Trending Now: Alison Hammond joins Idris Elba for Red Nose Day Sketch – Fans React

This year’s BBC Comic Relief is stacked as Allison Hammond and Idris Elba star alongside each other in the comedy sketch The Bank Job

Alison Hammond is set to appear alongside a host of famous faces in a brand-new Comic Relief sketch, promising chaos, comedy and a blockbuster-style heist when the fundraiser returns this Friday (March 20).

The beloved presenter will take part in The Bank Job, a special comedy sketch created for Comic Relief which airs as part of the annual Red Nose Day broadcast. The show kicks off at 7pm on Friday, live from MediaCityUK in Salford on BBC One and iPlayer, and will also be streamed simultaneously on the BBC’s official YouTube channel for the first time.

Joining Alison in the action-packed sketch is a long list of well-known names, including Idris Elba, who is set to reprises his role as DCI John Luther – the formidable detective from the hit series Luther.

The storyline centres on a group attempting to pull off “the heist of all heists”, only to find themselves pursued by Luther himself.

Also featured in the sketch are Dermot O’Leary, Chris McCausland and Natalie Cassidy, who will delight fans by bringing along the trumpet famously played by her EastEnders character Sonia Jackson. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Mulhern, Niko Omilana, Shona McGarty and Gladiators star Sabre.

Teasing the sketch, the BBC said: “Who will stay on the right side of the law? Who will put their (questionable!) intelligence, strategic prowess and artful deftness to the test in a bid to become 2026’s most-wanted bank robber? And how will they fare now that DCI John Luther is on the case?”

The special is part of Comic Relief: Funny for Money, an evening packed with comedy, entertainment and fundraising. This year’s show will be hosted by Davina McCall, alongside beloved comedians including Katherine Ryan, Joel Dommett and Catherine Tate – with her iconic character Nan expected to make an appearance.

As well as laughs, viewers will have the chance to win money-can’t-buy prizes throughout the night, from dream music tickets to even a classic car, all while supporting vital causes.

Funds raised through Red Nose Day go towards urgent issues both in the UK and globally, including providing food and shelter, mental health support, tackling violence and abuse and addressing child poverty.

In recent years alone, Comic Relief has supported more than 4.5 million people.

Even small donations can have a significant impact. £25 could help provide a young person experiencing homelessness in the UK with a starter pack for independent living, while £50 could feed 10 children at a community hub during the school holidays.

With a mix of big-name stars, high-energy comedy and meaningful fundraising, this year’s Comic Relief promises to be an unmissable night of entertainment for a good cause.

Watch Comic Relief: Funny for Money on BBC iPlayer