Sport Relief 2014 Wrap-Up

Sport Relief has been bigger and better than ever this year. The TV event was kicked off by global pop sensation (and X Factor winners) Little Mix, with their version of Word Up, the official single of Sport Relief 2014.

Of course, that was no match for the reunion of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. They sang their break-out 1988 duet, Especially for You, bringing down the house with their performance – and clearly bringing co-host David Walliams to his knees.

That performance wasn’t the only amazing blast from the past. Only Fools and Horses came back on the air for the first episode in 11 years, and they brought an unexpectedly funny guest: David Beckham rocking some seriously sexy specs.

There was also plenty of exercising. There was a celebrity marathon, hosted by the night’s co-hosts, Gary Lineker and David Walliams. Comedian John Bishop and Lord Sebastian Coe battled Clash of the Titans style. The four-event challenge saw the comedian and the Olympic legend lead their teams – which included Andrew Flintoff, Nicola Adams, Olly Murs, Nick Grimshaw and Richard Bacon – in a synchronised swimming and rhythmic gymnastics, amongst other challenges.

Britain’s Paralympic athletes, meanwhile, participated in a special edition of Strictly, dancing to Katy Perry’s Firework.

Sport Relief is as much about exercising new muscles as it is about moving around for charity. That’s why a special Celebrity Mastermind featuring Tottenham’s Michael Dawson, Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and Fulham’s Scott Parker was so much fun. Then Andy Murray showed he’s not always dour in an episode of Mock the Week seemingly designed just to mock the tennis superstar.

And who could forget Miranda Hart leading the nation in a hilarious aerobic workout, while Coldplay performed their new single, Magic? Finally, we were treated to the first airing of the England football team’s World Cup song, a cover of Take That’s Greatest Day. All the proceeds from the sale of the song will go to Sport Relief, too.

Before the big event, celebrities had been raising millions. Davina McCall made headlines when her challenge – a 500-mile cycling, running and swimming event from Edinburgh to London – saw her being dragged out of Lake Windermere in a state of frozen exhaustion. Still, the event raised over £2.2 million on its own.

Jo Whiley completed a 26-hour marathon challenge, running on a treadmill in a Perspex box outside Broadcasting House. Her challenge ended in a £260,000 donation from Coldplay, in addition to the money raised by the public. and The One Show co-host Alex Jones took three days to climb Moonlight Buttress in Utah, USA, a huge challenge for someone who had never climbed a mountain before.

The whole Sport Relief event raised a record £53.3 million. Half of the proceeds from Sport Relief go to more than 2000 projects in the UK, and the other half go to help fight poverty in the developing world. And you can continue to donate by going to http://www.comicrelief.com/ and clicking the Donate/Pay in Your Money button.

 

So did you donate to Sport Relief? What was your favourite part of the night? Let us know in the comments!