Post by Taxigirl on Nov 21, 2003 10:16:16 GMT
;DChildren in Need organisers are hoping to raise at least £26 million in the 24th televised BBC appeal on Friday.
The seven-hour TV extravaganza will include a remake of The Wizard Of Oz with the cast of EastEnders, Holby City, Casualty and Merseybeat.
Proceeds of the appeal will go towards helping youngsters affected by homelessness, HIV, sexual abuse and drug addiction.
Last year's appeal raised a total of more than £26 million.
The TV appeal will feature this year's Children in Need single, a cover of the Wham hit, I'm Your Man, by actor Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon in EastEnders.
Celebrity chefs Ainsley Harriott and Antony Worrall Thompson will recreate a famous Morecombe and Wise kitchen sketch.
Meanwhile, pop stars including the Cheeky Girls, Holly Valance and Sophie Ellis Bextor will be performing from Weymouth, Stoke and Maidstone respectively.
BBC news presenters are also doing their bit. They donated some of their most treasured possessions for auction - with the winning bids to be revealed on Friday.
Items up for grabs included everything from ties and lucky pens, to a stunning designer dress chosen for Sophie Raworth by Trinny and Suzannah from BBC Two's What Not to Wear.
Thousands of people and businesses across the country have been holding their own fundraising events for the annual appeal.
Among them are two pub workers from Wales who were inspired to 'do a David Blaine' by spending 30 hours in a cage suspended 30ft above the River Dee.
Andrew Coke and Steve Roberts from The Boat Inn in Erbistock near Wrexham, climbed into their box at 1530GMT on Thursday and will re-emerge at 2130GMT on Friday.
BBC Children in Need started in 1980, and has raised more than £325 million.