Still Game duo to hit River City for Children In Need

Children In Need always taps into the hottest stars of the moment and there’s nobody hotter in Scotland than Still Game stars Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill.

After the screening of their live show at the Hydro last Friday, Jack and Victor are heading to Shieldinch to join the River City cast for an exclusive sketch.

Tess Daly, Fearne Cotton and newcomer presenter Rochelle Humes of The Saturdays will host the network coverage of Children In Need on Friday.

Viewers north of the border will be in the safe hands of Jackie Bird for the Scots sections of the annual charity marathon.

And the Still Game sketch is likely to be one of the highlights of the night with duo Jack and Victor winning a competition to watch filming of the popular soap.

“It’s an absolute coup,” admits Jackie, 52.

“They’re the boys of the moment. I didn’t get to their Hydro shows but I was doing something the other week that they were at and the audience response was just phenomenal.”

Jackie will be doing her bit too, teaming up with River City’s Tom Urie and Scott Fletcher among others for a one-off rock performance.

“I think my part will be saying ‘give us some money’ or we’ll play another song’.”

There’s no doubting Jackie’s commitment to the Children In Need cause.

This is her 15th year of hosting the telethon and, while it’s an emotion-packed affair, Jackie reveals the routine that ensures there are no tears after teatime.

“Some of the film clips of the youngsters are so harrowing or indeed uplifting that if you waited to watch them with the audience on the night it’d be hard to keep your emotions in check. So, I get a little DVD a few days before and watch in the privacy of my own living room.

“I have a bubble at home so I don’t bubble on the night.

“I’m not there to do that, I’m there to show off all the amazing work that has been done. But I’m just the same as everyone in their living room. If it grabs them by the back of the throat then it’s done exactly the same to me.”

It’s not the only time the cause has reduced Jackie to tears.

She admits she’s “welling up even thinking about it” as she recalls how she came home pumped up after a good show only to find her then young son Jacob had left his £1 pocket money with a note saying, ‘for the children’.

“This is very different from the other things I do,” she adds. You tend to be all wrapped up in this silly job of trying to make sure you get a TV programme out.

“And here you are faced with people who’ve done these things one person had even has Pudsey tattooed on them and they hand over cheques for tens of thousands of pounds. It’s very humbling.”

Meanwhile, Tess and Terry will be joined in London by some Strictly and EastEnders favourites.

The programme will come from Albert Square and the Walford setting will see some famous faces from EastEnders’ history return in an exclusive sketch.

The main show will also see One Direction doing a special one-off live performance.

Rochelle added: “I’m so excited and honoured to be asked to be part of the presenting team for BBC Children in Need this year.”