Children in Need is just three hours this year from 7-10pm, with a film premiere at 10.45pm.
Not sure if that is for COVID reasons (less content is understandable) but considering a good £10m or so is usually raised post-10pm it's a shame. Even if they just had a Graham Norton special after the news it would feel a bit more complete.
The University Challenge special on BBC2 airs the night before at 10pm.
Children in Need is just three hours this year from 7-10pm, with a film premiere at 10.45pm.
Not sure if that is for COVID reasons (less content is understandable) but considering a good £10m or so is usually raised post-10pm it's a shame. Even if they just had a Graham Norton special after the news it would feel a bit more complete.
The University Challenge special on BBC2 airs the night before at 10pm.
Yes I had that confirmed in a Facebook message. Its a shame it's a short show but considering covid it's not surprising. Hopefully next year it's back to fill 6-7 hours.
The problem for Children in Need in recent years has been that a large chunk of the viewers leave the show at 10pm and never return, it always felt very flat for me, the post Ten O'Clock News slot since they moved to Elstree Studios.
Back in the day the post news slot would always mean looking forward to the BBC newsreaders routine, which really was the highlight of the evening, but apart from that, nearly all the best sketches and routines were saved for the early evening section.
In recent years have you noticed Children in Need finishing earlier than the usual 2am finish - past number of years they were off after midnight, with a usual late night repeat of the Children in Need concert.
It's a sensible decision. The post news slot has always been more repeats than anything. Better to put all the resources into a three hour show in primetime than pad after 10.35.
Even more strange considering that could somewhat fill the gap and get through to midnight with half an hour of highlights after.
Yes, post 10pm is often repeats and there is no post-pub audience in England this year, but it is a shame even if understandable as it will cost money, though perhaps not as much as a normal year.
I guess there will probably be no regional opts in England at least this year too.
It’s a shame they couldn’t make use of the empty theatres and the many of those working in the arts currently furloughed or out of work to at least put in some musical performances for charity.
Nonetheless with half a telethon night, no post-pub donations, mass unemployment and minimal opportunity for retail partners to raise money, there will likely be quite the shortfall in the total this year. But at least they’re bothering.