BBC Radio 2 listeners raise £1,869,394 for BBC Children in Need

BBC Radio 2 listeners have raised £1,869,394 for this year's BBC Children in Need Appeal.

Sir Terry Wogan's auction of Things Money Can't Buy on his breakfast show, Chris Evans' Drivetime Dine and Drive Disco auction, and Friday's Music Marathon all formed part of the network's week-long series of fundraising activities.

Listeners to Wake Up To Wogan raised £460,500 in the Things Money Can't Buy auction, with one of this year's highest bids fetching £35,000 for Children In Need for a cookery and food package donated by chef Raymond Blanc.

Other auction packages included a VIP lunch with Terry Wogan and actors Maureen Lipman and Michael Palin which also raised £35,000, a private performance by Aled Jones, Sharon Corr and Hayley Westenra which raised £32,000, and a festive trip of a lifetime to Neil Diamond's exclusive Christmas party in Malibu which raised £27,000.

The Music Marathon on Friday raised £364,949, with listeners pledging money to hear their favourite song, and £416,559 has been raised by the sales of Janet and John CDs.

www.bbc.co.uk/radio2