Let's hear it for the boys: One Direction lead the stars to help raise £24million for Children in Need

By Jessica Satherley

Last updated at 1:06 AM on 19th November 2011

Boyband One Direction were the stars of the celebrity-filled show tonight on children in Need. The former X Factor contestants belted out two songs to help raise more than £24million throughout the marathon fundraising event.

Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson kicked off proceedings by taking to the stage to belt out What Makes You Beautiful.

They were introduced by Terry Wogan, who started the night off by also introducing his three fellow presenters Tess Daly, Alesha Dixon and Fearne Cotton.

Kicking off the show: One Direction took to the stage to sing What Makes You Beautiful for Children in Need

Boys on stage: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson left the audience cheering after their performance

It was hard to decide who was the most glamorous presenter as Tess, Alesha and Fearne all wowed the audience with gold frocks.

The BBC charity event raises money to go towards helping disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.
One Direction were just a taste of what was to come during the night though, as Gary Barlow also brought together a group of stars, including fellow X Factor judge Tulisa, to perform the official Children in Need single.

Sultry singers: Louis Tomlinson (left) and Harry Styles (right) singing lead vocals during the boys' performance

Wogan's angels: Terry Wogan was presenting the gig alongside fellow hosts Tess Daly, Alesha Dixon and Fearne Cotton, who all looked stunning in gold and who Terry joked were his 'angels'

Fellow X Factor acts JLS, Olly Murs and Matt Cardle also all performed their singles alongside a number of charity acts from television presenters and stars.

After One Direction performed their single, the cast of the West End show The Wizard of Oz performed a segment from their musical.

The acts and performances were split between clips of children who have been helped by the charity.

Musical act: The cast of the West End show The Wizard of Oz performed a segment from their musical

A long way from Kansas: Playing Dorothy in the West End musical, the star sang a solo performance on stage

For the next act, four of the BBC’s female newsreaders took part in a Strictly Come Dancing Children In Need special competition.

Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly presented the dance-off, with judges Alesha Dixon, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Horwood sitting on the panel.

And as Sian Williams, Susanna Reid, Emily Maitlis and Sophie Rayworth swapped their news reading duties for the dance floor, they ended up getting rave reviews from the judges.

But there could only be one winner and that title went to Susanna Reid and her partner Robin Windsor.

Strictly special: Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly presented the Strictly skit for the charity event

The contestants: Newsreaders Sian Williams, Susanna Reid, Emily Maitlis and Sophie Rayworth took part in the competition, which Susanna and her partner won

The judging panel: Strictly judges Alesha Dixon, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Horwood voted Susanna as the winner

The next special guest who took to the stage might not be famed for his singing, but fashion guru Gok Wan put on an amazing performance of Razzle Dazzle from the musical Chicago.

Sporting a dark moustache, Gok performed alongside four scantily clad dancers for the full effect.

He said: ‘That was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Getting women naked - easy. Getting on stage – the hardest thing ever.’

And keeping up the musical theme, the cast of EastEnders paid tribute to Queen by performing a range of hits from the British rock band.

Born performer: Fashion guru Gok Wan swapped his style advice for singing tonight as he performed a single from the musical Chicago

Stage show: Gok was surrounded by four scantily clad dancers on stage as he performed for Children in Need

From ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, the cast belted out a montage of hits and said: ‘It’s for such a big cause, so we all wanted to be part of it.’

Their performance was accompanied by a music video skit, in which their acting skills came in handy.

James Bond star Daniel Craig didn't sing or dance tonight, but he voiced an emotional plea for people to donate to Children in Need with a story of one young boy from England’s northwest.

EastEnders tribute to Queen: The actors from the soap sang a montage of hits from the British rock band

EastEnders music video: From Another One Bites The Dust to Bohemian Rhapsody, the cast belted out the hits and performed music video skits

He said: ‘Being a parent is one of the most joyful things in the world, but can also be the most painful.’

Craig told the story a little boy, Elliot, who was diagnosed with Leukaemia at seven-years-old.

Despite receiving intense chemotherapy it didn’t help and although a bone marrow transplant was organised, two days before the operation it was called off because the donor had to pull out.

Tribute: Susan Boyle performs her cover of the Depeche Mode single Enjoy the Silence

Plea for donations: James Bond star Daniel Craig (left) and X Factor judge and singer Gary Barlow made pleas for audiences to donate to Children in Need

The Dragons: Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis, Duncan Bannatyne and Hilary Devey heard Alan Sugar's business plan

Before another donor was found, Elliot passed away in March this year, when he was nine-years-old.

Elliot spent some of his last days at Claire House Hospice in the northwest, which provides care to children with life threatening illnesses and his mother said it was amazing for him to spend his last days in their care.

Children In Need funds a team of nurses who help out at the hospice and Daniel Craig urged donors to help raise money for the hospice.

