The BBC‘s Big Night In kicked off on Thursday evening to raise funds for Children In Need, Comic Relief and the battle against COVID-19.
The evening featured the return of comedies Little Britain, Miranda and The Vicar Of Dibley, with specially-recorded skits as the casts of the erstwhile TV shows reunited from home.
Lenny Henry led proceedings, alongside Davina McCall and Matt Baker. After the first hour, Paddy McGuinness and Zoe Ball joined Lenny in the studio.
Staying home: The BBC’s Big Night In kicked off on Thursday evening to raise funds for Children In Need, Comic Relief and the battle against COVID-19. Miranda kicked things off, with Miranda Hart playing her titular character, telling viewers that lockdown suits her fine, with flashbacks showing scenes from the sitcom which prove she’s best left indoors
Miranda kicked things off, with Miranda Hart playing her titular character, telling viewers that lockdown suits her fine, with flashbacks showing scenes from the sitcom which prove she’s best left indoors.
She then joined in on a Zoom reunion with the likes of Tom Ellis, Sarah Hadland, Patritcia Hodge and Sally Phillips, who starred alongside her on the show.
Dawn French was the next iconic sitcom to return to screens, as Dawn French, as chocoholic Reverend Geraldine Granger, reprised the role for the first time in five years.
The iconic sitcom ran from 1994 before coming to an end in 2000. However, the characters made comebacks on several occasions, namely for the show’s 10th and 20th anniversaries and well as for Comic Relief – with the last appearance being in 2015.
Egg-cellent! Dawn French was the next iconic sitcom to return to screens, as Dawn French, as chocoholic Reverend Geraldine Granger, reprised the role for the first time in five years
Snip snip! Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell – of Strictly fame – took part in a live haircut, with red-head Dianne letting Joe loose with the scissors
Dressed as Geraldine, Dawn told viewers via Zoom that her vicarage was filled with Easter eggs this time last week, but that she’d been tidying up by eating them all.
She added: ‘Just a little tip for all the mums and dads who are struggling in isolation – the chocolate egg halves make an excellent chocolate bra. So there’s hours of God-given fun there!’
She joked that there had been misprints in the latest parish newsletter, namely that there’d been an announcement that two women in Dibley had had rabies rather than babies.
There was no reunion of the iconic cast in this skit, but Dawn reminded fans of the scatty characters, explaining that they don’t have computers.
She said: ‘One of them called me to say that he bought an Apple. I asked him which version and he said a granny smith.’
Regal sketch: There was a skit recorded by Stephen Fry and Prince William, who took part in a Zoom call before leaving their homes to clap for carers
The jokes subsided as the iconic vicar assured viewers, ‘life goes on, this will pass, don’t dwell on the sadness’.
‘Praise the Lord, and praise the NHS. God bless you for watching!’ she concluded.
Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell – of Strictly fame – took part in a live haircut, with red-head Dianne letting Joe loose with the scissors.
There was a skit recorded by Stephen Fry and Prince William, who took part in a Zoom call before leaving their homes to clap for carers.
The Blackadder sketch was filmed at Anmer Hall and written by Richard Curtis.
Good one, Wills! The Blackadder sketch was filmed at Anmer Hall and written by Richard Curtis
Joining in: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince Louis of Cambridge clapped for NHS carers as part of the BBC Big Night In
Comedienne Catherine Tate reprised her character Lauren, who took part in an antagonistic video chat with David Tennant, her ‘teacher’.
The show also featured the debut of BBC Radio 1’s charity single, featuring the likes of Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Sean Paul and Chris Martin.
The Stay Home Live Lounge was released at midday on Thursday and sees the stars collaborate on a cover of Foo Fighters’ Times Like These to raise money for charities.
Dua said: ‘First of all, it’s such an incredible song. It’s been important to connect with friends and family, and this way it has been so special to see so many artists get together and make it seem so seamless, like we’re in the same room.
Am I boverred? Comedienne Catherine Tate reprised her character Lauren, who took part in an antagonistic video chat with David Tennant, her ‘teacher’
Missing the point: Lauren insisted she wouldn’t be catching a computer virus from her teacher
‘Everyone has been working so hard in wanting to create something so special, it’s amazing.’
Dave Grohl – also taking part – said: ‘Well I had very little to do with it, I got the call a few weeks ago that BBC wanted to put together this project.
‘I was so flattered that they would use one of our songs and get together with these artists, I got so emotional. It’s one of the biggest musical moments in my life. I wrote it at a strange time in my life, where I was scared but hopeful. This is huge for me.’
The cast of EastEnders congregated for a Zoom quiz, set up by Ian Beale, with an accidental special appearance by Coronation Street’s Liz Macdonald, who ended up getting barred from the Queen Vic.
Premiere: The show also featured the debut of BBC Radio 1’s charity single, featuring the likes of Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Sean Paul and Chris Martin
Debut: The Stay Home Live Lounge was released at midday on Thursday and sees the stars collaborate on a cover of Foo Fighters’ Times Like These to raise money for charities
Quizzing: The cast of EastEnders congregated for a Zoom quiz, set up by Ian Beale
Get outta my pub! There was an accidental special appearance by Coronation Street’s Liz Macdonald, who ended up getting barred from the Queen Vic
There was also a tribute to doctors and the NHS recorded by several past Doctor Who stars.
It featured stars past and present Jodie Whittaker, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Jo Martin, Peter Capaldi, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann.
‘Never be cruel or cowardly,’ they said. ‘We have come together to give praise, to salute and to give thanks to doctors, nurses and carers on the front line. You are incredible, inspirational and truly life saving.’
Matt Lucas performed the Baked Potato Song with the BBC Concert Orchestra, while songstress Celeste sang Lean On Me.
Jack Whitehall, Mathew Horne and boxer Anthony Joshua took part in a sketch as a tribute to Jack’s sitcom bad Education.
It saw Jack’s character Alfie inform Mathew’s character Fraser that there is a global pandemic taking place, unbeknownst to him.
It then saw Anthony playing himself, coaching Alfie through an online PE lesson which saw him get trapped under a massive barbell as Anthony called an ambulance.