comic relief trek

Comic Relief 2024 — release date, sketches, presenters, interviews and everything we know about Red Nose Day

Comic Relief 2024 — this year’s fundraising extravaganza will be Sir Lenny Henry’s final stint as host.

Comic Relief 2024 is packed with fun and fundraising as the charity spectacular kicks off, promising a great night's entertainment in order to raise these all important funds.

Live from MediaCity in Salford, the Red Nose Day Night of TV will mark Sir Lenny Henry’s final year at the helm, some 39 years after he founded the charity with Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral writer Richard Curtis . 

But he’s going out with a bang as the Comic Relief: Funny For Money show is full of sketches, special guests and emotional films urging us to dig deep to raise vital funds for worthy causes at home and abroad. 

Here’s everything we know about Comic Relief 2024 …

Comic Relief 2024 release date

The Comic Relief: Funny for Money telethon airs on Friday, March 15 at 7pm on BBC One, before switching over to BBC Two at 10pm for C omic Relief: More Funny for Money .

A tribute show Comic Relief: A Whole Lotta Lenny on Friday, March 15 at 10.40pm on BBC One, sees The One Show's Alex Jones celebrate Sir Lenny’s work for the charity and look back on his best moments, from his appearance in a Luther spoof to his encounters with the likes of Sir Tom Jones and Frank Bruno. 

The shows will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Who is presenting Comic Relief 2024?

Sir Lenny Henry will be joined by Joel Dommett , Davina McCall , Paddy McGuiness , Romesh Ranganathan , David Tennant , while Maya Jama and Rosie Ramsey will make their debut as Red Nose Day hosts.

“It feels incredible. It's such a special and worthy show and a lovely night of the year, so I'm thrilled to be a part of it,” says Maya Jama. 

"I think the nation also loves to see its favourite people – from actors on their favourite TV shows to presenters and comedians – come together one night of the year for a great cause. And it's such a dream to be working with Sir Lenny Henry, especially in his final year of hosting the show. He embodies the essence of Comic Relief – it’ll be very strange to see the show go on without him. He will leave such an incredible legacy.”

What are the Comic Relief 2024 sketches?

A range of hilarious spoofs and sketches will feature on the night, including The Traitors: The Movie , which sees a stellar line-up appear in a big screen version of the reality series, with Suranne Jones playing Claudia Winkleman !

Legendary broadcaster Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) will also return to his regional radio show with a special guest and iconic comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders team up to deliver a cheeky message. 

Elsewhere, W1A cast Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), Siobhan Sharpe (Jessica Hynes), Will the intern (Hugh Skinner), and Tracey Pritchard (Monica Dolan) reunite to hold interviews with some special guests in a bid to find Red Nose Day’s new host... hopefully!

Hollywood's finest are also getting involved in the fundraising, with a brand-new multi-celebrity sketch, seeing Julia Roberts, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson make special appearances in a sketch to argue it out to be named the most famous face.

Kate Winslet takes to story corner with a late-night CBeebies Bedtime Story especially for parents as she reads F***, Now There Are Two of You . Definitely not for children, that one!

Sir Lenny Henry will perform his own version of the Oscar-nominated song from the Barbie film, I'm Just Len .

Over on Radio 1, you can listen to Mollie King as she takes part in Pedal Power for Red Nose Day, cycling from London to Hull via Manchester for Comic Relief which is a total distance of 500km.

Comic Relief 2024 — who are the special guests?

Darts prodigy Luke Littler, money guru Martin Lewis and the stars of Gladiators are among the celebrities popping up to encourage us to donate. And look out for famous faces who will be telling their favourite jokes! 

The cast of Just For One Day , the Live Aid Musical are among the musical performers on the night and will take part in a thrilling medley. 

Comic Relief 2024 — what other shows are on during the week?

