TV appeal hits record total

Big-hearted Britain: Record pledges so far

Organisers of the BBC's 20th Children In Need appeal are resting after an epic night of celebrity appeals which raised a record £11.6m.

Last year's appeal raised £11.3m by the end of the night and the final total hit £20m - a record likely to fall this year.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen of Changing Rooms changes image

The 1999 show - hosted by Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin - saw the stars of EastEnders take a trip back to 1666 in a Children In Need special, Pudding Lane.

The Changing Rooms team - best known for transforming viewers' homes - turned their powers on themselves, appearing as the Village People to perform YMCA.

Sir Cliff Richard led many stars of the pop world who joined the appeal.

Boy band Another Level performed in Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff and London on the same night, while Martine McCutcheon sung this year's Children In Need single, Love Me, with 100 talented children.

Bob Monkhouse revives the Golden Shot

Steps, S Club 7, Mel C and Simply Red also took part and the entire audience were invited to join a synchronised medley of Beatles hits.

The cast of the West End production of The Lion King performed exclusively for the show and Bob Monkhouse revived the classic quiz The Golden Shot.

The appeal has been broadcast by the BBC since 1927, with the current television appeal starting in 1980. It has raised more than £255m since then.

Out of the £20m raised in 1998, grants given included £150 for five-a-side goals at Castlereagh Colts football club in Northern Ireland, and £500,000 to go to the Family Welfare Association to provide emergency funds for individual children.

Piccadilly Square: the latest regional total

There were also national and regional specials from around the UK. Fred MacAulay and Hazel Irvine fronted the show from BBC Scotland, which featured another boy band - 911.

In Wales, Animal Hospital's Rhodri Williams presented the programme, while Northern Ireland's coverage was led by Battersea Dogs' Home presenter Shauna Lowry.

Across England, presenters Michael Ball and Ainsley Harriott went back to Shakespearean times in Birmingham.

In the South East, Airport's Jeremy Spake broadcast from Heathrow Airport while in the South West the party came from Bristol.

A hundred children lined the streets for the celebrations in the North East and, in the North West, Change That's Mark Curry and Bullseye presenter Jim Bowen headed the show.

Viewers can donate by calling 08457 332233, or by visiting the Children In Need website, which has already received £101,943 in credit card donations.