On Thursday 19 October 2017, the BBC will stage BBC Children In Need Rocks The 80s, a very special fundraising concert at The SSE Arena, Wembley celebrating the decade in which BBC Children in Need’s first major appeal took place. 

• Details of this year’s BBC Children In Need Rocks concert announced
• Presenters Fearne Cotton and Sara Cox with Roman Kemp reporting from behind-the-scenes to be joined by Bananarama, Boy George, Erasure, Europe, Imagination, Jason Donovan, Katrina from Katrina and The Waves, Louisa Johnson, Nick Heyward, OMD and UB40 Featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey plus more acts to be announced for a special show on Thursday 19 October at The SSE Arena, Wembley
• Tickets on sale now at www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

The 80s extravaganza, from BBC Studios, will be hosted by Fearne Cotton and Sara Cox and will feature performances of some of the most iconic hits of the era. Artists confirmed to perform include Bananarama, Boy George, Erasure, Europe, Imagination, Jason Donovan, Katrina from Katrina & The Waves, Louisa Johnson, Nick Heyward, OMD and UB40 Featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey. Roman Kemp will be capturing all the excitement backstage and interviewing many of the night's performers.

In the spirit of the occasion, concertgoers will be invited to fully embrace the retro theme and don 1980s-inspired ensembles - the perfect opportunity to dig out those legwarmers, hair scrunchies, parachute pants and shoulder pads!

Fearne Cotton, co-Presenter of BBC Children In Need Rocks The 80s, says: “As a child of the 80s, I am especially thrilled to be presenting this year’s BBC Children In Need Rocks! This is an amazing opportunity to party to the finest tunes from the 1980s, in aid of an incredibly important cause. It’s going to be a blast!”

Sara Cox, co-Presenter of BBC Children In Need Rocks The 80s, said: “I am so excited to be hosting BBC Children In Need Rocks The 80s! It’s no secret that I am in love with the sounds of the decade and I can’t wait to hear some of the era’s greatest hits performed live at Wembley for a very worthy cause. Get your tickets now!”

Since its first major appeal in 1980, BBC Children in Need has raised over £909 million for disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. A number of films sharing the stories of children and young people supported through the charity’s grants will feature in the broadcast and viewers and listeners to the show will be invited to donate to raise even more money for those in need. All profits from the concert will go to BBC Children in Need.

Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, says: “Since 1980, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have been able to make a real difference to young lives throughout the UK. This year’s concert promises to be a terrific event; it’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some of the greatest hits from the 1980s whilst raising money to support disadvantaged children and young people who desperately need our help. Join us for a night to remember!”

Tickets are on sale now at www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey and are priced from £25 each.

The concert will be broadcast on BBC One in the run up to the annual BBC Children in Need Appeal (date and time yet to be announced).

BBC Children in Need Rocks is a BBC Studios production, executive produced by Guy Freeman, Editor of Special Events and Formats, and produced by Cerrie Frost.