10 Things to know about Children in Need 2016 as Graham Norton takes the reins as host

1 First reason why you should tune in to Children In Need? It’s what Sir Terry Wogan would have wanted.

“The most important thing of all that I’ll ever do is Children In Need,” he told TV Magazine last year, before he sadly died from cancer in January. In his honour, there will be a new annual accolade,

The Terry Wogan Award for Fundraising, for which the public can nominate themselves or someone they know.

2 When talking about his various fellow presenters on the show, Sir Terry joked with us that: “The older I get the more people they bring on the stage to hold me up!”

And this year, with the massive hole left by his absence, even more presenters are required.Nobly trying their best to replace the irreplaceable are Graham Norton, Tess Daly, Greg James, Ade Adepitan and Rochelle and Marvin Humes.

3 JK Rowling and Eddie Redmayne fans are in for a treat as Pudsey makes an appearance on the set of the Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.

4 Children In Need charity singles have made it to No.1 seven times. This year’s choice hoping to top the charts is… All We Needed by Craig David.

5 And there’s loads more music in store on the night – Michael Bublé, Little Mix and the cast of the musical Aladdin are among the star performers.

They’ll be joined by 1,500 children across 10 different UK locations singing in unison in the Children’s Choir.

6 After their record-breaking turns at the Rio Olympics, Team GB stars Helen Glover (rowing), Hollie Webb (hockey), Joe Clarke (canoe) and Lutalo Muhammad (taekwondo) will be competing again, this time alongside Strictly pros Pasha Kovalev, Neil Jones, Janette Manrara and Karen Clifton in a CIN Strictly special.

7 Rob Brydon fronts a junior edition of Would I Lie To You?. David Mitchell and Lee Mack are the team captains but their guests are children.

8 In 2013 they danced through Albert Square; in 2014 they did Grease; in 2015 they did Top Hat.

It’s a closely guarded secret, but just wait till you see what the EastEnders cast have planned for this year’s Walford extravaganza…

9 And don’t forget the challenges taking place in the run-up to Appeal Night.

The One Show’s Matt Baker is currently taking part in his sixth Rickshaw Challenge, with six young people who have benefited from a C IN-funded project.

Right now, the group are riding 470 miles down Britain’s east coast, ready to finish in London on Friday night.

10 To date, the Great British public has raised £848million and the charity currently supports 2,400 projects in communities across the UK.

We’ll leave the last word to Sir Terry: “Every penny that is given is given out again to the projects working with disadvantaged children. That has to continue.”

NEW! Children In Need 2016 Friday from 7.30pm BBC1 & BBC2

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