The biennial charitable extravaganza, as ever featuring a stellar cast of popular entertainers and aiming to raise millions of pounds to help those in need in the UK and Africa.

Jack Dee begins the night alone, outside, on a 60ft pole. Westlife undergo the red-spray treatment, Alistair McGowan performs a sketch and there's part one of Harry Potter and the Chamberpot of Azerbaijan, starring Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders , Jeremy Irons and Basil Brush.

7.30* A radical rethink causes chaos in an EastEnders special In the studio, Gareth Gates and the Kumars perform their Comic Relief single live. Then the moment of truth arrives for the victims of Celebrity Driving School - will Paul O'Grady pass his test, and is Jade Goody even alive after hers?

8.30* New hosts Ant and Dec take money from the rich and famous, there's part two of the Harry Potter special and Comic Relief reports on a miraculous story from Rwanda.

8.45* The week-long celebrity pop saga reaches its climax as Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley announce the winner of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy.

9.00* Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer present truly terrible magic and more. Then, in Celebrity Streetmate, two surprisingly single celebrities are dragged through the streets of London by Davina McCall in search of instant love.

9.45* Lenny Henry presents Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - the Red Nose Special.