'Children in Need' raised a spectacular, record breaking total of £37 million last night, during the annual six-hour long telethon. The event was hosted by Tess Daly and Dermot O’Leary, who came in as a last minute replacement for veteran presenter Terry Wogan who was suffering from health issues.

Dermot O'LearyDermot O’Leary hosted ‘Children In Need’ alongside Tess Daly last night (November 13th).

It was the first time Wogan had missed a ‘Children In Need’ broadcast since its inception in 1980. “It’s been an absolute blast,” O’Leary said, “Thank you so, so much. To Terry, I hope you’re feeling better, I hope we get to enjoy a drop of the pure very soon and we’re all doing you justice here.”

Speaking about the night’s record-breaking total, Chief executive of BBC Children in Need, David Ramsden, said that people “should be feeling incredibly proud of what has been achieved… Their remarkable generosity will save a lot of lives.”

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BBC director general Tony Hall added: “Thank you everyone who’s taken part – doing whatever they can for ‘Children in Need’. But, most of all, thank you to all our viewers and listeners for every moment of support they’ve shown and every donation they’ve made.”

The show began with with a video presented by One Direction, Sir Tom Jones and Dame Helen Mirren which thanked the public for the £32 million raised last year. The money raised helped improve the lives of 500,000 children in the UK and aided 2,500 projects.

More: Sir Terry Wogan Pulls Out Of Hosting 'Children In Need'; Replaced By Dermot O'Leary

The night also featured a Star Wars themed sketch which teamed Warwick Davis with Sir Terry Wogan, Martin Freeman, Danny Dyer, Barbara Windsor and Lewis Hamilton, as they searched to find the right person to press the first totaliser button of the night.

The stars of BBC show ‘Call the Midwife’ also took part in a special edition of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, which featured the return of Bruce Forsyth as host. The special mirrorball trophy was take home by actress Laura Main and her pro partner Brendan Cole.