Children In Need

Ricky nominating Children in Need on Room 101

Children in Need is an annual charity appeal, first broadcast on the BBC in 1980, it typically features special editions of British TV shows as well as celebrities taking part in unusual events as a way of raising awareness and money for underprivileged children throughout the UK and abroad.

Children in Need 2001

The 2001 appeal featured heavily on the 17 November 2001 Xfm show, with Steve bemoaning the poor quality of the previous night's output, particularly the desperation of the celebrities appearing. Ricky and Karl were slightly taken aback by the interest Steve had in the male cast of Hollyoaks' striptease, which he had to wait up for until one o'clock in the morning. He claimed his concern was to do with the presence of male strippers on a family orientated event, however the other two remained skeptical.

Room 101

The show was also mentioned as part of Ricky's appearance on Room 101, one of his entries being charity telethons such as Children in Need. Echoing many of Steve's opinions about the amateurishness and desperation of these type of shows and illustrated by a clip of Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph performing an exotic dance, Ricky was able to persuade host Paul Merton to banish such shows into Room 101.

Trivia

• The 2001 show that Steve decried, raised £25 million for disabled and neglected children around the UK.

• Have You Ever by S Club 7 was the charity single for that year, reaching number one in the British charts.

• Lesley Joseph continues to be heavily involved with the Children in Need charity to this day.

External Links

• The BBC's Children in Need portal

• S Club 7 performing on Children in Need, November 2001

• Hollyoaks Hunks Calendar 2002