Comic Relief: Season 1997, Episode 1

1997 - 1: Close Encounters of the Furred Kind

This year's Comic Relief has a distinctly hairy new look, with shaggy red noses and Lenny Henry in a furry suit.

7.00-8.00 Lenny Live and Luscious: Lenny Henry whips the studio audience into a frenzy as he kicks off more than eight hours of comedy, music and powerful documentary.
At 7.10 The Great Big Stupid Celebrity Sketch Show: Frank Bruno and Sally Gunnell are among stars acting strangely.
7.20 Susan Tully - Street Kids of Tamale: Susan Tully reports on the hardships of Ghanaian children who live and work on the streets to survive.
7. 30 Gladiators Go Ga Ga: Ulrika Jonsson and John Fashanu try to keep order as gladiators Rhino and Wolf take on two unlikely contenders -

EastEnder Nigel and Ash from Casualty.

7.45 Only Fools and Horses Red Nose Exclusive: David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst return as Del Boy and Rodney in a recording made specially for Red Nose Day

8.00-9.00 Dame Edna Makes the Nation See Red: Housewife superstar Dame Edna Everage takes the helm.

8.05 University Challenge Challenges Coronation Street: The Street's Vera, Curly, Gail and Jim answer questions posed by Jeremy Paxman.

8.10 Victoria Wood: Carers: Victoria Wood looks at the problems of carers like June, who tends to her sick husband 24 hours a day, 365 days

a year.

8.15 More of the Great Big Stupid Celebrity Sketch Show: Starring, among others, Desmond Lynam, Jimmy Hill and Mystic Meg.

8.30 The Spice Girls: The all-girl group sing for Comic Relief.

8.40 BallykissDibley: Ballykissangel's Father Clifford (Stephen Tompkinson ) comes to Dibley, and vicar Geraldine (Dawn French) falls for him.