Telly Talk: Well red!

Can you believe it, Comic Relief is 25 years old this year. That’s a whole voting person, who could then drive an articulated lorry, and then with enough time to actually get good at it and be trusted with a delicate cargo. Comic Relief may feel like it’s been around forever, but it’s still got a certain freshness and creativity about it that keep those red noses interesting (with feet this year) and comedians risking life and limb (going down a crocodile- and rapids-riddled African river in a very small boat). Plus, the way that the almost six-hour telethon is produced allows for bite-sized chunks and a contemporary attention span. If the special edition of EastEnders isn’t grabbing you – perhaps Shane Richie won’t burst into song, but it’s a longshot – then you know it won’t be long before there’s some other treat arriving, either the return of Ricky Gervais’ best-known creation David Brent, a ‘cook-off’ for Dame Edna Everage between Jack Whitehall and Micky Flanagan, or a Vicar Of Dibley special. Or something else that can equally fit into a YouTube clip file without too much bandwidth kerfuffle.

“Perhaps Shane Richie won’t burst into song, but it’s a longshot”

The producers are also very good at slipping the ‘worthy videos’ in amongst all the fun with a similar rhythm, decreasing the liklihood of its audience simply switching over for the less razzle-dazzle bits. They’re all short, there’s a fair bit of variety mixing causes at home as well as those abroad that will be addressed, and really they can be very informative.

That’s the thing about information delivered by those chiefly used to delivering jokes – comedians and comedy writers, including Comic Relief’s founder Richard Curtis – is that they know the importance of making sure a hard-hitting fact is packaged in just the right way. A lot of people may well learn more about topical events from topical comedy panel shows, as opposed to watching the news. I find I’m much happier sitting in front of Red Nose Day for a few hours than I ever am in front of Children In Need for half and hour. They’re roughly preaching the same message, but Comic Relief, for all its length, is arranged like a stand-up’s set list. There are three main acts, two on BBC1 and one on BBC2. There are comperes throughout, hurrying people through, and each act is treated as if it were a single topic, within a comedian’s set. It’s sharp, got the best bits it could offer, and then segues into the next bit. If a comedian doesn’t keep you interested in a club then drunken lively attention will wander.

This isn’t some shot in the dark format – it’s been tried and tested for… well for as long as stand-up comedy. And now it’s still working and keeping an epically long show feeling fresh and packed with delights.

Other highlights of the evening include Jessie J shaving her head live in the studio, the appearance of Miss Piggy, the cast of Fresh Meat going back to their roots, Citizen Khan comes down south, and Peter Kay is promising a very special physical challenge. All snippets, tightly wrapped up with informative and heartfelt pleas for your money. All the more necessary in times of austerity. As is a jolly good laugh!
Comic Relief – Funny For Money, BBC1 & BBC2, Friday 16 March 2013