Comic Relief has been building year on year and has even headed over the pond as an event in America. The main show in the UK, which is to be held on 24th March this year, is always an emotional rollercoaster with devastating and heartbreaking videos along with hilarious sketches. However they all have the same aim - to inspire and influence us to donate to help save and improve lives globally.
This year we have seen the famous Red Noses hitting our streets with lots of fun activations that are all setting out to Raise More Than A Smile.

'Ahead of Red Nose Day, Mini Babybel teamed up with Comic Relief to brighten busy commutes at Kings Cross station through the power of comedy.The activation, which took place on 8th March, featured a giant edible billboard made from 10,000 Babybels, each wrapped with a mini joke, which commuters could pick. Mini Babybel also partnered with Googlebox star Scarlett Moffatt to crack witty one-liners and jokes with commuters. The activity was inspired by a recent survey from Mini Babybel, which showed that two thirds (67%) of young Londoners are feeling surprisingly positive about the year ahead. It also found that Londoners love a laugh with stand-up comedy (25%), witty one-liners (17%), and comedy sketches (17%) topping the positivity poll as being the most popular ways of making them smile. Commuting, train strikes and queuing (41%), however, are the top things guaranteed to wipe smiles from Londoners faces with rudeness (38%) coming in close second.'* 
Such a great idea! Scarlett is a great addition to the campaign with her growing popularity since being crowned the Queen of the Jungle and her success on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. She has that real likability that commuters can relate to and feel comfortable around. Also, who wouldn't love a fun joke and cheese on a daily commute. It would definitely cheer me up, but to be fair just the cheese would have done that. 

Sainsburys
'TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal got up to ‘nose’ good in a Sainsbury’s store in Nine Elms when he pranked shoppers with an animatronic talking Red Nose, for the launch of this year’s official Red Nose Day merchandise. Sainsbury’s worked with a specialist animatronic company to create the larger-than-life Red Nose character, complete with hidden microphone, moving eyes and mouth. Placed out of sight, Rylan was able to use a remote control to make the Nose come to life, surprising shoppers and colleagues with jokes, banter and even some singing. Hidden cameras placed around the store captured people’s reactions throughout the day as Rylan continued to cause mischief with the talking Red Nose. Rylan took part in the tongue-in-cheek prank to launch the nine new character Red Noses, ultra-rare Silver Frankinose and Red Nose Day merchandise, available now in Sainsbury’s stores and online (all Noses cost £1 with at least 60p going to Comic Relief).'**
This type of activation is always successful and I think the collaboration works really well. Rylan is super popular and, like Scarlett, is hilarious whilst making you feel like you are just sitting with a mate. 

Love Actually
I think the best announcement for this years fundraising is that Love Actually is creating a special reboot sketch just for Comic Relief. Director, Richard Curtis, set up the charity with Lenny Henry and the film is one of his most well-known and well loved so it's the perfect fit.
Released back in 2003, the special is predicted to bring the lives of all the characters up to the present day. We have been treated to some behind the scenes imagery and it's getting me even more excited to see my favourite film brought back to life.




*http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/behind-scenes-mini-babybel-unveils-giant-cheese-billboard/brands/article/1426790?bulletin=event-news-bulletin&utm_medium=EMAIL&utm_campaign=eNews%20Bulletin&utm_source=20170309&utm_content=www_eventmagazine_co_uk_a_3
**http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/latest-stories/2017/0215-rylan-clark-neal-is-up-to-nose-good-in-sainsburys/