Telethon bid to raise £2m

BBC radio and television will link up on Friday to try to raise more than £2 million for children in need.

Stars and celebrities will be on BBC1, the four national radio networks and local radio stations during an evening of phone-in programmes to receive the listeners and viewers’ donations and pledges for the children. Last year, the BBC raised £1 million with a similar radio and telethon.

Wrestler Big Daddy, one of the celebrities who will be appearing, said today: ‘Our aim to double last year’s figure and try and raise at least £2 million for the kids. It is a wonderful cause.’

Pop singers Kim Wilde, Lulu and Adam Ant will be among the stars taking part who include Terry Wogan, Gloria Hunniford, James Hunt, Petula Clark, Andy Peebles and Chris Serle. Kim and Big Daddy were at the BBC this morning to announce this year’s appeal. With them, to say ‘thank you’, were four children from a special school in Wimbledon, south London, who enjoyed a summer holiday at a school camp paid for from last year’s appeal, which helped thousands of other children in need.