What has happened to Comic Relief? In the 80s when it started, comedy was the new rock'n'roll; the first Comic Relief, happening in the wake of Band Aid, was edgy, exciting and funny. Spool on 35 years, and what a dreary lot of liggers and leftovers we have got. It's probably no accident that, increasingly, it is known simply as 'Red Nose Day', because it seems to have dropped any attempt at being amusing and to be composed entirely of sponsored 'challenges' and pointless minor celebrity appearances; after the news it went over to a 'Prizeathon' which seemed to be nothing more or less than infomercials. It's little different from Children in Need, if indeed it is as good as that.
But, I suppose, what can you expect? The BBC no longer has any cool, popular comedies on which it can draw for special material or appearances. We all know that celebs and businesses alike are simply milking these things for publicity, and we also know that telethons change nothing. In any case, it's better to give to individual charities; that way you know just what your money is being spent on.
