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Why Olivia Dean is Britain’s big hope at the 2026 Grammy Awards

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Why Olivia Dean is Britain’s big hope at the 2026 Grammy Awards

UK culture is cool again in the States. Hamnet is vying for the Oscars, Adolescence is still a darling of the TV world, Harry Styles is playing 30 nights at Madison Square Garden… Now another British export is poised to triumph on the international stage: Olivia Dean, who’s competing in the coveted Best New Artist category at the Grammys. She’s one of the most exciting British prospects in years, not least because she’s managed that rarest of feats and broken the US, with just two albums to her name. And she’s managed to do it while maintaining a clear sense of individuality, a classic soul sound combined with sharp, pertinent lyrics about modern love.

Nominated after the runaway success of her second album, 2025’s The Art of Loving, the 26-year-old Dean has fast become one of the UK’s biggest music exports. The London-born Brit School graduate has been on a flawless run from fresh-faced newcomer to established star, taking in film soundtracks (the optimistic “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy) and high-profile appearances at Wimbledon, film premieres and sitting in the front row for top designers at London Fashion Week. Before last year, she had modest success with her debut album Messy – a luxurious work full of introspective musings on relationships, identity and love. It was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2023 (won by jazz group Ezra Collective, with whom she’s also collaborated), placing at No 4 on the UK charts. So far, so good. Next, she and her team at Capitol Records (backed by the wider major label, Universal) built a studio in a renovated east-London house, “the House of Loving”, where she holed up for two months working on her second album.

Upon its release she clocked three simultaneous Top 10 singles, making her the first British female solo artist to do so since Adele back in 2021. Her arena tour proved to be one of this year’s hottest tickets; the first two dates at London’s O2 Arena sold out in minutes, as did the next two that were added. The Art of Loving itself is brilliant, tip-toeing a line between breezy and profound by melding Dean’s inviting tones with lyrics that tap into her generation’s conflicted feelings around love, romance and communication. “Nice to Each Other” (my personal favourite over the bigger hit, “Man I Need”) is a fantastic, gentle riposte to the kind of man who loves to dub women the hysterical ones, while getting all worked up over “what we are”. She encourages him to “meet me on the mountaintop/ I’ll be in the shallow end/ And wait for you to call it off/’Cause I don’t want a boyfriend.”

Effortless: Olivia Dean explores themes of love, romance and communication on her second album

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Effortless: Olivia Dean explores themes of love, romance and communication on her second album (Olivia Dean)

“Man I Need” is excellent too, light and full of sunshine, while the exquisite torch song “Loud” emulates Adele’s James Bond theme “Skyfall” with those tantalising key changes, as Dean calls out the man who ghosted her: “And you weren’t allowed/ To come around and throw my heart about/ To turn me on just to turn me down/ And everything’s unspoken now/ I’m out, the silence is so loud.” Orchestral strings add elegance without feeling overblown, and quickly give way to the pared-back sound of Dean’s upright piano, her parting words: “I understand if you changed your mind about me/ But all you had to do was say.”

Around the time her tour went on sale, I saw a few TikToks from pop commentators questioning how Dean had blown up the way she had, seemingly with no “viral” singles (this was before “Nice to Each Other” and “Man I Need” really took off). One thing I’m convinced had a hand in it was her spots opening for rock singer Sam Fender, including at his huge London Stadium show in June, when they also released their yearning duet, “Rein Me In”. Some raised eyebrows at the choice – how would Dean’s sweet-voiced soul pair with Fender’s socially sharp rock’n’roll? To me, though, it was a genius move that placed her in front of Fender’s very engaged fanbase, who happen to be buying more music than most (his latest album, the Mercury Prize-winning People Watching, was the fastest-selling vinyl album of the century by a British artist and the biggest-selling UK vinyl of 2025).

Long before that, though, Dean was grafting steadily, honing her craft both in the studio and onstage. At Montreux Jazz Festival in 2023, I was blown away by her gorgeous rendition of early single “Dive” for The Independent’s Music Box sessions, as well as her sheer professionalism and artistry. She commands a room, enjoying an easy chemistry with her band and offering glimpses of the joy she takes in music with the flash of a grin or an ad lib. It’s a rare gift, to make what she does look so effortless.