Snow Going Back: Comic Relief vs the Arctic 

On Monday, March 11, this special documentary saw Dragons’ Den’s Sara Davies and presenters Vicky Pattison , Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore undertake Comic Relief’s coldest ever trek as they travel 50km in four days through the Arctic Circle on cross country skis, snowshoes and fat bikes. 

"I was told there would be beautiful scenery and camping under the Northern Lights! So I’m exhilarated and exciting but it’ll be gruelling," Sara Davies tells What To Watch. "Times are tough, and if we're asking people to dig deep, we've got to push ourselves too. It's a privilege to do my bit." 

In a special rosy-hued version of Blue Peter , airing on Friday, March 15 at 5pm on CBBC and BBC iPlayer, presenters Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney and Shini Muthukrishnan try to turn three landmarks ‘red to toe’ in three days.

CBeebies Bedtime Story

Am I Being Unreasonable’s Lenny Rush reads David McKee’s funny picture book Not Now, Bernard on Friday March 15 at 6.50pm on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer

Comic Relief 2024 — Sir Lenny Henry interview

Why have you decided to give up your hosting duties?

“It’s time to hand over the reins because there’s an extraordinary new generation of talent and we need to give these people and their audiences access to what Comic Relief can do and show how we can raise money together.

“I love Comic Relief, I’m Life President and I’ll still be supporting other Comic Relief and Red Nose Day projects, so I’ll be around, just not on screen.” 

What can we expect from this year’s show?

“Fun, frolics, chaos and lots of giving! It’s chock-a-block. It will probably be the best night of my life because it’s my last year hosting and I know there’s going to be loads of special surprises, you have to tune in! Plus there will be all the incredible films that the brilliant team have created and put so much hard work into.” 

Is there anything you always do to get ready to present Red Nose Day?

“I don’t have a lucky charm or ritual, but I get my hair cut! I’m just confident, as we’ve been doing this a long time and the joy and goodwill of being there on the day means you want to make the show as good as you can. Even if something happens live, like the autocue breaks, we just keep going and enjoy ourselves, and the audience seems to be with us!”

What have been your highlights from your time at the helm?

“There are a lot of moments from across the years, too many to mention – there’s a massive archive of funny things that still stand up – and long may that continue.

“But Rik Mayall was hilarious singing Do You Love Me? on the first Comic Relief [a stage show from London’s Shaftesbury Theatre in 1986]. He was one of the most famous people in the country because of The Young Ones and the audience loved him. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders were hilarious too. 

“Eddie Izzard was also very funny. And I had to lift Ken Dodd away from the camera. He could never do three minutes, he’d do 25 minutes or an hour, so we had to literally take him off screen so that we didn’t crash into the news!”

Why is Comic Relief’s work so important?

“It still advocates for social change and helps alleviate poverty and social injustice. We work with projects supporting people experiencing mental health problems, domestic abuse and homelessness, and those that provide safe shelter – it’s helping solve so many issues. Comic Relief aids people in the UK and around the world. We’re not going to stop.” 

And what makes it so special for viewers?

“It’s dear to the nation because there’s a sense of charity in this country that’s relentless. Comic Relief has taken a foothold because having a laugh and raising money simultaneously is charming. The British public have been so brilliant at backing us and if we don’t say it enough, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!’ It’s an amazing thing.”

You can donate to Comic Relief by visiting bbc.co.uk/rednoseday

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Caren has been a journalist specializing in TV for almost two decades and is a Senior Features Writer for TV Times , TV & Satellite Week and What’s On TV magazines and she also writes for What to Watch.

Over the years, she has spent many a day in a muddy field or an on-set catering bus chatting to numerous stars on location including the likes of Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Suranne Jones, Jamie Dornan, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Derek Jacobi as well as Hollywood actors such as Glenn Close and Kiefer Sutherland.

Caren will happily sit down and watch any kind of telly (well, maybe not sci-fi!), but she particularly loves period dramas like Call the Midwife , Downton Abbey and The Crown and she’s also a big fan of juicy crime thrillers from Line of Duty to Poirot .

