Rag’n’Bone Man left his honeymoon early to perform live during the BBC’s Children In Need special on Friday.

The Sussex star led musical acts during the three-hour special live from MediaCityUK in Salford, which also featured star-studded sketches and surprises from a host of celebrities.

The 39-year-old reportedly married Zoe Beardsall at Southend Barns in West Sussex last weekend.

The singer, real name Rory Graham, performed an acoustic version of Put A Little Hurt On Me during the charity night which was hosted by BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay, The Saturdays star Rochelle Humes, Paralympian Ade Adepitan, TV presenter Mel Giedroyc, comedian and podcaster Chris Ramsey and Bafta TV award-winning actor Lenny Rush.

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Introducing Rag’n’Bone Man, who was born in Uckfield, to the stage, Kay told the audience: “Here’s a man who makes singing look effortless.

“He was so keen – this is a true story – he was so keen to be a part of tonight’s Children In Need, he’s left his honeymoon early. What a dude.”

The appeal show returned to TV screens for its annual fundraising efforts with a sneak peak of the 15th Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa and Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan starring in the festive episode of Doctor Who titled Joy To the World.

During the clip, the pair face off with a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Meanwhile, pop superstar Kylie Minogue, who appeared in the Doctor Who 2007 Christmas special as Astrid Peth, asked Doctor Who fans to “bid for a piece of that history” in a pre-recorded video.

Her waitress costume from the episode titled Voyage Of The Damned is up for auction, alongside Jodie Whittaker’s Tardis used on the set of 2022’s Eve Of The Daleks episode.

The Strictly Come Dancing professionals were also joined by animated TV dog Bluey to perform a playful dance with moves such as the mashed potato, alligator and the floss in a pre-recorded segment which aired on the show.

Meanwhile, Hollywood star Gary Oldman read a special CBeebies Bedtime Story written specifically for Children In Need, based on a true story.

At the end of the show, Kay thanked viewers for their generosity as he announced that a total of £39,210,850 has been raised so far for the charity, which funds family centres, community spaces, youth clubs and refuges, homeless shelters, hospices and helplines across the UK.

TV presenter and radio host Paddy McGuinness raised £8,856,580 after his BBC Radio 2 ultra endurance cycle challenge, which saw him travel through three nations and eight counties to finish a 300-mile cycle ride.

Meanwhile Children In Need’s 2024 charity single was played for the first time during the live show, which features a new version of Girls Aloud track Stand By You (Sarah’s Version) with the late Sarah Harding on lead vocals.

The song was originally released in 2004 as a Children In Need single and topped the UK chart for two weeks.

The 2024 version features Harding’s solo recording, with unseen archive footage used in the video. The singer died in 2021 at the age of 39.