Big Night In's Lenny Henry jokes missing Pudsy has been 'furloughed'

Lenny Henry joked that much-loved Children In Need character Pudsy had been furloughed after his co-hosts questioned the missing star.

The 61-year-old was joined by Davina McCall and Matt Baker in a bid to entertain the nation on the BBC's The Big Night In this evening.

For the first time ever, Children In Need and Comic Relief teamed up to celebrate unsung heroes and raise money for vulnerable people during the coronavirus pandemic.

But as they opened the show tonight, Matt noticed that legend Pudsy was missing.

Lenny Henry hosted The Big Night In tonight (BBC)

Joking about what they almost called this evening's programme, Matt said: "We almost called this thing Comics In Need, but that's a completely different thing altogether."

He then turned to Lenny and demanded to know: "What have you done with Pudsy?! Where is he?"

However poor Pudsy was sadly missing from the line-up (BBC)

"He's been furloughed," Lenny quipped. "I think he's at home watching Emmerdale."

Viewers were left in tears just minutes into tonight's show after cameras followed charity workers delivering food to vulnerable people.

One tweeted: "10 mins and already crying #TheBigNightIn."

While another commented: "why am i crying everything is fine #TheBigNightIn."

A third remarked: "crying already Loudly crying face #TheBigNightIn."

*Big Night In is available on BBC iPlayer