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Dean is, surely, the perfect Grammy winner. There’s a timelessness to her music that screams longevity, rather than a flash-in-the-pan jumping on current pop trends. She’s a huge commercial success (another big tick for Grammy voters) but artistically excellent, too; her songwriting has the capacity to start conversations, while also selling out stadiums. In terms of her competition this year, we have her fellow Brit, Lola Young. While she went viral with her single “Messy”, Young has yet to achieve the same kind of eye-widening stats as Dean, and her own lyrics (which I love) might be considered a touch too explicit for those notoriously prudish judges.

US pop star Addison Rae could be a contender, though again lacks the commerciality that judges love. Alex Warren can claim one of the biggest songs of 2025, “Ordinary”, but it was also, well, very ordinary, particularly in comparison to his fellow nominees. It would also be quite the coup for Dean to win, as it would continue a current eight-year streak of Best New Artist being claimed by women. The last male act to win was Chance the Rapper in 2017; since then it has been won by Canadian singer Alessia Cara, alt-pop queen Billie Eilish, rapper Megan Thee Stallion, pop-rock singer Olivia Rodrigo, jazz singer Samara Joy, R&B singer Victoria Monét and, most recently, pop star Chappell Roan. A win for Dean would be a suitable reminder of how women continue to dominate pop, while also marking the first British triumph in that category since Dua Lipa in 2019.

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Really, it should be so easy for the Grammys to fall in love with her – Dean made an entire album, after all, teaching us how to do it.

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Liverpool boost as key PSG star could miss both Champions League quarter-final matches

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Liverpool boost as key PSG star could miss both Champions League quarter-final matches

Despite the possible absence of Barcola – who has been linked with a transfer to Anfield plenty in the past – for both games against Liverpool, PSG boss Luis Enrique still has a wealth of other attacking options to choose from, with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele likely to be joined in a three-man attack by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, availability permitting.

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Gang of youths target car full of women at McDonald’s in Edinburgh

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Daily Record

Footage appeared to show the group of around eight teenagers slamming the vehicle at the McDonald’s restaurant on Telford Road in Edinburgh.

Youths attack student’s car at Edinburgh McDonalds restaurant

A gang of youths have been caught on video targeting a car full of female students on St Patrick’s Day.

Footage appeared to show the group of around eight teenagers slamming the vehicle at the McDonald’s restaurant on Telford Road in Edinburgh. The incident unfolded at around 5pm on Tuesday, with one woman describing feeling ‘terrified’ by the actions of the ‘aggressive youths.’

The females, all aged between 18 and 19, filmed the ordeal and could be heard screaming after one lad tried to open a car door. The clip also appeared to show several members of the group draped in Ireland flags.

One woman claimed the feral gang had targeted staff at the fast food restaurant before turning on their vehicle. They were first attacked by the youths at the drive thru before they chased the car after spotting it in the McDonald’s car park.

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She told Edinburgh Live: “My friends and I went to McDonald’s to try the new menu. When we went through the drive thru, we were receiving our food, when a group of young boys appeared acting aggressively towards us and the workers.

“They continued to escalate their behaviour as they started hitting the car and trying to open the doors, leaving us girls terrified by this threat and invasion of space.

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“We continued to drive away and these boys continued to follow us chasing the car and shouting rude and cruel language as we drove off.

“It has had a psychological impact and I would like this behaviour to stop as it is harassment.”

Police Scotland have been contacted by the Record for comment.

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Children help design road safety signs in Durham City

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Children help design road safety signs in Durham City

Pupils from St Oswald’s CE Primary School in Durham City took part in a workshop organised by Durham County Council, creating two new signs to encourage slower driving and increased awareness of pedestrians.

The project aims to raise awareness of a reduced speed limit that applies outside the school during drop-off and pick-up times.

Four pupils who took part in theworkshop along with school’s headteacher, Donna Wilson-Smith (Image: DCC)

Councillor Tim McGuinness, cabinet member for rural, farming and transport at Durham County Council, said:
“These workshops are a fantastic way to engage with schoolchildren and teach them about road safety.

“By combining their knowledge of road safety with their new illustration skills, pupils have created two fantastic murals that they can be proud of.

