Comic Relief. Copyright: BBC
Comic Relief

Comic Relief

  • TV variety
  • BBC One
  • 1988 - 2024
  • 21 episodes

Every two years the biggest British comedy stars and shows come together to raise money for charity. Stars Lenny Henry, Jonathan Ross, Griff Rhys Jones, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and more.

Episode menu

Comic Relief 1997

This year's Comic Relief has a distinctly hairy new look, with shaggy red noses and Lenny Henry in a furry suit.

Further details

7pm - Lenny Live and Luscious

Lenny Henry whips the studio audience into a frenzy as he kicks off more than eight hours of comedy, music and powerful documentary.

At 7.10: The Great Big Stupid Celebrity Sketch Show: Frank Bruno and Sally Gunnell are among stars acting strangely.

7.20: Susan Tully reports on the hardships of Ghanaian children who live and work on the streets to survive.

7.30: Gladiators Go Ga Ga: Ulrika Jonsson and John Fashanu try to keep order as gladiators Rhino and Wolf take on two unlikely contenders - EastEnder Nigel and Ash from Casualty.

7.45: Only Fools and Horses Red Nose Exclusive: David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst return as Del Boy and Rodders in a recording made specially for Red Nose Day.

8pm - Dame Edna Makes the Nation See Red

Housewife superstar Dame Edna Everage takes the helm.

8.05: University Challenge Challenges Coronation Street: The Street's Vera, Curly, Gail and Jim answer questions posed by Jeremy Paxman.

8.10: Victoria Wood looks at the problems of carers like June, who tends to her sick husband 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

8.15: More of The Great Big Stupid Celebrity Sketch Show: Starring, among others, Desmond Lynam, Jimmy Hill and Mystic Meg.

8.30: The Spice Girls: The all-girl group sing for Comic Relief.

8.40: BallykissDibley: Ballykissangel's Father Clifford (Stephen Tompkinson) comes to Dibley, and vicar Geraldine (Dawn French) falls for him.

9pm - News

Comic Relief continues on BBC2 from 9 to 9.30pm

9:30pm - French and Saunders Behaving Badly

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are the next hosts.

9.35: The Great Big Stupid Celebrity Sketch Show 3. Question Time with Peter Sissons, Jeffrey Archer and model Caprice.

9.45: Julie Walters and the Street Kids of Addis Ababa from Ethiopia.

9.55: Boyzone singing Love Me Tender.

10.00: Men Behaving Very Badly Indeed: Will Gary (Martin Clunes) and Tony (Neil Morrissey) meet Kylie Minogue?

10.15pm - Ross, Rhys, Enfield and Chums

With Jonathan Ross, Griff Rhys Jones and Harry Enfield and Chums.

10.30: Prime Cracker: Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) and Fitz (Robbie Coltrane) combine Prime Suspect and Cracker.

10.40: Tony Ferrino and Bjork: Steve Coogan duets with the Icelandic singer.

10.45: Jennifer Saunders - Don't Give Up: Battered women tell their stories.

11pm - Father Ted and His Faithful Friends

Fathers Ted and Dougal bless the screen with their presence.

11.05: Angus Deayton in Burkina Faso: How a desert has been turned green.

11.15: Furry Funny Fluffs: TV bloopers.

11.20: The Great Big Stupid Celebrity Sketch Show: Featuring Michael Parkinson in a wedding dress.

11.30pm - The Empire Strikes Back - Live From Shepherd's Bush Empire

With Steve Coogan, the Spice Girls and Spice Girl wannabes the Sugar Lumps - French & Saunders, Kathy Burke, Llewella Gideon and Lulu.

12:30am - Bedtime with Ben

Ben Elton presents the final Great Big Stupid Celebrity Sketch Show

Plus, tonight's phone pledge total is announced.

1am - Comic Relief: the Beginning

Live at the Shaftesbury Theatre, the very first Comic Relief show from 1986.

2.30am - Billy Connolly's Return to Nose and Beak

The comedian makes a return trip to Mozambique to see how it has recovered from civil war.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 14th March 1997
Time
7pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
480 minutes

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