Red Nose Day 2025: Date, Total Raised, BBC TV Time & More

There’s something about pulling on a red nose that turns an ordinary Friday into a nationwide celebration. On March 21, 2025, millions across the UK helped Comic Relief raise £34 million on its 40th anniversary, with the BBC’s live broadcast and viral fundraising challenges.

Total Raised on Red Nose Day 2025: £34,022,590 ·
Date of Red Nose Day 2025: March 21, 2025 ·
Comic Relief Anniversary: 40th ·
BBC One Broadcast Start Time: 19:00 GMT

Seven key facts about Red Nose Day 2025, one pattern: all the essential data in one place.

What day is Red Nose Day 2025?

When is the official Red Nose Day date in the UK?

• March 21, 2025 – a Friday that marked Comic Relief’s 40th anniversary.

Red Nose Day 2025 took place on Friday, March 21, 2025, as confirmed by Timeout UK (UK lifestyle and events guide). The date was chosen to coincide with Comic Relief’s 40th anniversary – the charity was founded in 1985 by Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis (Calendarr).

The timing aligned with the traditional second half of March slot that the charity has used in recent years. While the US version of Red Nose Day was held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 (WinCalendar, US holiday calendar), the UK event remained firmly in its spring tradition.

The pattern: Red Nose Day’s date in late March has become a consistent spring tradition, with the 40th anniversary amplifying participation.

How much did Red Nose Day raise in 2025?

What was the total amount raised for Comic Relief in 2025?

• £34,022,590 from the BBC live broadcast and fundraising activities.

The final total announced during the evening was £34,022,590. That figure came from the BBC’s live broadcast, public donations, and corporate partnerships. According to Timeout UK (UK event coverage), this sum was collected through the traditional phone-in lines, online donations, and a stream of celebrity-led challenges aired on BBC One. The 2025 total exceeded the previous year’s £30 million estimate (Timeout UK).

The implication: Red Nose Day 2025 demonstrated that scaled-down live TV fundraising can still drive massive donor engagement when tied to a milestone anniversary.

When is Red Nose Day in 2026 and how did it start?

What is the history of Red Nose Day?

• Founded in 1985 by Richard Curtis and Lenny Henry as a response to famine in Ethiopia.
• First Red Nose Day event held in 1988.

When is the next Red Nose Day?

• Red Nose Day 2026 is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026.

Comic Relief was founded in 1985 by comedian Lenny Henry and screenwriter Richard Curtis, initially as a response to the Ethiopian famine (Calendarr). The first Red Nose Day took place three years later, in 1988 (Calendarr). The event has since raised over £1.6 billion cumulatively as of 2025.

Looking ahead, Red Nose Day 2026 is confirmed for Friday, March 13, 2026 (Calendarr). That shift from late March to mid-March marks a small but notable change in the calendar, possibly to avoid clashing with Easter or other spring holidays.

The pattern: Red Nose Day is an annual event, not biannual – a common misconception. The 40th anniversary in 2025 confirms its yearly rhythm since 1988.

What time is the BBC Red Nose Day 2025 show?

Is the Red Nose Day broadcast live on TV?

• Yes, live on BBC One from 19:00 to 22:00 GMT, followed by BBC Two from 22:00 GMT.

The main live show aired on BBC One from 7pm to 10pm on March 21, 2025. Hosts included Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan, and Alesha Dixon (Timeout UK, citing BBC lineup). After 10pm, coverage moved to BBC Two with Tom Allen and AJ Odudu (Timeout UK). The entire evening was also available on BBC iPlayer.

What this means: For viewers, the split between BBC One and BBC Two extended the live fundraising window, allowing later-timezone donors and night-owls to participate.

What are Red Nose Day dress up ideas?

What are some Red Nose Day dress up ideas?

• Wear red clothing, the iconic red nose, or themed costumes.

The traditional colour for Red Nose Day is red – think red T-shirts, red socks, red wigs, and of course the plastic red nose itself. Schools and offices often go for full costume themes: superheroes, animals, or funny outfits that spark conversation and donations. (Timeout UK) suggests that the sillier the costume, the more viral the social media posts – which drives giving.

The catch: While dressing up is fun, the real impact comes from coupling the outfit with a donation link or sponsorship page. A red nose alone raises nothing unless it’s tied to a fundraising account.

The trade-off: For UK fundraisers, the choice is clear: start planning early for March 13, 2026, or risk missing out on the momentum built in 2025. The £34 million bar is high – but the 40th anniversary showed what an engaged audience can do when the cause is right.

Red Nose Day FAQ