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“The signs also help to encourage drivers to slow down and be mindful of pedestrians crossing the road.

“It’s a great example of the innovative work of our road safety team and we look forward to working with more pupils on other exciting projects across the county.”

The artwork for the signs was developed during a session led by illustrator and author Holly Sterling, who worked with pupils to create designs inspired by the area.

Ms Sterling then brought the children’s ideas together to form the final artwork featured on each sign.

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The project forms part of a wider project which aims to help raise awareness about road safety amongst primary schoolchildren and also encourage drivers to observe the reduced speed limit outside schools.

For more information about road safety in County Durham, visit www.durham.gov.uk/roadsafety.

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Gary Glitter ‘on his last legs’ with inmates believing he could die in prison

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Daily Record

The convicted paedophile is behind bars at HMP Channings Wood in Devon and is said to be nearly completely deaf, in a wheelchair and refusing to leave his cell

Convicted paedophile Gary Glitter is said to be “on his last legs” with fellow prisoners believing the disgraced star could pass away imminently.

The 81 year old’s condition is reportedly deteriorating behind bars, with claims he is now almost entirely deaf, confined to a wheelchair and unwilling to venture out of his cell. The former pop star, currently serving time at HMP Channings Wood in Devon, was sent back to prison in March 2023 following a breach of his licence terms.

The performer, born Paul Gadd, was originally imprisoned in 2015 for sex with a girl under 13, attempted rape and four counts of indecent assault, but had been released just a month before his recall.

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According to a source speaking to The Sun, the notorious sex offender is “on his last legs, with his body giving up”. The insider revealed: “He is deaf and can barely move – and most people would struggle to recognise him now. He seems to be on his last legs, with his body giving up.”

Last year, Glitter was denied parole after a panel determined he continued to demonstrate “lack of victim empathy”. Despite this ruling, the source suggested both inmates and prison officers believe the paedophile may die whilst incarcerated, reports the Mirror.

The source continued: “And if he doesn’t get parole soon most officers and inmates think he will see out his days in jail.” They went on: “Glitter’s case was also back in court recently and that has weighed on him and is adding to his woes.

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“He is deeply troubled by what is going on.” The individual also allegedly stated the disgraced former pop star is perceived as “arrogant” by fellow prisoners and remains largely unpopular within the jail.

Glitter’s application for release was submitted to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice, as legally mandated, in 2025. The board dismissed the application owing to his ongoing and “uncontrolled interest in children”.

A summary of the hearing revealed the musician acknowledged he should remain behind bars. It further noted that the former pop star maintains “attitudes that supported the sexual abuse of children”. The parole board had previously turned down his freedom bid in 2024, determining he continued to pose a threat to youngsters.

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Sunderland dad in pain after surgery by under-review Leslie Irwin

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Sunderland dad in pain after surgery by under-review Leslie Irwin

Lee Bruce, 46, fractured his elbow injured tripping on the pavement outside his Sunderland home while playing with his daughter.

Although he went to A&E at Sunderland Royal Hospital, he said he wasn’t given an X-ray, but it later turned out that his elbow was fractured in three places.

Lee Bruce (Image: SUPPLIED)

He underwent radial head replacement surgery to restore elbow joint stability, performed by Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and hand and wrist specialist who had practised at the NHS hospital since the 1990s.

Mr Irwin, 63, who also saw patients at Spire Washington Hospital, has since been banned by the private healthcare provider following “concerns” raised around his work.

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The surgeon, who worked for the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust between 2001 and 2023, retired in 2022, but a selection of his patients have been contacted directly by Spire over potential issues with his work.

A Sunderland Royal Hospital sign (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Mr Irwin relinquished his registration as a doctor with the General Medical Council (GMC) in May 2025. 

Spire Healthcare suspended Mr Irwin in August 2023 and withdrew his practising privileges in September 2024.

The private practice started recalling patients who were operated on by Mr Irwin during his time at Spire Washington Hospital in the summer of 2025.

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Since Lee’s operation in August 2018, the 46-year-old says he has experienced significantly reduced mobility in his wrist and has developed arthritis and nerve damage.

