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Press Releases
91Èȱ¬ Children in Need 2008: Pudsey says "Thank you Northern Ireland!"
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The people of Northern Ireland dug deep into their pockets for Pudsey last night, Friday 14 November, raising more than £700,000 for 91Èȱ¬ Children in Need.
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As phone lines closed at 2.00am, nationally the appeal total at the end of the night stood at £20,991,216 and locally at £711,260.
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Topping the bill at a massive concert in the King's Hall, Belfast last night, in front of an audience of 3,000, were recently reformed Irish chart toppers Boyzone who made a surprise appearance performing some of their best known songs and new material.
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Also performing were Irish band The Script, whose hits include The Man Who Can't Be Moved and We Cry and R'n'B star Lemar, who returns to the charts with his new single If She Knew.
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Making an extremely rare TV appearance was Donegal-born singing superstar Enya who performed her single Trains And Winter Rains.
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Acclaimed New York singer/songwriter Julian Velard took to the stage, as well as Belfast's very own Brian Kennedy, and London duo Honey Ryder – performing ahead of the release of their much-awaited debut album – completed the line-up in the main arena.
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After the main concert concluded Nashville-based singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, who has written songs for artists across pop and country including Faith Hill (This Kiss), performed an exclusive acoustic set from the studio up at the Balmoral Conference Centre.
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The concert and programme were hosted and presented by Stephen Nolan, Zoe Salmon and John Daly.
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Before heading up the King's Hall, Pudsey was partying on down at 91Èȱ¬ Broadcasting House, with live music and entertainment and meeting up with fundraisers. Ìý
91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster presenters joined in the fun in the build-up to the big show as Hugo Duncan hosted his Country Afternoon programme live from Studio One, 91Èȱ¬ Broadcasting House, Belfast in the company of Dana and Dominic Kirwan among others.
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This year Hugo's five-day on-air auction raised £21,847, an increase of £1,000 on last year's auction. Adding in £6,268.81 from a recent concert, featuring many of Ireland's top country stars in Ballynahinch, brought the grand total raised by Hugo and his team to £28,115.81.
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Last year on the night, locally 91Èȱ¬ Children in Need raised £606,399 from pledges and donations, part of the UK total of £19,089,771 which grew to a final total of over £37m.
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In Northern Ireland this year, a total of £3.2m in grants was distributed to 284 groups and organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people.
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To make a donation to 91Èȱ¬ Children in Need from Northern Ireland call: 0345 7 33 22 33.
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For donations from the Republic of Ireland call: 0845 607 3605.
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91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland Press Office
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