UK Celebrities Raise £26 Million for 'Children in Need' Charity Event

The BBC's annual "Children in Need" fundraising show in London raised a staggering £26,332,33 - £8 million more than 2010 - with the help of celebrities including One Direction, Susan Boyle, Gary Barlow, BBC newsreaders and Gok Wan.

Introduced by host Sir Terry Wogan, X-Factor contestants and boy-band One Direction opened the show with their hit single "What Makes You Beautiful."

The six-hour extravaganza, which was aired live on BBC One, was preceded by a One Show special by the show's co-presenter Matt Baker. Baker raised a running total of £1,263, 272.93 by completing his Rickshaw Challenge after cycling 480 miles, from Edinburgh to London.

"To have the opportunity to actually see people's generosity as they run alongside, showing me their support and giving us their money, is overwhelming. We haven't gone half a mile without hearing cheers and seeing people donate what they can," the Daily Mail quoted Baker as saying.

While he was hosting the show, Sir Wogan also introduced fellow presenters Tess Daly, Alesha Dixon and Fearne Cotton.

Following the performance of One Direction, the cast of the West End show "The Wizard of Oz" performed a segment from their musical and said they had raised more than £10,000.

In another segment, four of the BBC's female newsreaders participated in a "Strictly Come Dancing Children In Need" competition. Presenters, Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, introduced the contestants Sian Williams, Susanna Reid, Emily Maitlis and Sophie Rayworth to the judges Alesha Dixon, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Horwood. The contestants re-enacted the dance routine Rippon performed with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise in 1976. The event was won by Susanna Reid and her partner Robin Windsor.

Fashion guru Gok Wan, in a new avatar, sported a dark moustache and performed the musical number "Razzle Dazzle" from "Chicago." The cast of EastEnders maintained the theme of the evening and paid tribute to the Queen by performing tracks from "Another One Bites The Dust" to "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Actor Daniel Craig, in a video message, made an emotional appeal to the public and urged donors to raise money for the needs of children. The next theme, comprising of comedy, was put up by Alan Sugar's skit "Dragon's Den."

The Collective (comprising X-Factor Judge Tulisa Contostavlos, Ed Sheeran, Tinchy Stryder, Wretch 32, Rizzle Kicks, Chipmunk, Mz Bratt, Dot Rottonand and Miss Dynamite) performed Massive Attack's song "Teardrop" live. Created by Gary Barlow, the song is the new official "Children in Need" singles track.

The evening was followed by performances from Ed Sheeran, who sang "Lego House", JLS with their single "Do You Feel What I Feel" and Hollyoaks, while Susan Boyle performed "Enjoy the Silence," and Westlife sang "You Raise Me Up."

During the marathon performances, Olly Murs and Steps performed a mdeley of their hits at the BBC One Television Centre. The girl band "The Saturdays" gave an elegant performance of "My Heart Takes Over."

"That is the greatest single total we have ever made in one night, so thank you. Thank you to the British people in these tough times to come up with that kind of money on behalf of Britain's children," said Sir Wogan, after raising more than £24 million.