Children in Need, Friday 12 November at 7pm

Get ready for an evening of entertainment, celebrity surprises and heartwarming stories as BBC Children in Need returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday 13 November, bringing the nation together for one of the biggest nights in the television calendar.

Starting at 7pm, this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal show will broadcast live from MediaCityUK in Salford, promising three hours packed with famous faces, exclusive performances, special sketches and plenty of surprises – with a sprinkling of Hollywood stardust.

Leading the celebrations will be a star-studded presenting team featuring Alex Jones, Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Sara Cox and Tyler West, who will guide viewers through an unforgettable evening celebrating the fundraising efforts taking place across the UK.

Hollywood stars and spectacular entertainment

There is plenty to look forward to, with a stellar line-up of celebrity appearances and performances planned throughout the night.

One particularly exciting moment sees Rylan’s dream assignment take an unexpected turn when a special Children in Need stunt featuring the stars of Dune: Part Three – Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Anya Taylor-Joy – descends into complete chaos.

Viewers can also look forward to the much-loved Children in Need Choir making a heartwarming return, an exclusive performance from a huge chart act, some fun with the stars of Dragons’ Den and Rylan finally taking to the Strictly dancefloor.

There will also be a special performance featuring the cast of High School Musical, giving one inspiring young campaigner the chance to step into the spotlight.

Alongside the entertainment, the programme will share moving stories from children and young people whose lives have been transformed by charities supported by BBC Children in Need.

Meet The One Show’s inspiring Challenge Squad

Four remarkable young people are taking on extraordinary personal challenges as part of this year’s fundraising campaign.

Unveiled on The One Show, the Challenge Squad each have a personal connection to charities funded by BBC Children in Need. Now they are using their experiences to raise awareness and help ensure every child has someone by their side when they need it most.

The four young people are:

Zoe, 16, from Hampshire

Born with Down syndrome, Zoe has received support from Stepping Stones DS, a charity funded by BBC Children in Need. Through the organisation, she has developed new skills, grown in confidence and formed lasting friendships.

Now she is preparing to dance with the cast of High School Musical during the live Appeal show.

Harri, 22, from Surrey

Living with the lasting effects of a brain tumour, Harri experiences difficulties with balance, coordination, concentration and energy levels.

He is a young ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity, which runs a project supported by BBC Children in Need funding. Harri will join BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans for part of his Welsh cycling challenge.

Ana, 16, from Wiltshire

Diagnosed as a child with a rare condition that causes severe pain and affects her ability to walk independently, Ana found her confidence and love of sport affected by her condition.

With support from Nova Sports, a project part-funded by BBC Children in Need, she discovered wheelchair basketball and found a new way to enjoy being active.

Now she is taking on an ambitious three-day kayaking challenge to raise money for the Appeal.

Serena, 22, from Bristol

After experiencing the devastating loss of her brother and later losing a close childhood friend to knife crime, Serena found support through Empire Fighting Chance, a charity part-funded by BBC Children in Need.

She is now preparing to face a very different challenge: performing in front of a live studio audience and millions of BBC One viewers during the Appeal show.

The Challenge Squad will be supported by The One Show presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp, alongside BBC Radio 2’s Owain Wyn Evans, as they take on their incredible missions.

Owain Wyn Evans takes on a mammoth cycling challenge

Another major highlight of this year’s fundraising campaign is Owain Wyn Evans’s extraordinary Four Nations Cycle Challenge.

The BBC Radio 2 Early Breakfast presenter is taking on the greatest distance ever covered in a Radio 2 fundraising challenge, cycling nearly 400 miles across all four UK nations in just five days.

Starting in Glasgow on Monday 9 November, Owain’s journey takes him through Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and his home country of Wales, before reaching its grand finale in central Cardiff on Friday 13 November.

Along the way, he will take in some of the UK’s most spectacular landscapes, from Scotland’s rugged coastline and Northern Ireland’s green scenery to the historic surroundings of North West England and the rolling Welsh hills.

Speaking about the challenge, Owain said: “When I said yes to this challenge, I knew it would push me well outside my comfort zone. It’s going to be tough, demanding and probably a little daunting at times, but I’m ready to give it absolutely everything I’ve got.”

Harri from the Challenge Squad will join Owain for part of the Welsh leg, bringing another inspiring connection to the fundraising effort.

UK landmarks to turn yellow for Children in Need

The celebrations won’t just be happening on television. Across the country, some of the UK’s best-known landmarks will be lighting up yellow on Friday 13 November in support of BBC Children in Need.

The nationwide display will be featured live across BBC News programmes in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales from 7pm, helping launch an evening dedicated to creating brighter futures for children and young people.

BBC London’s Broadcasting House was the first landmark to turn yellow, kicking off the countdown during an appearance on The One Show.

Other locations joining the nationwide celebration include:

• Brighton i360
• Coventry Cathedral
• Leeds Civic Hall
• Lincoln Cathedral
• Norwich Castle
• Nottingham Council House
• Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
• St Mary’s Lighthouse, Whitley Bay
• The Blackpool Tower
• The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare
• The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel
• The London Eye
• The Melville Building, Royal William Yard
• Titanic Belfast
• Wales Millennium Centre

The spectacular displays will provide a colourful reminder of the incredible generosity of communities across the UK.

When is BBC Children in Need 2026 on TV?

The BBC Children in Need 2026 Appeal show will air live on Friday 13 November from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Broadcasting from MediaCityUK in Salford, the three-hour programme will be hosted by Alex Jones, Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Sara Cox and Tyler West.

The Appeal show is produced by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions. Adam Wydrzynski and Andrew Cartmell are Executive Producers, Dawn Payne is Series Producer and Mel Balac is Creative Director. Ruby Kuraishe is the BBC Commissioning Editor.

With Hollywood stars, exclusive performances, celebrity surprises and, most importantly, the powerful stories of young people across the UK, this year’s Children in Need promises to be an evening full of emotion, laughter and inspiration.

Whether you’re tuning in for the entertainment, cheering on the Challenge Squad or supporting the fundraising efforts, it is a chance for the nation to come together and make a real difference to young lives.

Choose an article to read now…

Share this post with someone you think would like it…