Watch Children in Need (and maybe stick your hand in your pocket, yeah?)
Children in Need turns 45 this year and is poised to return to the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it-format that has seen it become an institution in the UK. it is a breathless, non-stop rampage from Media City in Salford that kidnaps the primetime Friday evening slot on BBC One (and BBC iPlayer) and refuses to quit until the viewers stump up cash for worthy causes…
Here’s where to watch Children in Need online for free – from anywhere.
The most-loved aspect is often seeing the nation’s biggest celebrities out of their comfort zones and in unusual situations that bring them right back down to Earth – and this year Sir Alan Sugar from The Apprentice is due to get a boardroom grilling from several young interrogators.
Gladiators! and The One Show also get new blood with kids entering the arena in the former and taking on personal fundraising challenges – including a special duet with Sam Ryder and skating with the cast of Starlight Express – in the latter.
There will also be music from Lewis Capaldi and another from the BBC Children in Need Choir performing Coldplay’s Yellow and the arrival of Radio 2’s Sara Cox in the studio after taking on the distance of five marathons across five days.
Read on as we explain how to watch Children in Need from anywhere in the world.
Can I watch Children in Need for FREE?
You can. Viewers in the UK can watch Children in Need for FREE on both BBC One and the BBC iPlayer.
Don’t forget you can use a VPN to watch Children in Need on your usual streaming service from abroad. We recommend NordVPN.
Unblock any stream with a VPN
If you’re keen to watch Children in Need but you’re away from home and access to the show is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you’re not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.
Use a VPN to watch Children in Need from anywhere:
Can you watch Children in Need in the US?
There are no plans to make Children in Need available to watch in the US – they have plenty of charity telethons of their own.
Brits currently away from home can use a VPN to watch Children in Need on BBC iPlayer from abroad.
How to watch Children in Need for free in the UK
Can you watch Children in Need in Canada?
As with the US, Children in Need will almost certainly not air in Canada.
However, UK nationals currently traveling in Canada can use a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer and watch the show from anywhere in the world. We recommend NordVPN.
Can you watch Children in Need in Australia?
Children in Need will be unavailable in Australia.
Brits currently away from home can use a VPN to watch Children in Need on BBC iPlayer from abroad. we recommend NordVPN.
When did Children in Need start and how much has it raised to date?
The live telethon started on the BBC in 1980 and by the start of 2025 had raised over £1 billion for charity.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