Next up, Alan Sugar lightened the mood with a Dragon’s Den skit alongside dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis, Duncan Bannatyne and Hilary Devey.

Sugar walked into the den and shouted: ‘Who has a business meeting in a knackered out loft with chains everywhere?

Not impressed: Peter Jones (left) knocked back Alan Sugar's (right) business plan, which ended up being Pudsey the Bear

The Collective: Tulisa sings Massive Attack's Teardrop with Ed Shearer, Tinchy Stryder, Miss Dynamite, Wretch 32, Rizzle Kicks, Chipmunk, Mz Bratt and Dot Rotton

‘You’re all meant to be successful business people, why are you sharing an office?’

After rambling about the unconventional office space, he continued: ‘I’m about to give you a master class in presentation’, and presented his business idea .

But when he unveiled his ‘invention’, it ended up being Children In Need’s Pudsey the Bear.

Alan Sugar tried to claim it was an AMS bear and was a wireless communication bear with GPS, satellite communication

But the dragon’s didn’t take kindly to the product and four of them decided to pull out, but he did manage to sell one bear for £5 to Hilary.

Lead vocals: N-Dubz star and X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos looked glamorous as she sang her vocals

Leggy lady: Tulisa Contostavlos in a little black dress leaving the BBC studio after performing her part for the evening

Leggy lady: Tulisa Contostavlos in a little black dress leaving the BBC studio after performing her part tonight

Up again: Boy band One Direction took to the stage for the second time during the night to perform once more

The skit was followed by Tulisa Contostavlos singing a rendition of Massive Attack's Teardrop with Ed Sheeran, Tinchy Stryder, Wretch 32, Rizzle Kicks, Chipmunk, Mz Bratt, Dot Rottonand and Miss Dynamite.

The song was Gary Barlow's creation of The Collective - the new official Children in Need single

And speaking after their performance, X Factor judge Tulisa said: 'it's for an amazing course'.

Ed Sheeran then performed solo and sang his hit Lego House, followed by JLS jumping up to perform their new single Do You Feel What I Feel.

Solo gig: Ed Sheeran performed his hit Lego House on stage with just his guitar

JLS perform: The former X Factor contestants sung their new single Do You Feel What I Feel

Here come the boys: Oritse Williams, Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes and Jonathan Benjamin (JB) from JLS on stage at the BBC centre

Cast members from Hollyoaks then made their attempt at a musical performance, who were followed by Westlife performing You Raise Me Up.
Meanwhile in Liverpool the rest of the Hollyoaks cast hit the streets to sell hugs for a pound to raise funds for the charity

Soap star power: The cast of Hollyoaks perform during the BBC Children In Need Appeal at the BBC Television Centre in London

Meanwhile in Liverpool... The rest of the Hollyoaks cast hit the streets to sell hugs for a pound to raise funds for the charity

Meanwhile, The One Show revealed tonight that presenter Matt Baker has raised a running total of £1,263, 272.93 for Children in Need.
He completed his arduous Rickshaw Challenge live on The One Show’s Children in Need special on BBC One.
Matt cycled an impressive 480 miles, from Edinburgh to Hawick, Hexham, Bernard Castle, York, Lincoln, Peterborough, Cambridge and London.
And hundreds of supporters welcomed him every night as he crossed the finish line at each location.
He said: ‘Since hopping on the rickshaw outside of Edinburgh Castle eight days ago, I've been constantly shocked by what's happened.

Man band: Irish band Westlife performed You Raise Me Up on stage

Rickshaw Challenge: Matt Baker (pictured) has raised a running total of £1,263, 272.93 for Children in Need during his Richshaw Challenge

‘To have the opportunity to actually see people's generosity as they run alongside, showing me their support and giving us their money, is overwhelming. We haven't gone half a mile without hearing cheers and seeing people donate what they can.
‘I never had a target amount of money to raise, but I did set out knowing that just a few pounds can make a big difference.
‘Now I've parked up the rickshaw and we've hit this enormous amount, I know a staggering number of children's lives can now be different.
‘It's been a brilliant thing to be a part of. Thank you for all your generosity and I hope you don't mind if you never see me on a rickshaw ever again!’
Back on stage at the BBC Television Centre in London, Olly Murs and Steps were next up to perform a melody of their hits from over the years.

Flashback: Steps performed a montage of their past hits on stage

Glamorous group: Girl band The Saturdays sang My Heart Takes Over in sparkling floor length gowns

Girl group The Saturdays continued the night in an elegant performance of My Heart Takes Over.
Fearne Cotton said the girls had 'Razzle Dazzle' and they group looked stunning in floor length glittering gowns.
But taking a short break from the musical performances, comedian Russell Howard put on a hilarious stand up show focussing on the media coverage of the Queen's trip to Australia and Jimmy Saville's death.
It was soon back to the musical performances though, with Adele aired singing Make You Feel My Love from a pre-recorded video.
The phone number for Children in Need donations is 03457 33 22 33.