Stars work together to launch Children in Need appeal

Lenny Rush was the first child to present Children in Need

You might recognise Pudsey Bear or have done something for Children in Need at school or at home - but do you know what it is all about?

Children in Need is a BBC charity show that happens every year, which helps to raise money to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Lots of celebrities get involved and take part in challenges as part of the appeal, the actor Lenny Rush is returning to help out again after presenting last year.

The charity says at the moment it can only help out one in eight of the organisations that apply for funding.

Last year the appeal raised more than £33 million

Since the first major appeal, which happened in 1980, BBC Children in Need has raised more than £1 billion.

People get involved in all sorts of different ways, like organising a sponsored scooter ride to school or baking sweet treats for a bake sale.

Lenny Rush, who you might know from the TV series The Dumping Ground, is teaming up with a list of other stars to help with this year's appeal.

He says he wants to encourage people to "get fundraising and donate what they can" to help young people and families and "help make life lighter".

Each year the charity releases a special t-shirt as part of the appeal, this time it was designed by the singer and author Tom Fletcher and his wife Giovanna.

He said: "It was so fun to reimagine what the iconic Pudsey tee could look like if we transformed it into a band style tee celebrating all the ‘best bits’ of this amazing charity".

Tom isn't the only star to get behind the appeal this year.

Strictly stars Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec and Paralympian Ellie Simmonds are also involved.