Today (21 March) marks 40 years of Red Nose Day.
Comic Relief was launched in 1985 by scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Sir Lenny Henry. The charity encouraged celebrities and comedians to take part in raising money for famine in Ethiopia.
It has since gone on to help people in need around the world; providing support for those living in conflict zones, ensuring young people have access to food and healthcare and funding mental health support.
To celebrate 40 years of Comic Relief, we take a look back at some of our favourite songs, released to help spread the message about Red Nose Day.
One Way or Another
The most recent entrant on this list, this single from British boyband One Direction takes two other famous songs: One Way or Another and Teenage Kicks and remixes them.
The music video features plenty of teenage antics, showing the group messing around in a variety of locations, such as Times Square, an airport, and 10 Downing Street.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron even makes a cameo.
Mama/ Who Do you think you are?
This offering from 1997 was sung by the popular girl group the Spice Girls and if it wasn’t for the quality of the film you might not know it, as 90’s fashion is one of the biggest fashion trends of the 2020’s.
The song reached first place on the UK charts and sold 732,000 copies, placing it fourth in the list of the best-selling Comic Relief singles.
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Help!
The classic Beatles song Help was re-recorded for Comic Relief by 80’s girl group Bananarama for Red Nose Day in 1989. It featured comedians Dawn French, Jennifer Sanders and Cathy Burke who provided backing vocals.
Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, it peaked at 3 in the UK charts.
I want to be Elected
I want to be Elected is a Comic Relief sketch from 1992, featuring Mr Bean as a hapless politician.
He campaigns with his local electorate, running on a ballot of farcical things like banning vests and making growing a beard illegal.
And his ridiculousness is rather reminiscent of a certain modern-day politician.
