Get set for Sport Relief Weekend
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We've been planning Sport Relief 2010 for two years and finally it's here.
We have the most amazing weekend in store for you, but as you know it has already been an incredible campaign. The fund raising has got off to a great start as a result of some astonishing sporting challenges:
There was The One Show's Christine Bleakley who water skied the Channel despite having hardly ever water skied before and who can forget Blue Peter's incredibly gutsy Helen Skelton who kayaked the Amazon, breaking world records on the way.
We had two awe-inspiring bike feats, with former England rugby union captain Lawrence Dallaglio battling through Europe taking in all the Six Nations venues, while David Walliams and his celebrity team of cyclists raised over a £1m with their non-stop dash from John O'Groats to Lands End.
Fundraiser Phil Packer and Kate Silverton braved the Three Peaks, and in Scotland Fred MacAuley and Dougie Vipond paddled up the unforgiving Caledonian Canal.
Then on radio, we've had 5live's Danny Baker promoting The Shirt of Hurt - as an Everton fan I've managed to avoid wearing the red of Liverpool so far - and there's poor old Radio One DJ Scott Mills, who is rounding off the Sport Relief challenges with his extreme Miles this week, including doing one in a sewer!
And who did it all start with? Eddie Izzard. I still find it incredible to think he managed 43 marathons in 51 days.
They will all be featured during Friday's amazing night of TV starting at 1900 GMT on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One. And what a glittering line-up we have.
Its been great fun filming all the treats for you. James Corden is back as 'Smithy', coaching the biggest names in world sport and he makes a surprise appearance at Sports Personality of the Year.
My funniest moment of the filming happened at Manchester United's training ground - Smithy was wearing pink socks and a leotard, and all the players were doing aerobics in the background.
But then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and the England manager Fabio Capello entered the room and wondered what exactly we were up to! Luckily they were great sports and left Smithy alone with the players!
We also have a very special edition of Ashes to Ashes which is not be missed - watch out for a host of sporting heroes, plus a great performance from Sir Michael Parkinson as you've never seen him before.
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Meanwhile, the presenters rise to the challenge in Masterchef, which Gary Lineker affectionately keeps calling "Disasterchef" whenever I speak to him.
There are also special editions of Question of Sport, with Frank Skinner in the hot seat for one night only - Zara Phillips proves again what a great sport she is. Don't miss The One Show as you've never seen it before, while the England rugby union team gain inspiration from Stephen K Amos as Nelson Mandela.
And if that wasn't enough, we've also got performances from the biggest names in music at the moment - Cheryl Cole, JLS with Lemar and Robbie Williams to name just a few.
It will be a jam-packed seven hours of Friday-night entertainment - all for a very worthy cause. Don't miss it!
Also on Friday, schools all over the UK will be doing so many amazing things to raise money which will go towards helping vulnerable people both here at home.
My three children will be doing the Mile over an assault course at their local school in Marple and they're taking part in the Manchester Mile on Sunday.
They are thrilled that they have the chance to run down Coronation Street! Thousands of you from all over the UK will also be taking part in events all over the UK. And for the first time ever, we have the first major international mile event in Cape Town, South Africa - sporting legends Alan Shearer and Kelly Holmes will be there for us.
You can watch it all on Sunday at 1605 GMT on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One with a special 90-minute show which culminates with the fundraising total revealed.
Fingers crossed we'll beat the 2008 figure of over £28m. Whatever happens it will be an incredible weekend which wouldn't be possible without all the support received from the stars of sport and entertainment and, most importantly, you the general public, for doing your bit by taking part and donating.
Comment number 1.
At 18th Mar 2010, Jupiter wrote:Where does all the money go?
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Mar 2010, ANCELOTTERI wrote:1st
i can die a happy man now
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Mar 2010, ANCELOTTERI wrote:ahh damn you murray
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Comment number 4.
At 18th Mar 2010, Nick wrote:So whilst all these celebrities were out having fun water skiing, cycling in a relay and kayaking can you tell me how much it cost for all the back up that they had? Did the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ pay for this or was it free? How can the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ send Shearer and Holmes down to South Africa for a few days!! Are they paying for the flights themselves?
It seems that a lot of these stunts are more like a jolly for them. Who wouldn't or couldn't do a lot of these things with the right preparation.
The only one that deserves any plaudits for me seems to be Eddie Izzard and how much effort he put on the line and what his body must have suffered during and a while after as well.
It seems to me that every 6 months the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is putting on either Children in Need, Sports Relief or Comic Relief and asking us to put our hands in our pockets for some charity or another whilst wasting money on building studios that cost a reported £1 million with the cost of the 5 star accommodation for over 250 people at the World Cup just because they didn't like the view where everyone other broadcaster is based in Johannesburg.
