Dame Joanna Lumley is brought up to speed on 2025 trends by Amelia Dimoldenberg in a new sketch to launch this year’s Red Nose Day campaign.
Chicken Shop Date host Dimoldenberg, 30, interrupts Absolutely Fabulous star Dame Joanna, 78, to offer her advice on how to rescript her monologue to make it more relevant to a younger audience.
The launch of Red Nose Day marks the beginning of Comic Relief’s milestone 40th year, as the fundraising show returns to the BBC on March 21.
As Dame Joanna begins to deliver her opening lines in the clip, Dimoldenberg cuts the scene, as she has been hired to ensure the campaign “feels relevant for 2025”.
Dimoldenberg says the revamp is needed as the charity hits 40 years, which she says is “so old”. Dame Joanna replies: “Oh god, I’d hate to be 40,” then looks directly into the camera.
Dame Joanna remembers classic sketches from past Red Nose Day campaigns, including the 2009 Mamma Mia skit which featured her with comedians Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and French kissing actor Hugh Grant live on air – but Dimoldenberg shoots her down.
The exasperated actress says she just wants people to “join in the celebrations”, to which Dimoldenberg says she just needs to speak in today’s language.
It then cuts to Dame Joanna redoing the monologue, saying: “Hey bestie, Jo Lums here, and I’m buzzing to tell you Comic Relief is turning 40.
“I know queen, ancient. But its vibes are still immaculate. It’s giving ‘having a laugh’, it’s giving ‘doing some good’. So join the party and pop off this Red Nose Day. It’s going to be lit.”
Dimoldenberg call the revamp “absolutely fabulous”, to which Dame Joanna responds by simply saying “slay”.
Dame Joanna said of the campaign: “Red Nose Day is something that has always appealed to people for one simple reason – it’s sensational.
“We’ve been treated to so many fantastic, silly and ridiculous things over the years; you can’t help but want to get involved and have some fun.
“Most importantly, we all want to make a difference and help others however we can, because that’s the way we are.
“For 40 years Comic Relief has been a constant in all our lives, bringing us together to help inspire change around the world and here at home. It’s lovely, I adore it. One might even say it’s absolutely fabulous.”
Dimoldenberg added that it was an “honour” to work alongside Dame Joanna for the campaign.
“It’s such an important cause that has helped inspire so much positive change for 40 years now, but we know there’s so much more we can do to help,” she said.
“Whether it’s big or small, every donation counts, and it’s just a great thing to be involved in regardless, because not only are you raising money for an incredible charity, you’re having fun while doing it.”
This Morning presenter Alison Hammond will join the hosting line-up of the Red Nose Day live show for the first time, alongside broadcaster Rylan Clark and comedian Tom Allen.
AJ Odudu, Alesha Dixon, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett and Jonathan Ross will all return to present the live BBC show, which has been billed as a “nostalgia-fuelled evening of live performances, star-studded sketches, hilarious comedy and spectacular fun”.
Actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry and Love Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis co-founded the charity in 1985.
Communities, workplaces, schools and families have helped raise more than £1.6 billion over the last 40 years, which has supported more than 100 million people, according to Comic Relief.
The charity has helped support communities by providing food, healthcare and shelter to those who need it most.
Red Nose Day will air live on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Friday March 21.
