Doing their bit for Children in Need

It promises to be a star-studded night of fun and fundraising for a good cause, and this Friday's Children in Need telethon should be the biggest and best yet.

People all over the country will be performing wacky stunts and digging deep into their pockets for the 26th annual BBC event, not to mention a few well-known faces making fools of themselves for charity.

Madonna, the casts of Casualty and EastEnders, Bruce Forsyth, Rod Stewart and many more stars will join the dependable Terry Wogan, who is appearing this year with Top of the Pops host Fearne Cotton and the ubiquitous Natasha Kaplinsky.

Terry Wogan says: “It's another show jam-packed with money-raising madness and I am excited to be joined by my new co-stars, Fearne Cotton and Natasha Kaplinsky. I just hope these two young ladies can keep up with me!”

The broadcaster's TV and radio teams in Norfolk will also be doing their bit in the national BBC event.

BBC Look East presenters Stewart White and Julie Reinger will be on the ski slopes at Xscape in Milton Keynes, broadcasting live for BBC Children in Need on BBC 1.

And there's a world record attempt taking place on the EDF Energy skating rink outside the Forum in Norwich, which the programme will be covering live.

BBC Radio Norfolk is also doing its bit by challenging the Broads Authority to a canoe race on Whitlingham Broad in Trowse, near Norwich between 12.30pm and 2pm.

However the fundraising process is already well under way.

It kicked off on Sunday night with The Great Big Bid, a star-studded charity auction, which is continuing throughout the week.

All kinds of items are up for grabs on eBay, ranging from a copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire signed by author J K Rowling - for which the latest bid is £4151 - to a pair of gloves worn in Kim and Aggie's How Clean is Your House? for which some charitable person has bid £102.

Viewers can also bid for the chance to meet the stars, or alternatively have their stars read.

You can try to win tea at The Ritz with actor Joseph Fiennes, or go for a private consultation with top astrologer Jonathan Cainer.

And if bidding hundreds of pounds is a step too far for your bank account, you can also do your bit by entering the Bid for a Quid competition by phone or text message. Prizes on offer include a golf lesson with Nick Faldo.

Children in Need is live on BBC 1 from 7pm on Friday November 18.

A SELECTION OF EVENTS THIS FRIDAY

t BBC Radio Norfolk presenters Chris Goreham, Richard Hancock, Wally Webb, Neil Adams and Kirsteen Thorne will be paddling for Pudsey while Roy Waller provides live on-air commentary. An on-air auction, hosted by breakfast presenter Stephen Bumfrey, will take place during the day and later Stephen will be pulling on his trainers for a fundraising obstacle race in the Forum, Norwich, compered by Big Brother star Craig Coates, between 6pm and 7.30pm. Craig will also be doing an exclusive webchat on www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk at 5pm.

t Swaffham's Iceni Partnership and the local Lions are holding a Children in Need coffee morning at Swaffham Community Centre from 9.30am to 1pm. Collections will take place at Waitrose during the day and in the town pubs during the evening.

t A fancy dress 1970s and 1980s disco is being held at the Duke's Head Hotel, King's Lynn, (7.30pm-midnight), with classic hits from both decades. Tickets costing £5 are available from the hotel. Organiser Andrew Goss will welcome donations for raffle prizes or to auction on eBay. He can be contacted on 01945 880292 or at healinghounds@ hotmail.co.uk.

t The One-Stop shop on Reffley Lane, King's Lynn, will be staging a host of fundraising activities throughout the day, including a sponsored silence, a tombola and nail art. There will also be a mystery figure on an exercise bike outside the store.

t Staff at a Norwich and Peterborough building society branch are going back to the 1950s to help raise money for Children in Need. The branch at 7 High Street in Downham Market is holding a fun day. All the staff will be dressed for the day in Fifties fashion - meaning swinging skirts and beatniks will be rocking round the branch. During the day staff at the branch will be recording the number of customers they serve and for every customer served during the day 50p will be given to the appeal.

t N&P is an official collecting agent for Children in Need and anyone that visits the branch will be able to pay their donation into a CIN account.

t Norwich musician Graham McGrotty has organised a special tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll in aid of Children in Need.

One Night with Elvis takes place at The Holiday Inn, Norwich City Airport (formerly known as the Hilton Hotel). Graham has played guitar with the Supremes, the Drifters and also spent several years touring with the stage production of the Blues Brothers. He has put together the band for the evening which will be joined by singer Dale Corcoran, who has recently performed in Elvis tributes with the Lee Vasey band and on cruise ships. He has also appeared with the Fab Beatles. Tickets cost £26, including a three course dinner, and are available by calling the hotel on 01603 410544. A raffle will also be held with all money raised on the evening going to Children in Need.

t Radio London DJ Mike Read will be travelling by rail from London Liverpool Street to Norwich station, playing his guitar and singing as a street busker. The former Radio One star will arrive at Norwich at 12.27pm, having stopped off at Colchester and Ipswich en route, and will then perform before presenting his Radio London show live from Norwich station concourse, through until 5pm.