The Frost repeat on ITV will get huge ratings.

I HATE Comic Relief.

It's bad, bad, bad TV.

OK I'm sure it raises money which goes to charity (unlike Live Aid which, I'm certain, actually killed people by detouring cash from proper charities and made a few customs officials, politicians and soldiers very wealthy).

But TV is meant to be good. Not designed for charitable purposes.

My opinion is - if you want to support a charity do so direct (and preferably anonymously so you're not getting the moral benefit of "aren't I generous?").

Celebrities showing they are "good sports" is not charity. It's painful to watch.

Rant over. And so, thank God, will Red Nose Day be for another year.

I was horrified this morning to learn that they actually reherse this crap!

A night out at the Indian is called for.

Wow! I'm not the only one who hates Comic Relief. The celebrity stuff is just embarassing, and the so called comics are not in the least bit funny.

I used to like Children In Need when it first started and was very small scale - small studio - handful of guests sat around relying on spontaneity. It was something different, but then everyone seemed to clamber on the bandwagon. Children In Need, while still raising money, has become a big glitzy showbiz event. Comic Relief has gone a step further by creating lots of connecting shows to take over the schedules for around a fortnight.

I agree with you JK. We should give to charity on the quiet, for the right reasons.

When Live Aid was on I heard someone say "Huh, I see that so called Christian Cliff Richard isn't doing anything for charity." Actually Cliff was doing it long before Bob Geldof arrived, and still is. He just doesn't shout about it.

I'm sure there are other celebs like him.

Bruce Springsteen is the perfect example of a generous but silent charity giver.

My views in sounds?

I quite enjoyed earlier attempts at Comic Relief but they really are flogging a dead horse here:

Comic Relief does Fame Academy
Comic Relief does The Apprentice
Comic Relief does Car Booty
Comic Relief does The 10 O'clock News
Comic Relief does Dallas!!

Also all the funny bits get interrupted by people telling you to send money!!

To paraphrase Chumbawamba, Pictures of Starving Children Sells Comic Relief

I think I join Mart for a Indian. I dont belive all money goes to where they say it does. I belive Lenny Henry does well and BBC.

Children In Need is the same 4 hours or more of tv rubbish and Celebritys do crap singing etc.

For those of you who`s attitudes towards this ( frankly it`s only once a year funraising ) event are not so tight fisted as those above who would rather go out and feed their faces than help others, you can make a donation at www.comicrelief.com

I can assure you Owen, I did donate as allways,(

I think Owen's point is the same as 99% of the country - it's not the giving, it's the SEEN to be giving that matters.

Like so much else in this world, it's what others think about you that matters.

Which is probably why I'm such an outcast. I'm perfectly happy for the world to believe I never give anything to anyone else.

Maybe not in the case of charity but for everything else you are the greatest self publicist that has ever lived dear boy.

Ah but there's self publicity and self publicity; for example, I'd be happy to ride around naked on a horse as long as my long, flowing, golden locks covered my private parts (and they would have to be very long, oooh matron) but I'd consider it morally dodgy to build a career and financial empire on the bones of dying Africans!

Mind you, She's So Modern was good.

One of the acts I used to manage, nagged and nagged me, to approach TV companies to promote his charity work.

I would have shown enthusiasm for this idea had he/she not been paid so much to perform at his/her "charity" events.

I understand the amount of self publicity that has to be done these days, but that particular one drew a blank with me.

It`s very difficult when you get a call asking for a performer to perform for free, because it`s for charity, even worse, when the performer asks you what his fee is going to be.

If there is anyone from large companies on this board take the following idea to your HR departments.

Each employee is asked if they would like to donate an amount of money each month straight from their pay packet, say

Good idea and let's take it one further.
Tax. A voluntary similar scheme with the interest going to an area you choose - NHS, education, prisons etc.
That way we put our money where our mouths are, don't lose a penny (except interest) and earn a fortune to go in the direction we specify (NOT Iraq!).

Comic Relief Does Fame Academy...

Am I the only one who thinks the BBC could have done an awful lot more to make this show work?

The first thing would have been to enlist celebrities who could actually sing. Yes, I know it's for charity, so hats off and fair play to everyone who took part. But, Ray Stubbs...? Oh my god, it was painful to watch.

Perhaps the producers felt it would be 'funnier' if all the acts were singing out of tune and generally embarrassing themselves. Don't know about you, but I don't find out of tune singing to be entertaining in any way.

Would it not have made better telly if, as well as being able to sing, the contestants were fading pop/rock stars lookings to resurrect their careers whilst actually competing for something? Such as a record deal and a chance to relive past glories?

Adios,
Pete

Yes nicely put Pete, I shall put it more acidicly.

The show is an office party in the name of charity.
A charity which I thouroughly approve of,by the way, but entertainment which is setting a bench mark I do not approve of and have not for a while.

Pour a bucket of custard over my head, weeehoo!!, and give me your credit card details..