BBC London 94.9FM's Special Gala Performance Of MAMMA MIA! Raises Record Amounts For BBC Children In Need

BBC London 94.9FM's special gala performance of hit musical MAMMA MIA! last night at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London has raised a staggering £45,885.50 for BBC Children in Need thanks to generous listeners.

This is the biggest amount of money that BBC London 94.9 listeners have ever raised for BBC Children In Need in a single event. All money raised last night will go towards helping disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

There was also a special surprise in store for the glamorous audience with Pudsey taking to the stage himself at the end of the show in his very own ABBA outfit. Pudsey and the MAMMA MIA! cast were then joined on stage by Sony Award-winning BBC London 94.9FM morning show presenter Vanessa Feltz and afternoon host Danny Baker, who were delighted to hand over the cheque for £45,885.50 to Pudsey and BBC Children in Need.

Vanessa Feltz said: "It really was the most sensational evening! It was completely and utterly delightful to see everyone in their glad rags. We raised more money than BBC London has EVER raised, over £45,000! It was an absolute joy!"

Vanessa will also be hosting a live evening show on Friday 20 November backstage from Television Centre from 10.00pm until 1.00am simulcast across many BBC regional radio stations.
The full face value of all tickets and any booking charges for the night were donated to the Children In Need Appeal by MAMMA MIA! This is the first year that BBC London 94.9FM have teamed up with a West End show. MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

With thanks to MAMMA MIA! and Delfont Mackintosh Theatres.

Notes to Editors
Children in Need

Thanks to your creativity, support and commitment last year, BBC Children in Need raised over £37.8 million which will go on to make a positive change to thousands of disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

The 2009 BBC Children in Need Appeal is around the corner on the 20th November, and we need your help again! We couldn't do it without you, and this year we are asking everyone to Do Something Different and help us raise money!

Call 0345 607 3333 or visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey for a Fundraising Pack full of fundraising ideas and inspiration.

MAMMA MIA!

An incredible 40 million people round the world have fallen in love with MAMMA MIA! since the show first opened over a decade ago in London's West End. Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs, writer Catherine Johnson's enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago...

In 2008, the hit movie of the show was released to huge global success with Meryl Streep heading up a stellar cast, and made history as the highest grossing movie ever released in the UK and is the highest grossing musical film worldwide.
The MAMMA MIA! cast is headed by Sally Ann Triplett, Katy Secombe and Jane Gurnett, with Niamh Perry, finalist in BBC One's I'd Do Anything search for Nancy in the musical Oliver!, as Sophie Sheridan.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.