John Bishop
A number of events, including comedian John Bishop's 295-mile trip from Paris to London by bike, boat and foot, eclipse the £44m raised in 2010
This year’s Sport Relief campaign raised a record £62.5m, organisers have announced.
Comic Relief, which runs the event, said that more than a million people took part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile at events around the UK on 25 March.
The previous event, held in 2010, raised £44m.
The comedian John Bishop raised more than £4m from his challenge, which involved cycling, rowing and running 295 miles from Paris to London over five days.
The comedian David Walliams raised £2.5m by swimming 140 miles of the Thames in eight days in September.
"When I was asked to take on a challenge for Sport Relief, I’ve got to admit I wasn’t keen," said Bishop. "But after seeing the great work that’s happening in Sierra Leone, it was pretty hard to say no. The money raised will mean a lifetime of difference to people who really need it."
The Comic Relief initiative included a night on the BBC on 23 March that featured the model Kate Moss in an Absolutely Fabulous sketch, the comedian Miranda Hart playing tennis at the Albert Hall and an underwater version of Strictly Come Dancing.
The government donated £10m specifically for Comic Relief’s work in Africa’s urban slums.
