... to not want to watch Children In Need

[NewName73]

... and be quite annoyed that HIGFY is not on in its usual slot?

Never watch this sort of thing as I don't want to be made to feel upset or guilty. I know there are children in heartbreaking situations but I don't to sit through something that is going to make me feel upset. My dc's school raised money today and we donated.

I also don't watch enough TV to know who the celebrities are on these things.

I'm more surprised about how many people still watch HIGNFY, especially as a prime time show, I used to love it but now find it nauseating. Paul Merton lost his spark ages ago.

I've only just put it on and was lucky because the Eastenders cast (some of them) are doing 'Strictly' in a minute.

There is a car crash waiting to happen.

I loathe it. It tends to be Lesley Joseph tapdancing every year and the BBC newsreaders doing something zany. But even then, that content has decreased and the sad VTs now take up almost the whole programme.

Sorry, but I’m not watching that.

You don’t need to watch it .
I know a whole community that they have supported massively grateful .

All the people who say "it's shit" are missing the point a bit. For ONE night, ONE channel is taken over to raise awareness of how charities benefit from public contributions. It isn't about being "good" or "entertaining" TV.

People can't donate to a charity that does excellent work if they don't even know it exists. CIN showcases them.

If those charities could raise enough money without CIN publicity, don't you think they would already be doing that?

How about people appreciate that some out there are working their arse off for small charities, instead of being so self absorbed that all you can think is "Waaah, what about my programme?"

And if CIN and charity shouldn't exist - because things should be paid for via taxes - I strongly doubt that anyone who begrudges giving up a TV programme once a year, is going to volunteer to pay more in tax to benefit charities.

Finally, how the fuck do people here know how much the celebrities themselves do or don't donate? Stuff like that tends to rarely come out - George Michael privately donating loads came out after his death. The Beckhams donate a fortune but it is done quietly unless a recipients friend or family blabs to the press.

Still, continue to moan about missing a half hour programme once a year, it doesn't make anyone look like a thoughtless bastard at all!

Ian H and Piers M dancing together in a Children in Need dance off. Now that I would watch....

I have 2 kids with complex needs and I always give to CIN. But this year I was enraged by the end of 3 hours . There were many wonderful ( and sad )stories as usual and it was great to see so many causes shown but I was struck by the fact that all the children's stories were of the inspirational variety . It was children triumphing over the odds etc. Well done to them all . I applaud each and every one ( mostly with tears in my eyes).
But where were the children who couldn't speak for themselves? the ones who are limited by both body and mental ability and cannot merely exert force of will to triumph over their difficulties. In the main body of show ( pre 10 o'clock news ) not one graced the stage. Well they are fighting to survive on all fronts with huge odds stacked against them. Are they not worthy of recognition ?
I always donate to my local hospice who support us as well of course but next year they will get my full donation and I won't bother with CIN .

George Michael privately donating loads came out after his death. The Beckhams donate a fortune but it is done quietly unless a recipients friend or family blabs to the press.

Don't forget, for higher rate tax payers, there is a potential tax benefit to them contributing. With the gift aid scheme, qualifying charities can claim the 20% tax back, but if you are say a 40% tax payer, you can claim relief on the difference, so 20%.

Now call me cynical, but there certainly is something in it for them.

I have never given money to CIN. I believe a big chunk of the money goes to the 'fat cats' on top.

I was pleased my DD school had nothing to do with CIN this year.

I wonder how much Jimmy Carr donates and claims back.

Now call me cynical, but there certainly is something in it for them.

So richer people/celebs can't really do right then.

Lots of people on here don't like the fact that rich celebs are guilting poorer people into giving money by appearing on the programme and doing appeals, although have no idea how much these celebs donate themselves. Now you are saying if they do donate, it's to financially benefit themselves.

So giving their time isn't good enough and neither is giving their money. I'm not sure what they're meant to do then.

*Don't forget, for higher rate tax payers, there is a potential tax benefit to them contributing. With the gift aid scheme, qualifying charities can claim the 20% tax back, but if you are say a 40% tax payer, you can claim relief on the difference, so 20%.