In her spare time, Caren enjoys going to the cinema and theatre or curling up with a good book.

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Meet the team taking on Comic Relief’s Arctic Challenge

• February 15, 2024

Comic Relief has unveiled its first ever all-female line-up for 2024’s celebrity challenge. 

Snow Going Back: Comic Relief vs. The Arctic will see Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore team up to take on a gruelling four-day trek across the Arctic in aid of Red Nose Day 

Next week the formidable foursome will set off from the edge of the Arctic circle, 1,300 miles away in Tromso, Norway. 

Making their way across isolated snow-covered tundra to the finish line, the team will have to endure gruelling conditions with hidden frozen lakes, the constant threat of snowstorms and temperatures plummeting to -20 degrees. 

This extraordinary expedition will push each of the four women to their limits as their do everything in their power to raise much needed funds to tackle poverty, provide food, essential healthcare or safe shelter for people in the UK and around the world 

Meet the team: 

Sara Davies, business woman, entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor.  

“Comic Relief is something we sit down and watch as a family every year and last year I followed Emma Willis, Oti Mabuse and Rylan on the trek in Scotland and my son said to me, ‘Mammy that’s so amazing, why didn’t you go and help?’ It really hit home to me that I know I’m in a privileged position where I can go and do something to help raise funds, to do my bit, so this year that’s exactly what I’m doing. 

“Mentally I think I can talk myself into whatever I need to do, but I’m worried about the technical side. I’ve never skied before, I’d never seen a ski in real life before we started training, so this whole adventure is pretty new territory for me.” 

Vicky Pattison, TV personality and presenter. 

“ Everyone assumes that because I’m from the North East, I’m going to be able to handle the cold and that’s a complete lie. Everyone also thinks that because I was in the jungle, I’m like Bear Grylls in a bra…but I’m not! I like my home comforts, so camping in minus 20 degrees is out of my comfort zone and it makes me a little bit nervous, but a little bit excited as well!”

“There will be moments where I just want to give up, but I think what’s going to keep me going is the reason why I’m doing it. I was able to see first-hand where the money that Comic Relief raises goes, when I visited food bank and community hub, Hebburn Helps, which receives food from the Comic Relief-funded organisation, Fareshare. I found volunteering there so illuminating; most of us associate poverty and hunger with something happening miles away, you don’t think it’s happening on your doorstep. But it is – I saw how the work of Hebburn Helps and Fareshare is more important than ever. Donations to Red Nose Day are incredibly beneficial to charities like this and I saw that first hand.”

Alex Scott, Sports Presenter and professional footballer

“This challenge is going to be so gruelling; I’ve never done anything like it before, I’ve never even been skiing, so just being out on the snow might be a problem! I’m used to having that captain’s arm band on and people seeing me as a leader because I was that athlete, but this is all new so I think you might see a different side to me.  Yes, I’ll bring the fun and keep everyone going, but I think I might need my team mates to pull me through this one.

“I’m naturally competitive with myself, I don’t want to let anyone down, but what will really keep me going is the end goal of raising as much money as we can for Comic Relief, which will go a long way in helping change a lot of lives in the UK and around the world.”

Laura Whitmore, TV presenter and radio broadcaster

“I’ve been a part of supporting Comic Relief for as long as I can remember, and I love that the whole country and further afield gets behind it. It brings people together for a great cause, so I hope we can do that again this year – the bar is certainly set high with the likes of Greg James, Davina McCall, Emma Willis, Rylan, and Oti Mabuse having completed challenges before, that will give me the extra push to get to the end.

“I think it’s so empowering to be part of Comic Relief’s first ever celebrity all-female group like this. I think we’re all pretty tough cookies and we’ll all work really hard and push each other to persist, to hopefully raise a considerable amount of money. That’s the end goal that will keep us all going at the times when we’re absolutely freezing.”

Every grueling step of the formidable journey will be captured for a special BBC One and player documentary to air in the lead up to Red Nose Day which returns on Friday 15 March. 

