Get ready for the Great SPOTacular as Friday 18 November sees the annual BBC Children in Need Appeal come to BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer, from 7pm.

This year the show will come live from London, presented by Ade Adepitan MBE, Mel Giedroyc, Chris Ramsey and Alex Scott MBE, who will be joined by comedian Jason Manford for the first time this year. Connor Phillips and Holly Hamilton will bring an update from Northern Ireland on the night and present an hour long special on BBC One Northern Ireland on Sunday 20 November.

On Monday 14 November, BBC Radio Ulster’s Lynette Fay starts the week in Donaghmore, County Tyrone with a live broadcast from Bardic Educational Arts and Media from 3-4pm, where money donated to BBC Children in Need supports young disabled people and peer buddies to build confidence and new friendships through performing arts. She’ll meet walkers and children and parents benefitting from the money raised in Northern Ireland for Children in Need.

Lynette and BBC Radio Foyle’s Marie-Louse Muir continue with their own Walk And Talk fundraising challenges to complete 100 miles and 50 miles respectively before the big night, while other shows and presenters will be talking to fundraisers and organisations benefitting directly from the support of BBC Children in Need.

On the big day itself, Friday 18 November, Hugo Duncan and the radio team travel to the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn for a special outside broadcast packed full of live music and requests from 1.30-3pm, with BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle chatting all things Pudsey across the day.

And on Sunday 20 November, Holly Hamilton and Connor Phillips will host a one hour show, Children in Need Best Bits, on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer at 11am.

They are joined by Pudsey, Hugo Duncan and Brooke Scullion who hit the road to find out more about the incredible fundraisers that help allow organisations to make such a difference in our communities.

Among those organisations to be featured will be Gortilea Social Farm in near Claudy, and staff and participants of IncredABLE as they take to the slopes of Craigavon Ski Centre.

Also featuring will be BBC Radio 1’s Dean McCullough as he travels to Suffolk Community Centre in Belfast to juggle and stilt-walk with Circusful.

Holly Hamilton says: “I absolutely love BBC Children In Need and am so thrilled to be part of it again this year alongside Connor. Please, please do what you can to help us raise lots of money for this year’s Great SPOTacular themed appeal, as your donations really do make a huge difference to the lives of many children and young people right here in Northern Ireland.”

Connor Phillips says: “It’s always great to be working with Holly, and I am looking forward to meeting some of the many people who have been busy fundraising, helping to raise loads of money for this year’s BBC Children in Need. Let’s make it the best one yet.”

Last year’s national on the night total was £39,389,048 and the overall fundraising total for the 2021 Appeal was £51million.

Here in Northern Ireland the appeal has currently issued 152 grants to projects to a value of more than £8.5million.

Further information on BBC Children in Need and how to get involved can be found at bbc.co.uk/pudsey