BBC’s The Big Night In assembles Doctor Who stars from past 50 years for emotional tribute to NHS
BBC's The Big Night In has rounded up Doctor Who stars from across its 50-year history for an emotional tribute to the NHS.
They will pay tribute to those who have been working tirelessly to treat patients and help save lives throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Ten Doctor Who stars from the past 50 years will come together to say thank you NHS staff on a star-studded BBC fundraising telethon later tonight at 7pm, an hour before the weekly Clap For Carers at 8pm.
The show will feature the current doctor Jodie Whittaker and a host of those who were in the role before her.
Comedian Peter Kay, The Vicar of Dibley and the legendary Catherine Tate will all also return during the three-hour special.
The show will make history as Children in Need and Sport Relief will unite for the first time ever.
The Doctor Who alumni have recorded a message thanking all NHS staff working on the front line for their efforts during the coronavirus crisis.
The actors taking part range from Tom Baker, who starred in the sci-fi drama from 1974-1981, to Whittaker and Jo Martin, who appeared as as a different version of the Doctor in two episodes earlier this year.
For the first time in a decade, the hilarious duo of Matt Lucas and David Walliams will re-unite to bring Little Britain to our screens once again.
Both Dawn French and Catherine Tate will be reviving their famous characters of The Vicar of Dibley and schoolgirl Lauren respectively.
The special one-off program aims to raise millions of pounds for vulnerable people around the UK who have been affected by COVID-19.
The government has promised to match all donations made by the public, with a minimum of £20 million.
At a very difficult and challenging time, the show pledges to "celebrate the acts of kindness, humour and the spirit of hope and resilience that is keeping the nation going".
A home video for a charity single will be shown, featuring Rita Ora, Dua Lipa and Chris Martin.
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The stars are very excited to put on this show for the NHS, as Davina McCall said: "It's so exciting to actually be able to do something positive... especially bringing Comic Relief and Children In Need together for one night only."
She added: "We're actually going to be in a studio, which I'm personally extremely excited about - being in the same room as other people."
Comedian Sir Lenny Henry told BBC Breakfast on Saturday: "The aim of the night is to let the key workers and the care workers know that we really respect what they're doing."
"We're all going to be socially distanced, and then do a bit, and then move away from each other, and then nearly everybody else is doing stuff from home or from a remote location. It's going to be great!"
Catch BBC's The Big Night In tonight at 7pm on BBC One.