Children In Need 2018 brings in a record £50.6m as EastEnders cast sing Disney tunes and Boyzone tackle Strictly

CHILDREN in Need has brought in a record £50 million after the EastEnders cast sang Disney tunes and Boyzone tackled Strictly all for a good cause.

The show also featured special appearances by Little Mix, Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker and Sheridan Smith.

The annual fundraiser returned to TV tonight to bring in much-needed cash for worthwhile charity projects across the country and by the end of the show they'd brought in a whopping £50.5 million.

The total is expected to rise over the next few days as donations continue to flood in.

The show started with a performance by the cast of West End musical School of Rock before Tess Daly and co-host Ade Adepitan opened the show.

The first big moment of the 2016 show left viewers in floods of tears.

Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker organised a very special surprise for a young fan with cystic fibrosis.

The actress went all out to surprise Anna, nine, with a trip to the Doctor Who set.

Jodie, who took over the sci-fi role this year, recorded a special message for the younger, who is a huge Doctor Who fan.

It was played for her while she was watching the show and revealed she was being treated to a trip to the set in her very own Tardis.

During her special day, Anna got to visit the make-up and costume departments and see the set.

She also got her own outfit which matched that worn by Jodie, who sneaked up on her and surprised her with a hug.

There was another uplifting moment for viewers next as the show headed to Albert Square for the EastEnders Disney spectacular.

Fans were amazed to see their favourite soap stars reenact musical numbers from classics including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Frozen.

The performance kicked off with Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean, as Belle from Beauty and the Beast, walking through Albert Square singing just like the character in the beloved kids' movie.

Next up was Kat Slater actress Jessie Wallace who sang family favourite Let It Go from Frozen.

There was also a stunning performance from Tilly Keeper and Zack Morris who became Jasmine and Aladdin and flew above the square on a magic carpet.

Children in Need viewers always look forward to the Strictly Come Dancing segment of the show, and this year's instalment did not disappoint.

This year, the stars of Boyzone competed against each other for the special Pudsey Glitter Ball.

Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy all took to the dance floor, performing solo routines before joining in a group dance together.

They were then sized up by the Strictly judges, with Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas both singling out Shane for particular praise.

At the end of the segment, they crowned Shane the winner and he was delighted with his prize.

Tonight's show featured appearances from the stars of Country File and The One Show, who all helped raise money for the organisation, and a special edition of Mastermind.

There was also special appearances from stars including Craig David, Olly Murs and Little Mix.

However, the girl band baffled fans as they appeared without Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

There were also performances from Boyzone, Sheridan Smith, Anne-Marie and Liam Payne, who sang with actress/singer Lennon Stella.

At one point during the night, the third set of presenters - Marvin and Rochelle - stopped to remember the show's late host Terry Wogan.

They handed out a special award to a fundraiser who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The Terry Wogan prize was handed to Keeley Browse, who has fundraised for Children in Need for many years.

It was set up in 2016 to honour the telly legend following his death aged 77 following a battle with cancer.

Rochelle struggled to contain her emotions during her presenting stint, and cried after a particularly moving segment about a family struggling to look after two terminally ill children.

She sniffed and apologised to viewers, saying: "Sorry that one really got to me."

Her husband Marvin then walked over to comfort her by putting an arm around her shoulders.

Shortly before the show kicked off, Tess paid a touching tribute to the late Terry, who fronted the fundraiser for many years before his tragic death in January 2016.

She shared a picture of herself with Terry and gushed about the much-loved presenter, writing: "Always in our hearts and, especially today, never far from our thoughts.

"Sir Terry Wogan was Life President of Children In Need and during his time working tirelessly for the charity he cared so much about, over £800 million was raised.

"He was a true gentleman; truly one of a kind."

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