Children In Need viewers reduced to tears by Sir Terry Wogan tribute

Sit Terry Wogan was synonymous with Children In Need, so it was fitting that the show paid tribute to him on this year’s show.

The veteran broadcaster hosted the annual BBC event for 35 years until 2015 when poor health forced him to pull out. He passed away in January last year after a battle with cancer.

Graham Norton and Joanna Lumley led the tribute, with the Irish presenter telling the audience: “We’ll never forget that one man above all other made Children In Need what it is today – the late, great Sir Terry Wogan.”

Joanna continued: “He was just the best friend, he was the funniest man, he was the kindest man and he adored Children In Need… I loved him.”

Viewers were reduced to tears by the sentiment.

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And many expressed how much they still miss him.

The Children In Need 2017 charity event raised more than £50.1 million in another record-breaking year.

A total of £50,168,562 was donated to the cause thanks to Friday’s star-studded TV appeal – eclipsing last year’s figure of £46.6 million and marking the highest on-the-night total to date.

Announcing the amount, presenter Rochelle Humes said: “Sir Terry would be so unbelievably proud.”

The charity spectacular delighted audiences with a number of TV treats, including a sneak peek of this year’s Call The Midwife Christmas special, a teaser from the festive episode of Doctor Who, which will see Peter Capaldi’s final outing as the Time Lord, and a surprise revelation from Peter Kay that popular comedy show Car Share would return for a series finale.

There was also a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link, won by Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu, and performances from stars such as Rita Ora, Ore Oduba, The Vamps, Jason Derulo, Beverley Knight, Amber Riley and Cassidy Janson.

Former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry was named winner of the Children In Need Strictly Come Dancing special after impressing judges with his high kicks, while the cast of EastEnders donned old-fashioned costumes for a medley of classic musical numbers in Albert Square, including tracks from Oliver!, Les Miserables and Mary Poppins.

In a Children In Need first, the cast of Countryfile also had a go at their own medley, opting for hit country tunes from John Denver, Dolly Parton and Nancy Sinatra.

A number of other BBC programmes also helped raise money for the charity, including a massive £7.7 million from Radio 2.

A grand total of £7,697,361 was raised after a record-breaking auction of once-in-a-lifetime events were sold off on Chris Evans’s Breakfast Show, including dinner with Take That, a one-off Peter Kay show, a foodie experience with TV chef Tom Kerridge and a meeting with Cher.

The generous offers helped the station smash its 2016 contribution to the Children In Need Appeal, which reached a final total of £5,813,784.

Meanwhile, The One Show concluded its traditional 500-mile rickshaw ride with presenter Matt Baker at the helm, totting up a record-breaking total of £5,063,230.

Actress Joanna Lumley presented the Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser Of The Year Award – and Katie Melua performed this year’s Children In Need charity single: her rendition of Fields Of Gold.

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Simon Antrobus, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “People across the UK should feel really proud of what has been achieved.

“The remarkable generosity shown tonight really will go on to make a lasting, positive difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people all across the UK. Thank you.”