Red Nose Day: Best of the British Bits

Mandi Bierly
Updated

May 21 is America’s first time celebrating Red Nose Day, but the popular Comic Relief-style charity telethon has raised more than $1 billion over the last 30 years in the United Kingdom.

NBC’s star-studded three-hour telecast — which will be hosted by Seth Meyers, David Duchovny, and Jane Krakowski and feature original sketch comedy and parodies as well as musical performances — will raise funds to help lift children out of poverty. Nick Cannon got a headstart with a 24-hour dance marathon for the cause that ends at 8 p.m. ET, when NBC’s show starts. And no, technically he didn’t dance the whole time.

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While we wait to see what awaits us Thursday night, let’s look back at five classic bits from the Brits to get us in the giving mood.

First, see what happens when Daniel Craig dates a woman (Catherine Tate) he meets online.

Next, notorious teen Lauren Cooper (Tate again) has a problem with a Scot (David Tennant) teaching her English class. Also, she’s pretty sure he’s the Doctor.

Mr. Bean is the worst wedding guest ever in this short, which has nearly 11 million views on YouTube.

What happens when three women who don’t cook (including Call the Midwife’s Miranda Hart) have to prepare lunch for the prime minister, MasterChef-style?

Before new Late Late Show host James Corden did “Carpool Karaoke” with Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, and Justin Bieber, he did it with George Michael.

Red Nose Days airs May 21 at 8 p.m. on NBC.