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Stars raise record $120 million with Comic Relief telethon

Written by . Published: March 16 2013

Stars including One Direction, Jessie J and Nicole Scherzinger have banded together to help raise a record $120 million so far for Britain's 2013 Comic Relief fundraiser.


The Wanted, Simon Cowell, Hugh Grant and Gwyneth Paltrow all made appearances on a live TV telethon on Friday night (15Mar13) to pull in cash for good causes in the U.K. and Africa.


Highlights from the show included Jessie J shaving off her hair in front of the cameras and a Ricky Gervais comedy sketch, in which the funnyman reprised his hapless The Office character David Brent for a reggae music video.


Viewers watched as music mogul Cowell 'married' his ideal partner - himself - in a church filled with his showbiz pals JLS, Sharon Osbourne, David Walliams and Sinitta.


Comedian Walliams also filmed a hilarious spoof entitled David's Exes, in which the comedian pays a visit to each of his 'former famous lovers', including Notting Hill's Grant and David Schwimmer, to confess he has a sexually transmitted disease. Paltrow opened her door to Walliams in her sports bra, while supermodel Kate Moss stole the show in a skin-tight black leather dress.


The fundraiser for Britain's Red Nose Day also featured performances by pop sensations One Direction, an appearance by Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell as his famous Anchorman character Ron Burgundy and moving stories of famine and poverty in Africa.


The show wrapped up in the early hours of Saturday (16Mar13) and provisional figures suggest a staggering $120 million was pulled in through viewer donations as well as charity events held during the 2013 Comic Relief festivities.

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