You know the routine by now: let the children stay up a little late, don your red nose and get ready to donate, as television's finest entertainers prepare to make us chuckle for charity. It's the 25th anniversary of this kind-hearted TV telethon, and the roster of celebrities involved is not to be sniffed at.

Some familiar faces present the evening's festivities, including Dermot O'Leary, Michael McIntyre and Rob Brydon. Things kick off with Rowan Atkinson masquerading as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Jessie J shaving off her hair and One Direction performing their charity single One Way - let's hope David Cameron, who featured in the video, makes an appearance. Among the many other highlights is the cast of Call the Midwife cast performing a mini-episode featuring an unusual birth. Meanwhile, Homeland's Damian Lewis guest stars in a Vicar of Dibley special. Office fans will also be delighted to hear that David Brent returns to our screens, when Comic Relief switches over to BBC Two at 10.30pm. As ever, this is a full-on evening. There will be laughter, probably some tears, and hopefully a large sum raised at the end of it.

Comedy gold - Rowan Atkinson Live

These early sketches may feel outdated but their irresistible skill and silliness will have you sniggering like a schoolchild.

Rowan Atkinson's McLaren car costs insurers £1m

Rowan Atkinson landed his insurance company with a £910,000 repair bill after crashing his beloved McLaren F1 supercar, it has emerged.

Rowan Atkinson back on stage in 'serious' role

Rowan Atkinson, star of Blackadder, has returned to the West End stage in what he calls "the most... overtly serious role" he has ever undertaken.

theartsdesk Q&A: comedian Rowan Atkinson

The face of Blackadder and Mr Bean on a life spent entertaining and taking on a tragicomedy.

Rowan Atkinson preserves our right to be insulting

Ministers agreed to scrap a law outlawing 'insulting words or behaviour' last night after a campaign led by comedian Rowan Atkinson.

Hooray! - I discovered Rowan Atkinson's only ever radio series on 4 Extra. Originally broadcast in 1979, on Radio 3, The Atkinson People is a series of spoof interviews, written by Atkinson and Richard Curtis, with Atkinson playing all the parts. First up, Sir Corin Basin, actor, raconteur and crashing bore. There's no point in me retelling the jokes, as it's Atkinson's delivery - his vowels twanging and pinging, his intonation on a bungee jump - that really makes them funny. Just listen, it's a joy. Someone crack open the advocaat.

Here's something for all us anoraks, the first, indeed the only radio comedy by Rowan Atkinson, a 1979 four-part series, co-written by Atkinson and Richard Curtis (later to write Four Weddings and a Funeral and other big screen hits), produced by Griff Rhys-Jones (before he became a star comedian himself) and featuring Howard Goodall, now composer in residence and presenter on Classic FM. Each show is a pretend interview with a great man; tonight esteemed actor and almighty bore Sir Corin Basin.