Over 2m raised by BBC Radio 2 listeners

BBC Radio 2 listeners have raised over £2m for for this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal.

It beats the £1,693,444 raised last year and includes £1.5m by Chris Evans’ auctions on his breakfast show.

Evans auctioned many prizes including drives in seven Ferrari sports cars, an 18 hole round of golf with himself, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Chubby Chandler at Sunningdale Golf Club, a game of Cricket against the Legendary charity team Bunbury’s and a five course dinner cooked by Giorgio Locatelli and his team from Locanda Locatelli.

A special Weekend Wogan live from London’s Savoy Theatre raised £59k, where Gary Barlow, Joss Stone, Michael Ball, The Ronnie Scott Jazz Band, Katie Melua and Englebert Humperdinck joined Sir Terry on stage.

On air on Sunday, Sir Terry said: “Thanks to every one of you that has bid in this auction for Things That Money Can’t Buy for Children In Need. On behalf of the children, on behalf or Britain’s children, thank you!”

Richard and Judy presented their first Radio 2 show together to launch the station’s Children in Need Jukebox where listeners pledged money for a chance to hear their favourite song. The Jukebox continued throughout Sunday afternoon in Michael Ball and Paul O’Grady’s show. In total the Children in Need Jukebox raised £210,882.

Phil Hughes, BBC Radio 2’s Editor comments: “Children In Need is one of the highlights in Radio 2’s calendar of events and I’d like to say a massive thank you to all of our listeners that have contributed to this year’s record breaking total.”

David Ramsden, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need said: “It is amazing that people across the UK have come together to raise the highest ever Appeal Night Total. Thank you so much for helping to change thousands of young lives across the UK.”

The Final On the Night Total for the entire event was £26,332,334.