Davina McCall on Comic Relief 2025: New Interview
Davina has been talking about hosting this year's Comic Relief night on BBC One.
Get ready for a night of comedy, entertainment, and incredible fundraising as Red Nose Day returns live on BBC One, BBC Two and iPlayer on Friday 21 March from 7pm.
Celebrating 40 years of going big, giving big, and feeling good together, the unmissable blockbuster shows will bring the nation together with hilarious sketches, live performances, surprise moments, and show- stopping musical acts – all to raise vital funds for good causes across the UK and around the world.
Hosting the action live from the studio at Media City in Salford will be an all-star lineup. Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan, and Alesha Dixon will present on BBC One from 7-10pm, before Tom Allen and AJ Odudu take over from 10pm on BBC Two.
Expect side-splitting sketches featuring some of the biggest shows on the BBC, including Strictly Come Dancing, Gladiators, Not Going Out and Beyond Paradise. Plus, in a truly unmissable moment, one of the most hotly anticipated musical reunions in history will be getting the Red Nose Day sketch treatment. It's Definitely (Maybe) not to be missed!
Here, Davina McCall discusses what it’s like to return to Red Nose Day…
(Image: BBC/Comic Relief /Nicky Johnston)
You’ve presented Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day before, what made you come back for another year?
I've done a lot of Red Nose Days, but every single time I host, it is the best night ever. It's a feeling of everybody coming together for such a positive cause, but at the same time having such fun and a laugh. I love everybody that works at and for Comic Relief, but I also know that the audience comes with such goodwill and great energy. It's just the best night ever. I really, really love it.
What does Comic Relief and its impact mean to you? How does it feel to be part of such a legacy?
The thing I love about Comic Relief is that it works with so many different charities, and its reach is so wide, and it goes to the places that need money the most. I feel extremely privileged in my life, and to be able to give back in some way means a lot, but to be able to do it with a charity that I trust and respect so much means everything.
There’s a stellar line-up of presenters this year for Red Nose Day. What are you looking forward to when it comes to presenting alongside them?
I mean, the presenters this year are amazing. I love the idea that it's like a big gang of us, and backstage is always very encouraging and warm and funny, but on stage is always quite anarchic. You just kind of never quite know what's going to happen. But because they're all so good, you know that even when it goes completely off-piste and everybody goes bonkers, that everybody knows how to pick up again and keep the show going. I love that feeling of uncertainty, not quite sure ever what's going to happen, how anything's going to pan out. It's very exciting.
The energy backstage must be electric. Who do you think will provide the most comic relief behind the scenes?
I mean, everybody on the roster for this year's Red Nose Day is absolutely hilarious and brilliant. It's just a really good atmosphere and nice to hang out with such talented people.
It’s Comic Relief’s 40th birthday this year. Which sketches do you remember from Red Nose Days gone by?
Anything with French and Saunders in it, James Corden as Smithy, Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean, Philomena Cunk, The Beckhams… All Comic Relief sketches are brilliant because they have access to the greatest comedians in Britain. And all great comedians want to work with Comic Relief.
What do you think makes Comic Relief’s mission continue to resonate with people year after year?
It's an honour to be part of it. We've all grown up with Comic Relief. It is part of our DNA. We absolutely love it. So the reason why everybody keeps coming back and why Comic Relief keeps resonating is because it's just been part of our lives for so long. We can't imagine life without it, and neither should we. They keep doing amazing work. They make us laugh. I mean, it used to be that raising money for charity was something really dour and down, and the idea that you can have great fun and raise tons of money for really good causes – it's so clever. I'll carry on working for them and helping them out until they don't want me anymore. I'm theirs forever.