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when did comic relief start

Comic Relief started in 1985 , with its first major live fundraising events launching in 1986 and its famous Red Nose Day telethon beginning in 1988.

Quick Scoop: When did Comic Relief start?

Comic Relief is a British charity that began in the mid‑1980s, born out of a desire to use comedy to fight serious global problems like famine in Ethiopia. It has since become a regular fixture on UK TV, especially through Red Nose Day, raising millions while making people laugh.

Key dates at a glance

Here are the core milestones for “when Comic Relief started”:

  • Christmas Day 1985 – Comic Relief was first launched on BBC One from a refugee camp in Sudan, introducing the idea of using comedy to raise money for crisis relief.
  • April 1986 – The first big live fundraising show, often seen as the practical start of Comic Relief’s major events, was staged in London with a line‑up of top British comedians and musicians.
  • 5 February 1988 – The first full Night of Comic Relief / Red Nose Day TV telethon aired, firmly establishing Comic Relief in UK popular culture.

So, if you’re asking “when did Comic Relief start?” , most sources treat 1985 as the founding year, with 1986–1988 marking the rollout of the big events we now associate with it.

Mini timeline (founding to first telethon)

  • 1985 – Charity created in response to famine in Ethiopia, led by Richard Curtis, Lenny Henry and others.
  • 1986 – First big live fundraising evening, featuring comedians like Rowan Atkinson and Billy Connolly.
  • 1988 – First Red Nose Day / Night of Comic Relief telethon on BBC, raising millions and cementing the format of mixing sketches with serious appeal films.

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