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Children in Need 2019 TV guide: A Star Wars challenge, EastEnders does Strictly and more to look forward to

Marvin Humes, Rochelle Humes, Mel Giedroyc, Tom Allen, Graham Norton, Ade Adepitan, Tess Daly: BBC/Aemen Sukkar at Jiksaw/Ray Burmiston/Leigh Keily/Matt Burlem
Marvin Humes, Rochelle Humes, Mel Giedroyc, Tom Allen, Graham Norton, Ade Adepitan, Tess Daly: BBC/Aemen Sukkar at Jiksaw/Ray Burmiston/Leigh Keily/Matt Burlem

Tonight marks the return of Children in Need – the BBC’s annual telethon showing a range of television specials in aid of raising money for disadvantaged children.

Each year, celebrities break away from their normal day to day activities and often cross over to other shows for one day only.

This year is no different with a range of exciting crossovers including EastEnders does Strictly, a special Star Wars challenge as well as a performance from Big the Musical and the return of 1980s classic, Crackerjack.

So what else is on the Children in Need special?

Here is everything you need to know about the show.

Hosts: Rochelle and Marvin Humes presenting The Hit List (BBC)
Hosts: Rochelle and Marvin Humes presenting The Hit List (BBC)

When is Children In Need on TV?

Children in Need 2019 is on BBC One on Friday 15 November. The evening programming starts at 7.30pm and runs until 00.30 the next day.

The main coverage will start at 7.30 until 10pm on BBC One, then the Dragons Den special will air from 10pm to 10.35pm on BBC Two. The coverage will then return to BBC One at 10.35pm until 12.30am. The Children in Need: Got It Covered documentary will air again at 12.30am until 2am on BBC One.

What is on?

Big the Musical

Opening the show for 2019 is a special performance from Big the Musical. Jay McGuinness, Kimberley Walsh, Matthew Kelly and Wendi Peters take to the stage and kick off the night with a bang.

EastEnders does Strictly Come Dancing

EastEnders stars Ricky Champ, Louisa Lytton, Maisie Smith and Rudolph Walker OBE will be taking to the dancefloor alongside the Strictly professionals.

Champ will be dancing with Luba Mushtuk, Lytton will be dancing with Gorka Marquez, Smith will take to the floor with Kevin Clifton and Walker will be partnered with Nancy Xu.

The stars will compete in a group number, choreographed by former Strictly professional Trent Whiddon, in a bid to be crowned champions.

Twinkle toes: Louisa Lytton and Gorka Marquez on Strictly (BBC)
Twinkle toes: Louisa Lytton and Gorka Marquez on Strictly (BBC)

England Football team visit

England’s Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling join Mark Wright in surprising children from the England Amputee Football Association. They will also play a football together.

Doctor Who

While not a lot of information has been revealed about the episode, Jodie Whittaker will return as the Doctor for the Children in Need special.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

YouTube star, Colin Furze, has been challenged by two of the cast of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, to make a real working landspeeder from the first ever Star Wars.

Youngsters from Children in Need projects will be getting involved to help him get it ready for the night.

Stars: The England pros with the youngsters (BBC)
Stars: The England pros with the youngsters (BBC)

Dragons Den Does I’ll Get This: Children In Need Special

On BBC Two, I’ll Get This - comedy game involving celebrities and a dinner bill – and Dragon’s Den will have a mash up. Current Dragons Peter Jones, Tej Lalvani, Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies plus former Dragon Sarah Willingham will take part in the episode.

Graham Norton’s Big Red Chair

The Graham Norton Show will have a special featuring The Big Red chair. Graham’s sofa guests are three young carers who will be told a joke by celebrities in the The Big Red chair. The youngsters will then have to decide whether the jokes that are told are good enough to let them walk, or whether the line-up of celebrities will get flipped. Previews show that

The Hit List

Marvin and Rochelle Humes host a BBC Children in Need special of their Saturday night music quiz, The Hit List, featuring a number of artists that have previously performed on official BBC Children in Need singles.

Pop legends: The stars of The Hit List with Marvin and Rochelle (BBC)
Pop legends: The stars of The Hit List with Marvin and Rochelle (BBC)

Taking part in the fun is hip-hop artist Wretch 32 who is paired with former JLS member JB Gill; Heidi Range from the Sugababes will be competing with Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle and Michelle Heaton from Liberty X will be paired with Blue’s very own Antony Costa.

The Greatest Dancer

Cheryl, Glee star Matthew Morrison and Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse will judge a whole host of special contestants for the Children in Need show. The stars will be revealed later on in the show.

Mock the Week

A host of top comedians are getting together for this late night Mock the Week sketch, a BBC Children in Need spin on one their most popular rounds ‘Scenes We'd Like To See’.

The Doctor: Jodie Whittaker for the
The Doctor: Jodie Whittaker for the

BBC Children in Need: Got It Covered

The 90-minute entertainment documentary charts the making of the album “Got It Covered” and the cast includes Helena Bonham Carter CBE, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman CBE, Shaun Dooley, Luke Evans, Suranne Jones, Adrian Lester OBE, Himesh Patel, David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker.

Crackerjack

From the 1950s through to the 1980s Crackerjack was a children’s TV favourite and is returning for a Children in Need special. The programme will make an official comeback next year.

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