It's fair to say that Children in Need is a consistent part of our lives with the charity fundraising for more than half a century. And while money is raised throughout the year, all the efforts of the past 12 months are always celebrated and put into one big annual fundraising appeal in November.
The main mission is to "help ensure every child in the UK is safe, happy, secure and has the opportunities they need to reach their potential". And more than 2,500 local charities and projects currently receive funding from Children in Need.
This year, Children in Need launched this year's initiative by imploring you to do your part to change young lives with The Great SPOTacular Appeal Night. This year's theme encourages you to be SPOTacular with lots of fun ways to raise money and take part in the appeal. And Children in Need's 2022 campaign is all about Positive Relationships.
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It aims to shine a light on the need and importance of the positive relationships provided by project workers in grassroots organisations working with children across the UK as they work to address the direct effects of poverty.
And among the famous faces doing their bit this year are BBC Radio 2's Scott Mills spend 24 hours walking, jogging and running on a treadmill to raise money. The radio presenter will embark on the Great Scott TreadMills Challenge for Radio 2 on Wednesday, November 16 and finish the following day.
Also in the last couple of weeks, The One Show viewers may have seen presenters, Alex Jones, Ronan Keating and Jermaine Jenas, joining Children In Need's very own Surprise Squad across the country. Made up of five inspirational young people who have benefitted from BBC Children in Need funding, the Surprise Squad members have beenlending a hand as part of a series of challenges to give back to others being supported by BBC Children in Need.
Charity ambassador Joe Wicks MBE has also been taking part in a Walk with Joe initiative, encouraging people in communities across the UK to head to their local Parkrun event and walk the route with family and friends to boost their physical and mental wellbeing. Walkers were asked to donate what they can to BBC Children in Need.
And as part of Walk with Joe, the Body Coach himself will also be walking an epic 30-mile ultra-marathon. On Friday, Joe will start his walk in MediaCityUK and aim to finish in ten hours to reach the BBC Children in Need Great Spotacular Appeal Show. Along the way, Joe will be joined by special guests, including charity fundraisers and other celebrity friends. The event will be live-streamed on Joe’s Facebook and he’ll also face some unexpected surprises and challenges along the way.
When is 'Pudsey Day' and when is the big annual telethon?
Children In Need's big annual day, which may also be dubbed 'Pudsey Day', is on Friday, November 18 and coincides with Children in Need's Appeal Night show which will air on BBC One.
The telethon is due to start at 7pm and will finish at 10pm after three hours of sketches, specials and spoofs. And is is only the second edition of Children in Need to be filmed on home soil, with the line-up of hists coning live to your living rooms from Media City UK in Salford.
Hosting this year's Children in Need telethon are comedian Mel Giedroyc, presenter and former footballer Alex Scott, comedian Chris Ramsay, Paralympic athlete Ade Adepitan and Salford-born comedian Jason Manford will be making his Children In Need debut.
Which celebrities will be taking part, who is performing and what special shows and sketches can we expect?
As already mentioned, there will be a star-studded hosting line-up as well as plenty of famous faces popping up throughout the show, whether that be in sketches, to perform, or in pre-recorded films.
Bradley Walsh will be presenting a special version of Blankety Blank for Children in Need, featuring former Strictly Come Dancing stars Maisie Smith and John Waite. Romesh Ranganathan will also be presenting a special edition of The Weakest Link in the studio and while not hosting the show this year, Graham Norton is set to appear as he invites a line-up of celebrities to take on his red chair.
And get your tissues at the ready as The Repair Shop team will share a very special restoration story. Performing for Children In Need this year will be Lewis Capaldi, dance troupe Diversity and the BBC Children in Need choir with a special rendition of Keane's Somewhere Only We Know. Meanwhile, Junior Eurovision's UK act will also perform the song they'll be competing with live on TV for the very first time.
Where can I get merchandise such as t-shirts and Pudsey ears?
The BBC has an online Children in Need shop which provides a wide range of feel-good merchandise. All the funds from purchases will go towards helping the charity in its activities.
Supermarket Asda also has a range of Children in Need merchandise you can get your hands on. The retailer has a huge range of clothing on sale including the official t-shirt in yellow and black, a Pudsey monochrome cardigan, socks, slippers and a sequin design t-shirt. You can find out more here.
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