Everyone's favourite Gavin and Stacey character, Smithy, made an unexpected appearance on
BBC One's Comic Relief show on Friday night. The annual programme pulls in millions of viewers every year and treats us to a variety of entertaining live performances and videos of pre-recorded
comedy skits, all in the name of raising funds for the amazing Comic Relief charity. The charity was set up back in 1985 by comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to the devastating famine in Ethiopia and today raises funds for groups, charities and causes supporting people living in poverty all around the world. So far during the 2024 show - which concludes at 10pm on BBC One but is also available to view on iPlayer - viewers have been treated to a fantastic pop
music medley from McFly, a hilarious skit in the style of BBC mockumentary Twenty Twelve featuring Hugh Bonneville and Jessica Hynes, and a brilliant sketch featuring Smithy, the late George Michael, Justin Bieber, JLS, Rupert Grint, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and Keira Knightley. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter COMIC RELIEF 2024: Mollie King sobs as she completes epic Comic Relief challenge and reunites with her family in emotional scenes TV: Holly Willoughby announces first new presenting gig since This Morning exit with
Netflix show The sketch was first aired back in 2011 but was rerun on Comic Relief 2024. In it, Lenny Henry is seen calling Smithy on the phone, urging him to help him with that year's Comic Relief planning. At first, Smithy doesn't recognise Lenny's name - but eventually realises who he is when Lenny refers to himself as "the bloke from the Premier Inn adverts". 'Smithy' was spending the day with George Michael, before he received a call from Lenny Henry (Image: BBC/screengrab) James Cordon played 'Smithy' in Gavin and Stacey and in a sketch for Comic Relief in 2011, which was rerun on Friday, March 15 2024 (Image: screengrab/BBC) Smithy's car also featured on the programme (Image: BBC/screengrab) Smithy then agrees to help Lenny, despite his plans to "spend the day with my mate" - George Michael - and soon arrives at a meeting with a host of celebrities. There, the group decide who should get to go to Africa for Comic Relief. "I want to go to Africa, I just want to give back, it's heart-breaking," Rupert Grint says, before Smithy hilariously calls him by his Harry Potter character's name, Ron. JLS
Singer Marvin Hughes then suggests Rupert takes a friend, before Smithy interjects and says: "It would just be really good if you could go with someone else from the film, otherwise you're just a ginger kid walking around with sunburn!" "I'll go with him," replies Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the franchise. "I'd like to go," said former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "I think the work that Comic Relief is doing is absolutely amazing and, you know, I've got a bit of time on my hands." Later in the sketch, Olympic diver Tom Daley,
Hollywood Actress Keira Knightley, Beatles legend Paul McCartney and singer
Justin Bieber all make appearances. You can watch the 2011 sketch below - please note, the phone number shown is out of date. After the clip aired on Comic Relief 2024, huge cheers could be heard in the studio audience. "What an absolute classic, and it's so good to see the late, great George Michael," said co-host Romesh Ranganathan. How to donate to Comic Relief The easiest way to donate is via Comic Relief's official website . All you have to do is click the 'donate' button, which can be found at the top of the home page. Once you've hit the button, you will be redirected to the Comic Relief donation page. There you can make a single donation, a monthly donation, or opt to pay in any fundraising monies you've recently collected. The minimum donation amount that can be entered online is £1. Alternatively, funds can also be donated via text. Text YES to 70205 to donate £5, or text YES to 70210 to donate £10. Further details on how to send a donation via text can be found on the Terms and Conditions page on the Comic Relief website. Donations can also be made by purchasing a Comic Relief red nose , online via
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