The key facts

  • The Children In Need show will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 19:00 to 22:00 GMT on Friday
  • Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Anya Taylor-Joy will prank Rylan Clark in an interview about Dune: Part Three
  • Last year the appeal raised more than £45 million; the charity supports over 1,600 local charitable projects across the UK

Hollywood stars and young challengers in a charity telethon

The annual BBC Children In Need charity telethon will take place on Friday, broadcast live from Salford. As BBC News reports, one of the evening's biggest surprises will be a prank on TV presenter Rylan Clark: Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet, along with his Dune: Part Three co-stars Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Anya Taylor-Joy, will use three children hidden behind the scenes to make the presenter sweat during an interview about the new film.

The 'challenge squad' and a cycle ride across four nations

This year's campaign theme is Challenge Yourself 2026. At the heart of the show is the 'challenge squad' — four young people who have taken on personal missions for the charity. Harry, 22, who lives with the hidden effects of a brain tumour, will join radio presenter Owain Wyn Evans on the final leg of his 400-mile cycle ride through Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Zoe, 16, who has Down syndrome, will dance with the cast of the High School Musical musical (according to the BBC, Strictly professional dancer Amy Dowden helped her prepare); her peer Ana, who has a rare physical condition, will take on a three-day kayaking trip, and Serena, 22, will perform live in memory of her late brother and a childhood friend.

Context and scale of the campaign

The three-hour broadcast will be hosted by Alex Jones, Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Sara Cox and Tyler West. Other celebrities have joined the campaign: Morning Live presenters Michelle Ackerley and Gethin Jones learned to play instruments in order to perform with a band live, while Joe Wicks and Emma Bunton are also among the participants. Blackpool Tower, the London Eye and Titanic Belfast will be lit up in yellow. The Children In Need charity supports more than 1,600 local charitable organisations and projects across the UK; last year's fundraising total exceeded £45 million. The broadcast will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 19:00 to 22:00 GMT.

Rylan Clark and Timothee Chalamet, both seated, facing each other, smiling and shaking hands
Image caption,

Rylan is confused when an interview with Timothée Chalamet goes awry

A montage of Alex Jones, Rylan Clark, Mel Giedroyc, Tyler West and Sara Cox amid graphics of colourful balls and a Pudsey Bear illustration
Image caption,

Alex Jones, Rylan Clark, Mel Giedroyc, Tyler West and Sara Cox are the hosts for the live show

Owain Wyn Evans riding a yellow bike wearing a yellow Pudsey backpack
Image caption,

Owain Wyn Evans has been on the 4 Nations Cycle Challenge

16-year-old Zoe in a yellow T-shirt, smiling and dancing next to Amy Dowden, who's clapping with her mouth open in joy, in the Strictly Come Dancing studio
Image caption,

Zoe has prepared for her dancing challenge with the help of Strictly pro Amy Dowden

Jasmine smiling at the camera. She is wearing glasses and her hair is tied back. She is wearing a pink top.Two women - Lindsey Burrow and Amy Garcia - dressed in matching yellow hats with ear-like details, yellow T-shirts and pulling harnesses. They wave and smile while pulling a bright red cart along a stone-walled street. A spectator stands nearby and parked cars are visible in the background.Owain Wyn EvansHendrix, who is wearing a green hoodie and has a feeding tube through his nose, lies on a bed during osteopathic treatment