Page last updated at 02:25 GMT, Saturday, 20 March 2010

Sport Relief charity event raises millions

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James Corden teamed up with David Beckham and Andy Murray for the telethon

More than £29m has been raised for global causes by celebrities and the public taking part in the BBC's Sport Relief charity event.

The telethon, from 1900 GMT on Friday to after 0100 on Saturday, featured special editions of Masterchef, Ashes to Ashes and Mock the Week.

Gavin and Stacey's James Corden filmed skits with David Beckham and others.

Earlier fundraising efforts included presenter Christine Bleakley water-skiing across the English Channel.

Celebrities including David Walliams and Davina McCall cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End.

In September, comedian Eddie Izzard completed his endurance feat of 43 marathons in 51 days for the charity.

"It was healthy, it was an adventure and it raised money for people in the UK as well as in the poorest countries in the world," he told the BBC.

Philip Glenister and Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson took part in an Ashes to Ashes special

People are being encouraged to get involved by walking or running the Sport Relief Mile on 21 March.

Coverage from the event will be shown during The Sport Relief Mile Show in the evening on BBC One.

Highlights of the live telethon included cult BBC children's classic We Are The Champions, revived with Paddy McGuinness as host; the Match of the Day team taking part in a special edition of Masterchef; and comedian Frank Skinner hosting a Question Of Sport special.

Singer Cheryl Cole congratulated comedian Rufus Hound on his spoof of her dance routine to Fight For This Love.

She told the comic: "It's like looking in a mirror."

Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a four-minute mile, was present as 190 children from Our Lady Catholic Primary School in Limehouse, east London, raced against each other for the charity.

"I am glad that they have the opportunity to take part today and to get the experience of what a track looks like," he said.



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