Comic Relief Sketches Feature The Traitors Cast and Anna Friel
Marcella star Anna Friel will portray Claudia Winkleman in a sketch for this year's Comic Relief, joining recent stars from The Traitors such as Rachel Duffy and Faraaz Noor.
The sketch titled The Traitors: The Movie – The Sequel follows the success of the 2024 first instalment, which featured Catherine Tate, Asim Chaudhry, Iain Stirling, and Suranne Jones.
Iain Stirling returns to play this year's joint winner of The Traitors, Stephen Libby, alongside other celebrities including Scott Mills and Alison Steadman, who will interact with the real contestants they portray.
Other highlights from the Comic Relief: Funny for Money show include a bank heist sketch featuring Luther star Idris Elba.
Additionally, there will be a literal interpretation of the comedy series Amandaland involving several famous Amandas, as well as a performance by singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
How to Watch Comic Relief: Funny for Money
The show will be broadcast live from MediaCityUK in Salford on BBC and BBC One on Friday 20 March starting at 19:00 GMT.
For the first time, it will also be live streamed simultaneously on the official BBC YouTube channel.
Details of The Traitors Sketch
The Traitors parody will feature TV personality Vicky Pattison as joint winner Rachel, while DJ Scott Mills will portray James.
Actress Amanda Redman will play Amanda, Gavin and Stacey's Alison Steadman will take on the role of Fiona, and singer and radio host Fleur East will appear as Roxy.
Soap actor and Strictly contestant Lewis Cope will portray Jack, and Paddington and Bridget Jones actress Jessica Hynes will star as Harriet.
Other real-life cast members appearing in the Comic Relief special include Ross Garshong, Jade Scott, and Judy Wilson.
The sketch revisits some of the best moments from series four, with comic and presenter Ruby Wax reportedly directing, although director and producer Ed Bye, who is married to Wax, is actually leading the production.
"I have been a supporter and champion of Comic Relief for years, however this does feel a little bit outside of my usual wheelhouse. I am not an actor, I am not Northern Irish, I think I'd rather be back in the Arctic or trekking or something so I am very scared!"
Pattison completed an Arctic challenge for Comic Relief in 2024.
BBC Radio 2's Mills joked,
"I am playing the role of James from The Traitors, and my fake earring is absolutely killing me, although I am getting quite used to these really big sideburns!"
Libby said,
"I've got Iain Stirling playing myself, and he might be in a jumpsuit number as well – so I think he may currently be crying in a dressing room somewhere trying to squeeze into that. Every year I've always watched Comic Relief, so to be part of it is just really amazing."
Additional Comic Relief Highlights
Davina McCall will host the show, joined by a range of comedy presenters including Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed, Joel Dommett, and Catherine Tate reprising her role as Nan from The Catherine Tate Show.
The Motherland spin-off Amandaland receives the Comic Relief treatment in a sketch titled Amandas-land, where the titular character (Lucy Punch) and her friend and assistant Anne (Philippa Dunne) are invited to BBC Broadcasting House for a live radio interview with Sara Cox.
A comedy of errors unfolds as they encounter several famous Amandas, including Amanda Holden, Amanda Lamb, and Amanda Barrie.
Other sketches include The Bank Job, featuring a cameo from Idris Elba as Luther and starring ITV This Morning presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary.
Chris McCausland, Stephen Mulhern, Shona McGarty, Niko Omilana, Gladiator's Sabre, and Natalie Cassidy also participate in the heist sketch.
Calum Scott will perform his hit cover of Robyn's "Dancing on My Own," and Blessing Offor will also perform his song "Somebody's Child." Tate, as Nan, will also present a musical number.
Romesh Ranganathan will host a special edition of Weakest Link.
Background on Red Nose Day and Comic Relief
The first Red Nose Day took place in 1988 and raised £15 million. Over 30 million viewers tuned in to watch specials such as Blackadder - the Cavalier Years and The Young Ones on University Challenge.
Comic Relief, established in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Curtis and comedian Sir Lenny Henry, has held 21 telethons since its inception, sometimes biennially rather than annually.
The charity funds programs both in the UK and internationally that address poverty and social injustice, as well as supporting those facing immediate hardship.
More than £1.6 billion has been raised since the charity began.
Many individuals undertake personal fundraising challenges, often with celebrities taking on demanding tasks.
This year, BBC Radio 1's Greg James is completing a 630-mile tandem bike ride challenge, finishing in Edinburgh on Friday.
