£4m (€5.7m) in two hours for Children in Need

The first two hours of the annual British Children In Need telecast raised almost £4.5m (€6m), the BBC said today.

Organisers hope to raise at least £26m (€37m) tonight in the 24th televised BBC appeal.

The telecast was due to finish at 2am after seven hours of entertainment, including a remake of The Wizard of Oz with the cast of EastEnders, Holby City, Casualty and Merseybeat.

EastEnders actor Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon, opened the show with a cover of the Queen hit, We Will Rock you.

He will also release this year’s Children In Need single, I’m Your Man, a cover of the Wham hit.

A Morecambe and Wise kitchen sketch is recreated by celebrity chefs Ainsley Harriott and Antony Worrall Thompson.

Stars like the Cheeky Girls, Holly Valance and Sophie Ellis Bextor were performing from Weymouth, Stoke and Maidstone.

Youngsters affected by homelessness, HIV, sexual abuse and drug addiction are being helped by the Children in Need appeal.

More than £26m (€37m) was raised for last year’s appeal.