Now call me cynical, but there certainly is something in it for them*

PP were complaining that celebs don't put their hand in their pockets. When it's pointed out that some do, it's dismissed as a tax break thing. So they can't do the right thing irrespective of what they do? That's what you are saying, yes?

I doubt the people who have received that support don't give a fuck if there are tax benefits to the celeb. Its not like the government would donate direct to the causes themselves with that tax. It would just fund tax breaks for the even richer conglomerates.

If a celebrity REALLY wanted something out of it, they would publicise their giving, to boost their popularity, and thereby make more money.

What are we coming to when we begrudge losing a half hour programme, for an programme that raises millions? And where celebrities can do no right with their involvement, whether they donate or not? Are we REALLY this bloody begrudging and negative?

@MonChatEstMagnifique - cross posts but you put it far better than me!

@MonChatEstMagnifique

Personally it doesn't bother me if they find ways around the tax system.

I'm a higher rate tax payer and if I did donate this year to charity, I'd be claiming the 20% relief and make no apology for it.

I'll be "called out" for that by the do gooders, but if it makes financial sense to do that, I'll call it charity beginning at home.

I prefer to watch the extended HIGNFY on a Monday.

CIN can bore off. It supports some incredibly dodgy groups and like pp said, I'd rather donate directly to orgs I choose.

The PP who have said there shouldn’t be children in need and the government should be helping them, a number of causes that CIN help would not be paid for by Government no matter how much tax we pay and how well the Government spend the money.

The little girl who I mentioned in an earlier post (whose joy on her face when she met the Dr Who stars may have even touched the hearts of some of the hard nosed cynics on here) went to a theatre group to help her mental health, another lad in a wheelchair was shown being helped hiking in the moors by an organisation , another little girl dying of cancer had a singing therapist. Most of these things would not be funded by taxes no matter what the tax rate was, but they help these young people. Charities like these would not survive without things like CIN.

If you live in a deprived area where people can’t afford to fund local charities like the above, how else do you think they would run. Yes I am sure they would be grateful for £5 donation from an individual, but a £5k grant from CIN would be much more useful.

CIN can bore off. It supports some incredibly dodgy groups and like pp said, I'd rather donate directly to orgs I choose

Choosing your charities is part of the joy of donating money - seeing where you can make a difference.

My post was supposed to be a slightly lighthearted grumble about the poor quality of CIN as entertainment compared with my usual Friday night fare. At the end of a long, hard, working week yada...yada...

But it seems to have unleashed a very interesting debate.

Of course I do not want to minimise the charitable aspects of the evening and don't doubt it brings a huge amount of good to many needy children. And I personally donate quite a lot to charity, including occasionally responding to these TV telethons.

Also a bit shocked at the tat people are expected to buy in the name of supporting charity - most of which will end up in landfill.

I watched last night for the first time in years, it was ok. Very emotional. I had to give up at 10 though- why does it start so late and go on until 2am??

I expect it's to tap into the after-pub audience who are likely to be drunk and therefore donate more generously.

The tat is a whole never level of grumble for me.

When I was in school people did a cake sale, or we had a non uniform day and it was quite nice. One year the juniors did a bike ride one afternoon.

I went to the supermarket yesterday and saw loads of children in Pudsey onesies that won't fit next year, tops etc and then loads of pens, headbands, key rings etc. It all seems such a waste (but then next to that were matching family elf costumes for Christmas so clearly I'm just a grump who dislikes this sort of thing)

I hate that sort of boring TV.
I watched it for ten. Watched the story of the mother dying of cancer the father besting cancer the child had meningitis and the boy who was so brave..I donated cried and thought thank God they are doing something.

How about people appreciate that some out there are working their arse off for small charities, instead of being so self absorbed that all you can think is "Waaah, what about my programme?
This!!! They sound like pathetic children throwing a tantrum because they can't watch what they want on the television.

Then people moaning celebrities don't donate, then when told they do donate deciding that's not good enough either. I'm pretty sure nobody on here is a saint themselves who lives 100% selflessly all the time.

It's really awfully sad if you can't find something else to do for one night other than watch a specific TV programme.

donate but don't watch, cringy and tedious with all the celebs trying to show how caring they are, just donate and keep low key.