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Comment number 5.
At 18th Mar 2010, Nick wrote:1hr 15mins and all comments are still awaiting moderation!!! What is happening to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ blogs these days?
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Comment number 6.
At 18th Mar 2010, Gavelaa wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 7.
At 18th Mar 2010, Storm of Swords wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 8.
At 18th Mar 2010, Alex Sugden wrote:serious respect to wayne rooney for being such a good sport in that little video!
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Comment number 9.
At 18th Mar 2010, MUFC 1902 - This Is The One wrote:What do Cheryl Tweedy and JLS have to do with this? Who cares about them? Only a few mindless sheep and thats all!
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Comment number 10.
At 18th Mar 2010, william wrote:Ashes to Ashes is set in the 80's now, so no real need for so many comments being hit by the mod's and rockers of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ!
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Comment number 11.
At 19th Mar 2010, Wireless Enthusiast wrote:Can I donate money on the proviso that James Corden never appears on television ever again?
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Comment number 12.
At 19th Mar 2010, Matt Pickers wrote:So have read the above comments and am astounded.
Firstly for those complaining about the line up, if it causes you a problem, don't watch.
Secondly to the person that states Water skiing across the channel or cycling from John O Groats to Lands End is a jolly you obviously have no idea.
Thirdly the people that are doing these things are putting their name to it as famous people to encourage people to give money. If none celebs did it would the charity really realise the full charitable potential of the exercise?
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Comment number 13.
At 19th Mar 2010, Rabster wrote:#11 I will do likewise.
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Comment number 14.
At 19th Mar 2010, woodsforthetrees wrote:I'm with you Matt (#12). I'm sure kayaking down the Amazon would be an amazing experience, but I wouldn't have though it was the easiest of tasks!! I suppose we can assume that those who are criticising above will be keeping their hands firmly in their pockets.....as I'm sure they usually do anyway
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Comment number 15.
At 19th Mar 2010, JuanIanofEnstone wrote:I'm with # 11 and # 13 - that would be worth a lot of money!
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Comment number 16.
At 19th Mar 2010, Hyperstar wrote:Shouldn't Sport Relief have the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport logo?
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Comment number 17.
At 19th Mar 2010, Daneland wrote:Interesting to see Christine manage to raise, (after taking out Sports Relief Administration costs) roughly Adrian Chiles' salary for a year.
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Comment number 18.
At 19th Mar 2010, Daneland wrote:This blog is hardly overworked but moderation is taking for ever.
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Comment number 19.
At 19th Mar 2010, tyroneshoelaces wrote:#12 Matt Pickers
So you think charity needs the famous.
Oxfam & Worldvision manage without massaging the egos of Z listers.
This will raise money for charity, but will do a lot more for those desperate to raise their media profiles.
Did you see the poster - £20 will buy 100 breakfasts. Wow, some of these 'celebs' (for want of a better expression) will spent that 5 times that much on a starter thhis weekend.
Still to come, 2 successful businessmen, desperate for attention - just give some of your wealth without publicity.
Cynical, definitely.
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Comment number 20.
At 19th Mar 2010, Daneland wrote:What is the point of this blog spot if the postings are not published until after the show is practically over.
(in the voice of Catherine Tate's Nana) What a liberty!
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Comment number 21.
At 19th Mar 2010, jadedoldie wrote:Have tried to watch Sports Relief, but can't hear anything the presenters say for the noise of them patting themselves on the back!
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Comment number 22.
At 19th Mar 2010, Daneland wrote:In the time it has taken for this posting to be moderated Eddy Izzard could have run two marathons.
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Comment number 23.
At 19th Mar 2010, jadedoldie wrote:My word, the moderators here are even slower than the TOSblog moderators, and that's no mean feat!!!
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Comment number 24.
At 20th Mar 2010, kevin wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 25.
At 20th Mar 2010, ravenheart wrote:If all the over-paid, millionaire celebrities and sports stars involved in this gave "as much as they can" instead of jumping at the chance for some good publicity, there would be half as much need for this in the first place.
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Comment number 26.
At 20th Mar 2010, Daneland wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 27.
At 3rd Apr 2010, Jordan D wrote:Happy to post about Sport Relief, but nothing about the Return of the Boat Race to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ?
So very disappointing.
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At 9th Apr 2010, janetxxx wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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At 9th Apr 2010, janetxxx wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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At 9th Apr 2010, janetxxx wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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At 22nd Apr 2010, jese wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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At 29th Apr 2010, joe cole wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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At 4th Dec 2010, Kevin wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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