Big Night In: Dua Lipa, Little Mix and Sam Smith lead musical performances

BBC’s Big Night In: Sam Smith kicks off the musical performances with an emotional rendition of Lay Me Down in support of the fight against coronavirus

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The greatest names in the UK music scene joined forces for BBC’s fundraiser Big Night In on Thursday, in support of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Award-winning singer Sam Smith kicked off the performances from their £12million North London mansion with an emotional rendition of their hit single, Lay Me Down.

The one-off special, hosted by Lenny Henry, Davina McCall, Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness and Matt Baker, was held as a joint effort from Comic Relief and Children in Need to raise money for charity amid the global crisis.   

Impassioned: Award-winning singer Sam Smith kicked off the performances for BBC’s charity fundraiser Big Night In on Thursday, in support of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic

The show also saw comedy sketches from Little Britain’s David Walliams and Matt Lucas, the first in more than a decade.  

The beloved sketch show initially began as a radio show in 2000 before it moved to screens in 2003 for three seasons until 2005.

The pair reunited for a few charity specials, the last of which was in 2009, as well as a special Brexit-themed episode on BBC Radio 4 last October.

The series won a legion of comedy fans with it’s array of kooky characters, including teenage delinquent Vicky Pollard, Fatfighters’ Marjorie Dawes and Job Centre worker Carol Beer, who delivered the iconic catchphrase ‘computer says no’.

In January this year, David confirmed there would ‘definitely’ be more Little Britain, and revealed they had held talks with Netflix. 

Dawn French also reprised her iconic role as Reverend Geraldine Granger (later Kennedy) after five years. The iconic sitcom ran from 1994 before coming to an end in 2000.

However, the characters made comebacks on several occasions, namely for the show’s 10th and 20th anniversaries and well as for Comic Relief – with the last appearance being in 2015.

Peter Kay’s performance served as his first television comeback since 2017 when his sitcom Car Share ended.

His (Is This The Way To) Amarillo performance also marked 15 years since he first released the original hit.

In 2005, the song spent seven weeks at number one, raising money for Comic Relief in the process.

The original video featured Peter Kay marching directly towards the camera on a treadmill joined by celebrities including Brian May, Ronnie Corbett, Michael Parkinson and Mr Blobby. 

Leading the previous incarnation of the Doctor was Jodie Whittaker, who became the first ever Female Doctor when she took over the role in 2018.

Classic Era Doctors Tom Baker (who played the Doctor from 1974 to 1981), Peter Davison (1981 to 1984), Colin Baker (1984 to 1986), Sylvester McCoy (1987 to 1989) and Paul McGann (1996) also appeared in the video.

David Tennant, who played The Doctor from 2005 to 2010, also appeared as well as Matt Smith who took over from Tennant from 2010 to 2013.

Rounding out the stars were Peter Capaldi (2014 to 2017), and Jo Martin, who made history as the show’s first ever black Doctor during its 12th series this year.

Who fans are no stranger to Doctors collaborating, as along with David and Matt appearing together in the 50th Anniversary special, the episode also featured a surprise cameo from Tom.

Back in 1983, The Five Doctors saw Peter Davison appear alongside Tom Baker, Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and Richard Hurndall, who took over the role of the First Doctor following William Hartnell’s death.