Leslie Irwin (Image: SUPPLIED)

While he thought this was just “bad luck” and a possible risk of having surgery, Lee now believes this is due to the wrong length of bone being inserted and creating a mismatch at the wrist.

Lee says he has been forced to give up his role at work, moving into operating machinery instead, due to the movement problems and pain, and cannot play five-a-side football or golf as he used to; two hobbies that he loved.

He has been told he can undergo further surgery to attempt to correct the issue, but is wary of having another operation after his initial experience.

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“The problems I now have in my wrist mean I have to compensate for so many things I would ordinarily have just taken for granted,” Lee said.

Aside from the fact that I’ve had to change job, I struggle even with things like turning the key in the door.

“Since the operation, things that I’ve done all my life with my right hand, I’ve had to adapt and do with my left.

“The way it has been explained to me is that the oversized radial head has made everything in my arm shift, and the impact has been in my wrist.

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“I have been told I should consider further surgery, but that the nature of the operation means they won’t know the extent of it until they’re actually in there.

Sunderland Royal Hospital (Image: Stuart Boulton)

“I don’t know how much time I’ll need to take off work, and that’s a massive consideration. And knowing what I know now, I am of course very wary of having another operation, after what happened the first time.

“The pain has been really bad. I was on tramadol for the best part of two years, but thankfully managed to get myself off it, although I still have to take over-the-counter painkillers regularly.

“The operation has affected many aspects of my life, but I didn’t think of it as anything other than bad luck until I saw the publicity around Mr Irwin. It has been a shock, but clearly I am not alone.”

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Lawyers at Slater and Gordon are dealing with dozens of cases against Mr Irwin, and have spent several months already investigating allegations against him.

Natasha Charlesworth, specialist clinical negligence lawyer who is representing Lee. said: “What should have been a straightforward operation has left Lee with long‑term pain, arthritis and severely reduced movement.

“The impact on his daily life has been significant; he has even had to change his job, yet he has continued to push on to support his family as best he can”

The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Sunderland Royal Hospital, has said it is “liaising with Spire in relation to concerns over Mr Leslie Irwin and currently working through the details of which patients the Trust will need to review.”

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A spokesperson for the Trust added: “We have also asked the Royal College of Surgeons to support us in this process.

“As part of this review, we will be in touch with any former patients directly and as a matter of priority.

“Any former patients of Mr Irwin who do have any questions or concerns can contact the Trust directly via freephone 0800 587 6513 or email: stsft.adviceandcomplaints@nhs.net.”

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Road closures planned at Bridgend industrial estate

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Wales Online

The closure is planned for resurfacing works to take place

A section of road on a Bridgend industrial estate is set to be temporarily closed while carriageway resurfacing works are carried out.

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A public notice says Heol Mostyn will be closed from its junction with Village Farm Road to Sturmi Way, on Village Farm Industrial Estate, Pyle, for a time in March 2026.

To see all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol license applications and more in your area, visit the Public Notice Portal HERE

This will also include a section of Village Farm Road approximately 50m either side of its junction with Heol Mostyn.

The notice says this will be necessary to carry out carriageway resurfacing works and is in the interests of public safety.

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It said: “The order is necessary due to insufficient width of carriageway to maintain vehicular access during carriageway resurfacing works and is in the interest of public safety.

“The order will come into force on March 12, 2026, and will continue in force for a maximum period of 18 months or until such time as the works are completed, whichever is the sooner.

“It is anticipated the planned works will be undertaken between the hours of 7pm and 6am from March 20 to March 25.”

It added there is no alternative route available though access will be provided for police, fire, and ambulance services responding to emergencies. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter

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Pedestrian access to all properties within the restriction will also be maintained throughout the closure.

The notice says Bridgend County Borough Council will make the order under Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

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Sarah Ferguson may have freedom of City of York stripped by council

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Sarah Ferguson may have freedom of City of York stripped by council

The only motion in next week’s extraordinary council meeting states: “The Council resolves that, pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the City of York Council withdraws the Honorary Freeman of the City status from Sarah Ferguson, which was conferred upon her in 1987.”

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Justice Department leaders meet with lawmakers over Epstein files

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Justice Department leaders meet with lawmakers over Epstein files

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche went to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to try to quell bipartisan frustration over the Justice Department’s handling of millions of files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation.

