Celebrities including Geri Halliwell, Victoria Wood, Dawn French, Dervla Kirwan, Nick Hancock, Davina McCall, Mariella Frostrup, Griff Rhys Jones and Jamie Theakston are backing the appeal, which culminates in 1999's Red Nose Day on 12 March, which will feature a six-hour telethon on BBC One.

Comedian Lenny Henry said he wanted the appeal - which raises funds for the vulnerable and disadvantaged in Africa and the UK - to break all fundraising records.

Comedian Griff Rhys Jones, speaking at the launch in Leicester Square, London, said: "We want every person in the country to try to break some kind of record this year.

"Comic Relief is the best, there is no other fund raising system quite like it. All the money goes directly to the charity. So pick a nose and break a record."

The new-look red noses - which squeak when squeezed - have gone on sale for £1 in stores across the UK, with 70p going to Comic Relief.

Henry said: "This Red Nose Day Comic Relief aims to show that every single person in the country can be a record breaker.

'Coolest, hottest and wettest ideas'

"And that means thinking of the coolest, hottest, wettest and most brilliant fund-raising ideas ever to help the red nose posse make 1999 the Red Nose record breaker to beat all others.

"The needs in Africa and the UK are still great and we need everyone to get behind us, big time."

The last Red Nose Day, in 1997, raised more than £27m, with 3m people buying red noses. The first, in 1988, raised £15m.

Funds spent in Africa goes on long term development focusing on helping individuals help themselves. In The UK it goes on funding projects to support some of the most disadvantaged members of society.

Money is raised in three ways - through sponsored events organised by the public, sales of red noses and other products, and telephone donations on the night of Comic Relief.

Sponsored events include the Red Nose Row, in which every sports and fitness club in the country has been invited to take part in sponsored rowing machine event.

Griff Rhys Jones will also be inviting people to take part in a live televised sponsored gunge-dipping contest.

There will also be a Comic Relief single - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough get Going, by Boyzone.