  To support Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, Alex Scott and Laura Whitmore click here or read all about the Comic Relief Arctic Challenge here

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Comic Relief 2024 sees Alex Scott and Vicky Pattison trek across ice in huge celeb challenge

Alex Scott, Vicky Pattison, Sara Davies and former Love Island host Laura Whitmore are ready to take on a mammoth challenge in order to raise money for this year's Comic Relief campaign

• 08:00, 15 Feb 2024
• Updated 08:07, 15 Feb 2024

A new Comic Relief celebrity challenge will see Alex Scott , Vicky Pattison , Sara Davies and Laura Whitmore trekking in icy temperatures in the Arctic circle in Norway.

The four women will compete in a mixture of activities to get them to the finish line, including cross country skiing and riding fat wheel bikes. Speaking about their challenges ahead to raise money for Red Nose Day 2024, Dragon's Den star Sara, 39, said: "I've always wanted to do something to do my bit.

"Last year I watched the challenge with my kids and my Eldest said 'look at all the money they have raised, why didn't you do it?'. And I had no answer for him so I thought that is it, I am going to do my bit."

And TV star Vicky Pattison, 36, added: "Being part of a Comic Relief big challenge is the perfect chance to make a difference. Times are hard for a lot of people and it feels so nice to do something, even something small, to help people suffering and experiencing poverty and injustice."

The challenge will kick off next week and be officially announced today and the celebs have been training at skiing centres in the UK.Sara, who has been practicing for the challenge with Vicky, said: "In training we have been great at falling over but not so great at getting back up!

"I had never skied before and an hour in I thought I could get into this, but it is very physically demanding because unlike on the telly you are not only going downhill in this challenge, because it is cross country. I am so much more excited now but also more nervous too. We have put our line in the snow and said, we are going to do this. Failure is not an option, we have to do it and it is all the girls together."

Vicky said: "I didn't realise getting up after you fall would be so difficult. Now we have given it a go we realise how hard it is. It is a full body workout and really hard on the body. I think it will be the hardest thing I have ever done. I am hoping all the gorgeous girls will help us through. It is great to be going with such a strong group of women and such a worthy cause."

The challenge is the first one for Comic Relief to feature an all-women team. Last year Emma Willis, Oti Mabuse and Rylan faced the ultimate test of willpower, determination and survival skills by trekking between Braemar and Cairn Gorm in the Scottish Highlands.

Red Nose Day will this year come live from Salford on Friday March 15 with Sir Lenny Henry hosting for the last time. After presenting the comedy telethon on and off for 39 years, he is stepping away to give opportunities to a wider range of talent. “When we first started Comic Relief back in 1985, I never dreamed we’d still be here today,” said Henry.

“I thought we’d probably do three shows and that would be it, but fast-forward nearly 40 years, and that enthusiasm and determination to step up and help others has never wavered. As life president of Comic Relief, I’m excited to see some new and familiar faces come forward now to present the big night and lead us into the next chapter.”

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MORE ON BBC Lenny Henry Laura Whitmore Alex Scott Comic Relief Snow Skiing

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Alex Scott among stars trekking across Arctic for Comic Relief

Alex Scott , Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison and Laura Whitmore will brave freezing temperatures to trek across the Arctic in a bid to raise money for Comic Relief .

Snow Going Back: Comic Relief Vs The Arctic will see Dragons’ Den star Davies, reality TV fixture Pattison and broadcasters Scott and Whitmore head into the wilderness.

The quartet, who are the first all-female Red Nose Day celebrity challenge line-up, will start their trek at the edge of the Arctic Circle , in Tromso, Norway.

They will spend four days attempting to trek, cross-country ski and cycle to the finish line 50km away, with only eight hours of daylight each day and temperatures as low as minus 20C.

They will  pitch their own tents, with food limited to dried rations and no running water, heating or electricity.

