the UK and across the world need support now more than ever. Money raised will support people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, and food poverty here in the UK and around the world.

With lots of exciting plans in store, Comic Relief is excited to reveal just a few ways the public can get involved and enjoy this year’s Red Nose Day campaign.

From fundraising with friends, to hosting a bake sale, sponsoring classmates, picking up some of the official Red Nose Day merchandise or simply watching the TV, there are many ways to get involved and be part of something amazing. It’s never felt more needed to come together and make a difference.

For the very first time, AJ Odudu and Joel Dommett will host the Red Nose Day night of TV alongside Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness, and David Tennant. Returning to screens live on BBC One on Friday 17 March, they will be joined by a host of stars and supporters to bring viewers an unmissable evening of comedy, live music, exclusive prizes, and plenty of surprises. With lots of exciting news to come, today it’s been revealed that global superstar, Kylie Minogue, will feature in a one-off special of much-loved BBC sitcom Ghosts, and a hilarious parody of Love Island will see a very unexpected contestant looking for love. The Red Nose Day night of TV is made by BBC Studios Productions.

This Red Nose Day will also see some of the nation’s favourite famous faces put their willpower and determination to the test in a bid to raise money for Comic Relief. Gethin Jones will be making a special announcement on BBC’s Morning Live today and three celebrity pals will be heading somewhere very cold for a challenge like s-now other.

TK Maxx, in partnership with Comic Relief, is launching a brand-new collection of fantastic T-shirts and sweatshirts for Red Nose Day 2023, featuring the iconic Mr. Men Little Miss character designs, which will be available in TK Maxx stores and online at tkmaxx.com. The Red Nose Day collection also includes aprons, tote bags, lunch bags, notebooks, water bottles, plush toys, and mugs, available in store at Homesense and TK Maxx, as well as online at www.tkmaxx.com(opens in new window)

On 5th March, Richard Curtis and Sue Perkins will each host a Red Nose Day panel event at Just for Laughs London. Richard will be joined by Comic Relief stars for an afternoon of comedy, memories, and mishaps from more than 30 years of eventful Red Nose Days. Meanwhile, Sue Perkins will be hosting some of the finest LGBTQ+ talent on the comedy circuit including Rosie Jones and Michelle de Swarte to discuss their highs, lows and lols of their LGBTQ+ experience. Tickets for both events are available now from Ticketmaster, AXS or www.jfllondon.com(opens in new window)

Much more will be announced over the coming weeks.

Red Nose Day returns on Friday 17 March. Find out how to get involved and help people through the toughest times of their lives at www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window)

ENDS

ASSETS AVAILABLE

ADDITIONAL QUOTES:

Vicky Pattison said: “I love this year’s Nose! I love how well it fits, it’s super cute and it’s good for the environment. I feel it might be one of my favourite Noses ever.

“I know that a lot of people are facing a really hard year this year, and more than ever we need to all come together and help. There's a cost-of-living crisis – there’s all sorts going on, and if anyone has anything to spare, and get behind Red Nose Day then it's the perfect cause for people who need it the most. It’s such an important day and I’m really excited to be involved."

Greg James said: “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the world has been quite sad, particularly over the last three to four years. So, anything that brings people together is a great thing and Red Nose Day focusses everyone’s attention. It’s a great moment to just look outward – which is something a lot of people forget to do. When you’re stressed and sad and panicking about your own life you sometimes forget to look out. So, Red Nose Day is a great reminder to look outward and help somebody else."

Sindhu Vee said: “When I saw the new Red Nose for this year, I was very impressed. It’s very delicate, it’s very beautifully made, and it reminds me of Christmas decorations we used to have in India where you opened them up and put them on your fake Christmas tree and then packed them up again and put them away for the following year. It’s beautiful.

“I wanted to get involved with Red Nose Day this year because as a comic it’s one of those things where you’re waiting, hoping to be asked! I just really wanted to do it. it’s for a good cause, it’s funny, and it’s funny to everyone you know. And I mean, who doesn’t like a Red Nose?!

Adam Thomas said: “When I first got the call to ask if I could support this year, I thought, there’s no way I could say no to Red Nose Day – it’s all about helping people out, which is something I love to do. We all need all the support we can get right now, because times have been so tough for everyone. So, hopefully we can help put a smile on people’s faces, which would be brilliant.

Jay Blades said: “Red Nose Day is just one big community. Everybody working together, helping those less fortunate than ourselves. It’s just something I had to be a part of.

“This year we all really need to come together, because it is going to be such a tough time. It was a tough time last year, and I think it’s going to be even tougher this year. So, we need to show our support for everybody – and that is just basically working together."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Red Nose Day PR Team:

020 7820 2500

media@comicrelief.com(opens in new window)

www.comicrelief.com/media-centre

Out of hours enquiries: 07984 510 473

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About the Red Nose

The new Red Nose is made from 95% plant-based materials consisting of paper, bagasse and PLA, which is derived from corn. To enable the Nose to be worn, we needed to create a strong fastening made from rubber.

About Red Nose Day

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 17 March 2023.

Once a year, we all come together to help those who need it most – and we have a great time doing it. So, this year, whether you bake a cake or sponsor your mates, buy a Red Nose or donate on your phone, let’s make Red Nose Day the best day ever. Together we can help people going through the toughest times of their lives and help them break free from the effects of poverty, in the UK and around the world.

Whatever you’re able to do this year - you’ll be part of something incredible and most importantly you’ll be helping to change people’s lives for the better. Visit  www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window) or follow @ComicRelief on social media for the latest Red Nose Day content, news and information.

Red Nose Day is an initiative of Comic Relief.

About Comic Relief

Comic Relief uses the power of humour and popular culture to engage people to help others and raises money to support organisations working towards a just world free from poverty.

Our mission combines Comic and Relief. We believe that helping others can be easy and fun, even in the face of the challenges we face every day.

Everyone should be able to have a decent standard of living and to live life with dignity and respect – but right now, in the UK and around the world, poverty and injustice restrict too many of us. We know that a better world is possible. We provide funding to fantastic organisations who are closest to the communities who can make change happen. We support work that will help to alleviate poverty’s consequences, tackle related injustices, and address the link between climate change and poverty.

For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com(opens in new window) or follow @ComicRelief on social media for the latest content, news and information.

Comic Relief is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730).

About LoveFrom

LoveFrom is a creative collective of designers, architects, musicians, filmmakers, writers, engineers and artists.

Founded by Sir Jony Ive in 2019, the combined experience, achievement and recognition of these creatives is without precedent. LoveFrom has studios in San Francisco and London. lovefrom.com