What is Children In Need and when did it start?

CHILDREN In Need is back for 2022 and it is set to be bigger than ever.

Over the years the telethon has raised a huge amount of money for kids’ charities and has an incredible history.



Terry Wogan with Pudsey the bear
Children In Need’s first ever host was the late Terry Wogan

What is Children In Need?

Children In Need is the BBC’s UK charity which aims to support disadvantaged children and young people.

Since it began the annual televised appeals have raised a whopping £1.5billion.

The mascot is Pudsey the bear who is yellow with a polka-dot bandage covering one eye.

The BBC devotes a whole night of programming for the telethon with the exception of 35 minutes reserved for the News at Ten.

Each year the show features various celebrities, and live links to charities being helped by the telethon.

The big night is also hosted by famous faces, and for the 2022 series Jason Manford, Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc, Chris Ramsey and Alex Scott all take on the presenting duties.

When was Children In Need launched?

The first Children In Need telethon was broadcast in 1980.

It raised £1million and was hosted by Terry Wogan, Esther Rantzen and Sue Lawley.

Originally it took the form of segments in between main programmes but was later developed into a single continuous show.

Terry continued to host the show up until 2014 – following his death in 2016 his family set up the Terry Wogan Fundraiser Of The Year award.

The BBC’s first broadcast charity appeal was a five minute radio broadcast on Christmas Day in 1927.

Children In Need became a registered charity in England and Wales in 1988 and in Scotland in 2008.

How can I raise money for Children In Need 2022?

The official website for Children In Need 2022 has lots of fundraising ideas and downloadable resources.

If you want to help out you can get a free fundraiser supporter kit.

You can also donate money directly to Children In Need right here.