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Dermot O'Leary has proved he's got the moves on the dance floor as the amount raised by his 24 hour Day of Dance for Comic Relief smashes £1 million.
Six weeks on from his epic achievement, the countless blisters and torturous ice-baths have all been worth it, as the BBC Radio 2 presenter announces today that his efforts raised a whopping £1,011,117 – with the money still rolling in.
Thanks to the great British public, including BBC Radio 2 listeners, BBC Red Button viewers and readers of Radio Times, Dermot has smashed the previous total announced on the night of Red Nose Day of £643,336.
"When I first came up with the idea for this challenge, I had no idea it would grip people in this way and I'm so proud of what we achieved together," Dermot said.
"To know that even in these difficult times the public have dug deep and donated is just incredible, and on behalf of everyone who will benefit so much from your generosity I would just like to say a huge, gigantic, mammoth, thank you."
Throughout his Day of Dance for Comic Relief on Friday 13th March, Dermot was joined by celebrities including Caroline Flack, Ella Henderson, Jamie Oliver and Sam Smith. There was even a surprise visit from Sir Terry Wogan.
Dermot took on the fundraising event following a trip to Kisumu, Kenya, where he spent 24 hours with street children. "It was extraordinary," he said. "I met these three young men – two 12 year olds and a 14 year old – who have had to grow up in an instant because they don't have the safety net we have in this country. Their lives are so stark, they live on a day to day basis, they try to make as much money as they can to survive, and all they want to do is go to school. It just galvanized me, to see how they live hand to mouth."
Money raised through Dermot's Day of Dance for Comic Relief will help give street children in Kenya a brighter future and also help people living incredibly tough lives in the UK and across Africa.
