BBC report almost 13 million Red Nose viewers

The BBC today reported healthy viewing figures during the Red Nose Day fundraising extravaganza.

The BBC said the peak viewing figure during the evening, 12.9 million at the start of the Fame Academy final, was 1.2 million more than the peak in 2003, when the event was last held.

Chris Evans hosted the event which had seen some of the top names in British comedy performing in aid of the 10th Red Nose Day.

Lenny Henry and Harry Hill had starring roles, as did comic Rowan Atkinson in a spoof of superhero Spider-Man, leaping across the rooftops of London with pop singer Rachel Stevens.