BEAR essentials

Teenage actor LENNY RUSH on making history as Children in Need's youngest presenter, and why every penny counts for this year's appeal...

- VICTORIA WILSON

CHILDREN IN NEED
LIVE FRIDAY, 7PM, BBC1
ENTERTAINMENT

Dust off your Pudsey ears and settle back for an evening of sparkling entertainment as some of the nation’s best-loved celebrities join forces for this year’s Children in Need appeal.

Dedicated to raising money to help projects and charities across the UK, the three-hour extravaganza will again be broadcast live from MediaCityUK, Salford, and feature a magical mix of fun sketches, live challenges and music performances (see our box, right). 

Returning hosts Ade Adepitan, Alex Scott, Chris Ramsey, Jason Manford and Mel Giedroyc will be joined by 14-year-old actor Lenny Rush, who is the fundraiser’s first child presenter.

‘It’s an honour to have been asked,’ smiles the Dodger star, who earlier this year won a BAFTA for Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for his role as Daisy May Cooper’s on-screen son, Ollie, in her comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, as well as being cast in the upcoming series of sci-fi drama Doctor Who opposite new Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Lenny tells TV Times about joining the Children in Need presenting team, and why this year’s fundraiser matters more than ever…

Congratulations on making history as the appeal night’s youngest-ever host! How are you feeling, Lenny?

It’s so exciting – I can’t explain how excited I feel! I’m also quite nervous, but the excitement outweighs the nerves. I honestly can’t wait!

Do you already know anyone on the presenting rota?