Sport Relief, the fundraising initiative of BBC Worldwide Channels which has successfully been introduced in South Africa and been done through the BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) channel, will be going global this year from March.
This annual British fundraising initiative which has successful caught on in South Africa, will this year not just involve Britain and South Africa but be going global. ''BBC Entertainment: Sport Relief goes global for the first time ever with a special package of programmes for our viewers around the world,'' BBC Worldwide Channels just announced.
Stephen Fry will kick off a whole season of programming on BBC Entertainment from 18 March in South Africa with ''This is Sport Relief'' a specially produced programme explaining how the event raises laughs, raises money and changes lives with highlights from Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team, England footballer David Beckham and Little Britain's David Walliams.
It will also include David Walliams' fundraising swim along the 140 mile length of the Thames and a comedy special in which celebrities compete in ancient Olympic events.
The special programming will end with a special 4 hour broadcast entitled Sport Relief Goes Global done from The Mall in London which will include comedy highlights from Sport Relief 2012 and will include entertainment and sketches from the stars of Outnumbered, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Smithy from Gavin and Stacey.
''Global viewing events are going to be a big part of our activity tis year and I'm thrilled that we can kick off with Sport Relief,'' says Jana Bennett, the president of BBC Worldwide Networks.
''Sport Relief is a uniquely inspirational event, which harnesses the passion for sport to unite viewers behind a great cause. I'm thrilled that we at BBC Worldwide can pull the force of our branded noetwork behind Sport Relief this year, bringing out viewers one of the year's biggest entertainment events and giving them the chance to get involved.''
