Friday, November 14, 2008

Children in Need: BBC Newsreaders do Rocky Horror

In the last of this week's Children in Need clips, we look at another now-annual element of the show - the ritual humiliation of the BBC's news-reading corp.

In this classic clip, the team take on the Rocky Horror Show. Brace yourself for Micheal Burke in suspenders and Andrew Marr looking as though he's enjoying himself just that little bit too much!

Don't miss this year's Children in Need event on BBC1 tonight and you can donate online to the appeal at www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey


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Thursday, November 13, 2008

Children in Need: Perfect Day video

1997's Children in Need appeal was led by the release of the multi-artist single Perfect Day.

An eclectic mix of artists re-recorded the song and video, originally as a corporate video for the BBC promoting its diverse music coverage. It was then released as a single in aid of Pudsey's appeal and raise over £2million for the appeal.

The video features (in order of appearance): Lou Reed, Bono, Skye Edwards (from Morcheeba), David Bowie, Suzanne Vega, Elton John, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra), Boyzone, Lesley Garrett, Burning Spear, Bono, Sir Thomas Allen, Brodsky Quartet, Heather Small (from M People), Emmylou Harris, Tammy Wynette, Shane MacGowan, Sheona White (BBC Young Brass Soloist of the Year 1996), Dr. John, Robert Cray, Hugh "Huey" Morgan (from Fun Lovin' Criminals), Ian Broudie (from The Lightning Seeds), Gabrielle, Evan Dando (from The Lemonheads), Courtney Pine, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Brett Anderson (from Suede), Visual Ministry Choir, Joan Armatrading, Laurie Anderson and Tom Jones.

You can make a donation to this year's Children in Need appeal at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey


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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Children in Need: EastEnders Thriller

The second of this week's Children in Need picks comes from 2003 when the cast of EastEnders made their traditional annual contribution to the show in the form of their own recreation of Micahel jackson's classic Thriller video.

Featuring fat Barry as a rather podgy Jacko together with other cast members including the legendary John Barden (Jim Branning), the video also featured a special guest appearance at the end by Leslie Grantham aka Dirty Den, prior to his full-time return to the show the following year.

Don't forget to make your donation to this year's Pudsey appeal at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

First aired: 21 November 2003, BBC1.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Children in Need: Doctor Who "Time Crash" special

It's Children in Need night this Friday so over the next few days we'll be adding some classic CiN features and sketches to the tellytunes scrapbook.

Kicking things off is last year's fantastic highlight, "Time Crash", the Doctor Who special which reunited fifth Doctor Peter Davison with current encumbent David Tennant in a witty, fast-paced and, at points for fans, lump-in-throat-inducing 7 minute special.

After you've watched, go make a donation to this year's pudsey appeal at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

First aired: 16 November 2007, BBC1.



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Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Crossroads: Bonfire night Motel fire

Anyone with a certain nervousness around bonfires and fireworks will have taken little comfort from the 1981 bonfire night episode of Crossroads.

As families prepared to set out for the nearest bonfire, the evening's episode of Crossroads played out. Motel staff were at their own bonfire party in the Motel grounds when disaster struck. As Jill Chance turns around from the bonfire, she sees the Crossroads Motel going up in flames.

"Oh my god! The Motel. It's on Fire!! Muuuuum...!!!"

And with that, the credits roll as the flames lick around the famous Motel reception.

Star character Meg Richardson/Mortimer (Noele Gordon) was originally thought to have been killed off in the fire. However, it later emerged that she'd done a runner and was found shacked up on the QE2 instead.

But, safe though Meg turned out to be, quite a few of us kept just that little bit greater a distance between ourselves and the bonfire that fireworks night..

First aired: 5 November 1981, ITV.


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