Comic Relief’s biggest controversies from Stacey Dooley row to Ofcom complaints

Comic Relief is back again for another Red Nose Day this Friday. The charity has been in action since 1985 and has been part of a number of controversies over the years

Comic Relief is back again for another Red Nose Day this Friday. The charity has been in action since 1985 and has been part of a number of controversies over the years, including many Ofcom complaints and accusations of a "white saviour" complex when Stacey Dooley travelled to Uganda for an appeal film.

Sir Lenny Henry, who helped launch the charity in 1985, will not be returning as the host of the evening's entertainment. The legendary comic revealed last year that he would no longer be hosting the show, and this year the presenters will be Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark and Alesha Dixon while the show is on BBC One from 7pm.

Tom Allen and AJ Odudu will take over hosting duties on BBC Two at 10pm. Ahead of the live show, we take a look back at the charity's biggest controversies...

'White saviours' row

Comic Relief has been accused of promoting a "white saviour" stereotype in the past, but in 2019 presenter Stacey Dooley stirred up debate when she travelled to Uganda for an appeal film about the charity's work in the country.

Stacey - who shared a photo of herself holding a young child on the trip - prompted criticism from politician David Lammy. The MP tweeted: "The world does not need any more white saviours. As I've said before, this just perpetuates tired and unhelpful stereotypes. Let's instead promote voices from across the continent of Africa and have serious debate."

David said it wasn't personal against Stacey and that he wasn't questioning her "good motives". He instead said: "My problem with British celebrities being flown out by Comic Relief to make these films is that it sends a distorted image of Africa which perpetuates an old idea from the colonial era."

He said: "Comic Relief should be helping to establish an image of African people as equals to be respected rather than helpless victims to be pitied. It would therefore be better for people who actually live there to speak about the continent they know."

In response, Stacey said: "David, is the issue with me being white? (Genuine question) ...because if that's the case, you could always go over there and try raise awareness? Comic relief have raised over 1 billion pounds since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with the money. Kids lives."

Comic Relief said in a statement at the time that it was "really grateful" to Stacey for agreeing to go to Uganda "to discover more about projects the British people have generously funded there and make no apologies for this". It added that she helped "put a much-needed spotlight" on issues affecting people and that those supported by Comic Relief projects "tell their own stories in their own words" in her film.

The charity added that David had previously been asked if he would like to work with them to make a film in Africa and that "he has not responded". Screenwriter Richard Curtis, who co-founded the charity, addressed the criticism at an International Development Committee that year. He said: "We heard the criticism, we were doing stuff to address it [and] we're accelerating the way that we address it."

Asked how Comic Relief would operate in the future, he said of the TV special: "I think we have to do what we think is best and I think it will be heading in the direction of not using [celebrities abroad] and particularly being very careful to give voices to people abroad."

Russell Brand

Scandal-hit comedian Russell Brand hosted BBC's Comic Relief – despite a complaint being lodged about him. He appeared on the flagship programme just months after a former colleague refiled a complaint in 2016, having originally filed it in 2007. They claimed that Brand, 49, had urinated into a cup in front of his colleagues during his BBC Radio 2 programme.

He has strongly denied all allegations. Following the complaint, the corporation stated that Brand had in fact urinated into a cup in the radio studio, as well as a bottle. It was said that Brand also acted in an aggressive manner by throwing objects at a screen when a member of the production team made a mistake. Brand was later handed the Comic Relief presenting role – despite the allegations against him.

The decision to hand the gig to Brand was made when Charlotte Moore, now chief content officer, was in charge of BBC One. Tim Davie, the director general, was in charge of BBC Studios – the team who produced the show. It is not known wether either were made aware of the complaint in 2016.

Meanwhile, the BBC had issued an apology to their staff following their review. A review found that a number of people 'felt unable to raise concerns' about his behaviour and believed he would 'always get his way and therefore stayed silent.'

BBC's Big Night In fundraiser

BBC's Big Night In received 181 Ofcom complaints following the coronavirus relief special in April 2020. According to the BBC's fortnightly complaints report, the main issue with the family show was 'offensive content or humour'.

The three-hour long Big Night In special, which aired on April 23, included a star-studded line up of celebrities and UK royalty. The comedy show also raised £67million for coronavirus relief efforts.

The show brought together both Children In Need and Comic Relief and also featured skits from comedians such as Catherine Tate and Dawn French. Singers such as Dua Lipa, Rita Ora and Chris Martin also performed.

Despite the overwhelmingly positive response, some viewers were 'offended' by the content and filed Ofcom complaints. However, the report did not specify what the complaints were made about.

However, the BBC show faced criticism from some viewers over the appearance of Little Britain's comedy duo, David Walliams and Matt Lucas. Many branded the show 'racist, xenophobic and ableist' as they slammed a potential return.

Comic Relief bombshell investments

Back in 2013, a Sunday People investigation revealed Comic Relief was investing millions in controversial ­tobacco, pharmaceutical and arms firms.

A probe by the Sunday People and investigative agency OpenWorld News had found Comic Relief put ­£14million into a company which invested in firms accused of unethical behaviour.

The Invesco Perpetual High Income Fund, which was not named in Comic Relief’s latest publicly available accounts at the time, was called the UK’s top performer. A source said: “Everybody has a soft spot for Comic Relief and loves to support it. It’s done so much for so many good causes, and should rightly be praised.

“But a ­considerable amount of money in the charity goes to places some people would be unsure about.” Among those invested in by Invesco were three of the world’s biggest cigarette firms – British American Tobacco, Reynolds American and Imperial Tobacco, makers of the Lambert and Butler brand.

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