The country’s top federal law enforcement officials were providing a closed-door briefing to members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about the tranche of documents that have become a political headache that the Trump administration has struggled to shake for more than a year.

Justice Department leaders had hoped the release of documents tied to the disgraced financier would put an end to a political saga that has dogged the president’s second term, but the agency remains consumed by questions and criticism over Epstein’s case and its management of the files.

The Republican-led committee on Tuesday issued a subpoena for Bondi to appear for a deposition on April 14 to answer questions under oath about Epstein’s case and the investigative files. Lawmakers have accused the Justice Department of withholding too many files and criticized the agency for haphazard redactions that exposed intimate details about victims.

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The Justice Department has called the subpoena “completely unnecessary,” noting that members of Congress have been invited to view unredacted files at the Justice Department and that department leaders have made themselves available to answer questions from lawmakers.

The department has sought to assure lawmakers and the public that there has been no effort to shield President Donald Trump, who says he cut ties with Epstein years ago after an earlier friendship, or any other high-profile figures close to Epstein from potential embarrassment. Justice Department leaders have also rejected suggestions that they have ignored victims and insist that while there is no evidence in the files to prosecute anyone else, they remain committed to investigating should new information come forward.

“I’m not trying to defend Epstein — I’m not,” Blanche said in an interview this week with Katie Miller, who is married to top Trump adviser Stephen Miller. “I do defend the work that this department is doing today, right now, which is going after every single perpetrator anyway, and if there is a narrative that exists that we are ignoring Epstein victims, that is false.”

The documents were disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted after months of public and political pressure that requires the government to open its files on the late financier and his confidant and onetime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Criminal investigations into the financier have long animated online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and others who have suspected government cover-ups and clamored for a full accounting.

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After missing a Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress to release all the files, the Justice Department said it tasked hundreds of lawyers with reviewing the records to determine what needed to be redacted, or blacked out. The Justice Department in January said it was releasing more than 3 million pages of documents along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

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Car crashes into bus in Edinburgh as emergency services race to scene

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Daily Record

Emergency services were called to Morningside Road in the capital after the alarm was raised at around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

A car has crashed into a bus in Edinburgh.

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Emergency services were called to Morningside Road in the capital after the alarm was raised at around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

A white Dacia Stepway was involved in a collision with a Lothian Bus.

An image shared with Edinburgh Live showed the front of the Dacia and back of the Lothian Bus visibly damaged. Police could also be seen in attendance.

The crash took place opposite the M&S bus stop and it’s understood motorists were caught up in tailbacks in both directions as a result.

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Edinburgh Travel News warned motorists to expect delays with a statement on X.

They said: “RTC restricting citybound Morningside Road at Morningside Park / M&S. 15mins drive time from Greenbank as at 4.40pm.”

Lothian Buses and Police Scotland were asked by Edinburgh Live for comment.

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When is Red Nose Day 2026?

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Wales Online

Davina McCall will return to present the evening of entertainment joined by plenty of famous comedians

Each year since 1988 people across the UK celebrate Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day to raise money for the charity. The annual event takes place in March with celebrities and comedians taking part in challenges and one off specials.

Red Nose Day is one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events raising millions of pounds for vital causes affecting families across the UK and the world.

This year Red Nose Day falls on Friday, March 20, with the BBC holding a huge night of TV that will feature a variety of comedy sketches, live performances, surprise guests, and show-stopping musical acts. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter.

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The very first Red Nose Day was in 1988 and raised a massive £15m.

More than 30m people tuned in to watch the first sketches of Blackadder: The Cavalier Years and the Young Ones on University Challenge.

This year four of the UK’s most-watched digital creators are teaming up for the “ultimate debut performance” live on BBC One on Friday night.

Ayamé, Sarel, Specs Gonzalez and Victor Kundaare are forming The Creator Band.

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Comic Relief: Funny for Money is live on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Friday from 7pm and for the very first time will be streaming live on the official BBC YouTube channel.

Davina McCall will return to present the evening of entertainment joined by comedians like Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed, Joel Dommett, and Catherine Tate (as Nan from The Catherine Tate Show).

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