Children in Need and Comic Relief to move to Salford

[XIII]

I think many West End shows were reluctant to do CIN or RND given it's on a Friday and it's a huge commitment. With the RVP, shows due to perform on it take that night off to travel to the venue in question.

[Flux]

I think many West End shows were reluctant to do CIN or RND given it's on a Friday and it's a huge commitment. With the RVP, shows due to perform on it take that night off to travel to the venue in question.

Personally, I don't think West End Shows should be anywhere near RND anyway - unless they're specifically a comedy-driven show. They're more than welcome on CIN though, and I think the move to Salford may simply mean we get more touring casts appearing - which is what tends to happen when shows appear on Blue Peter etc these days - rather than the West End/London casts. Or of course we'll see "Special performances" filmed at the show's home theatre rather than re-staged in the studio, or lead soloists making the appearance rather than full casts with the understudy/alternate thrown on stage to cover in London!

Announcing the move of both events together like this once again gets me worried about the eroding of RND's unique DNA. Last year's attempt was easily the weakest ever produced, not because of the limits of the pandemic but because they just produced a variety show which happened to include some comedy, and not an evening of comedy-driven entertainment. By lumping them together in announcements, it just feels more and more like the BBC are treating them like a package indistinguishable from each other.

If both shows are going to be annual going forward, I think it's more important than ever that their individuality is enhanced. Of course the money raising aspect is central to both, but RND should put the comedy first. Comedians hosting the show, sketches, stand-up routines. Leave the musical tributes, the Strictly specials and the opera singing celebrities to Children in Need.

[AxiosBrit67]

It was Comic Relief this year. Sport Relief has been in Salford since 2018.

One thing it will hit is any West End shows featuring after their performances in the later hours, assuming the later hours return.

Was this year Red Nose day still in Elstree?

[stewart_scott]

It was Comic Relief this year. Sport Relief has been in Salford since 2018.

One thing it will hit is any West End shows featuring after their performances in the later hours, assuming the later hours return.

Was this year Red Nose day still in Elstree?

I'm pretty sure it was, at BBC Elstree Centre.

[UTVLifer]

It was Comic Relief this year. Sport Relief has been in Salford since 2018.

One thing it will hit is any West End shows featuring after their performances in the later hours, assuming the later hours return.

Was this year Red Nose day still in Elstree?

I'm pretty sure it was, at BBC Elstree Centre.

Yes, Studio D

[stegb1987]

Yeah looks like Sport Relief is now RIP and Comic Relief is now annual like Children In Need starting next year

If this is true, It predicts will follow NBC's annual red nose day, which has been in place since the inception in 2015.

It is as confirmed on the Comic Relief website

[WillPS]

I wonder what this means for Strictly's yearly trip to Blackpool and the week of unadvertised illuminations that usually precedes it.

[Keith]

I wonder what this means for Strictly's yearly trip to Blackpool and the week of unadvertised illuminations that usually precedes it.

Probably nothing, considering that for the past few years Strictly and CiN have been using different studios. Strictly - George Lucas stage(?) at Elstree, CiN - Studio D at BBC Elstree.

[Stanley Matravers]

I think many West End shows were reluctant to do CIN or RND given it's on a Friday and it's a huge commitment. With the RVP, shows due to perform on it take that night off to travel to the venue in question.

RVP? ?

[stewart_scott]

I think many West End shows were reluctant to do CIN or RND given it's on a Friday and it's a huge commitment. With the RVP, shows due to perform on it take that night off to travel to the venue in question.

RVP? ?

Royal Variety Performance.

[UTVLifer]

I wonder what this means for Strictly's yearly trip to Blackpool and the week of unadvertised illuminations that usually precedes it.

Probably nothing, considering that for the past few years Strictly and CiN have been using different studios. Strictly - George Lucas stage(2) at Elstree, CiN - Studio D at BBC Elstree.

Yeah, SCD and CIN have been using different studios since the move from TVC in 2013

[Blobs]

A lot of those CIN west end performances are pre recorded aren't they? I don't know if they do it every year but a couple of years ago they pre recorded quite a lot of stuff in front of a daytime audience on the Wednesday. Mostly musical performances and things involving kids having to pretend to be suprised.

[Inspector Sands]

I wonder what this means for Strictly's yearly trip to Blackpool and the week of unadvertised illuminations that usually precedes it.

Probably nothing, considering that for the past few years Strictly and CiN have been using different studios. Strictly - George Lucas stage(2) at Elstree, CiN - Studio D at BBC Elstree.

Yeah, SCD and CIN have been using different studios since the move from TVC in 2013

The first two Comic Reliefs after TVC closed were done on OB: 2015 from The Palladium and 2019 from the O2