Former Lioness Scott said: “This challenge is going to be so gruelling; I’ve never done anything like it before, I’ve never even been skiing, so just being out on the snow might be a problem.

“I’m used to having that captain’s arm band on and people seeing me as a leader because I was that athlete, but this is all new so I think you might see a different side to me.

“Yes, I’ll bring the fun and keep everyone going, but I think I might need my team-mates to pull me through this one.

“I’m naturally competitive with myself, I don’t want to let anyone down, but what will really keep me going is the end goal of raising as much money as we can for Comic Relief, which will go a long way in helping change a lot of lives in the UK and around the world.”

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Former I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here champion Pattison said: “Everyone assumes that because I’m from the North East, I’m going to be able to handle the cold and that’s a complete lie.

“Everyone also thinks that because I was in the jungle, I’m like Bear Grylls in a bra…but I’m not! I like my home comforts, so camping in minus 20 degrees is out of my comfort zone and it makes me a little bit nervous, but a little bit excited as well.

“There will be moments where I just want to give up, but I think what’s going to keep me going is the reason why I’m doing it.

“I was able to see first hand where the money that Comic Relief raises goes when I visited food bank and community hub Hebburn Helps, which receives food from the Comic Relief-funded organisation FareShare.

“I found volunteering there so illuminating; most of us associate poverty and hunger with something happening miles away, you don’t think it’s happening on your doorstep.

“But it is – I saw how the work of Hebburn Helps and FareShare is more important than ever. Donations to Red Nose Day are incredibly beneficial to charities like this and I saw that first hand.”

Money raised will help tackle poverty and provide food, essential healthcare or safe shelter for people in the UK and around the world.

A camera crew will capture the journey for a BBC One and iPlayer documentary to air in the lead-up to Red Nose Day, which returns on March 15.

Alex Scott leads celebrity team in Arctic trek for Comic Relief

The bbc sport presenter, alongside celebrities sara davies, vicky pattison, and laura whitmore, gears up for a challenging arctic expedition in support of comic relief.

Alex Scott, 39, is gearing up for what could be the most significant challenge of her life, as she embarks on a charity mission in support of Comic Relief.

The accomplished host recently shared images of her ski training, showcasing her determination to face the icy conditions of the Arctic.

Scott is set to join forces with fellow celebrities Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, and Laura Whitmore for the adventurous expedition titled "Snow Going Back: Comic Relief Vs The Arctic." 

Laura Whitmore, Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, and Alex Scott

The journey will commence at the edge of the Arctic Circle in Tromso, Norway, and will encompass a four-day trek, cross-country skiing, and cycling, covering a distance of approximately 50km.

The team will confront extreme challenges, including temperatures as low as minus 20°C and just eight hours of daylight as they navigate through the polar region. Survival skills will be put to the test as Scott and her companions will be required to pitch their own tents and endure on limited food rations throughout the demanding ordeal.

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Alex Scott among stars trekking across Arctic for Comic Relief

She will be joined by Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison and Laura Whitmore.

Alex Scott, Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison and Laura Whitmore will brave freezing temperatures to trek across the Arctic in a bid to raise money for Comic Relief.

Snow Going Back: Comic Relief Vs The Arctic will see Dragons’ Den star Davies, reality TV fixture Pattison and broadcasters Scott and Whitmore head into the wilderness.

The quartet, who are the first all-female Red Nose Day celebrity challenge line-up, will start their trek at the edge of the Arctic Circle, in Tromso, Norway.

They will spend four days attempting to trek, cross-country ski and cycle to the finish line 50km away, with only eight hours of daylight each day and temperatures as low as minus 20C.

They will  pitch their own tents, with food limited to dried rations and no running water, heating or electricity.

Former Lioness Scott said: “This challenge is going to be so gruelling; I’ve never done anything like it before, I’ve never even been skiing, so just being out on the snow might be a problem.

“I’m used to having that captain’s arm band on and people seeing me as a leader because I was that athlete, but this is all new so I think you might see a different side to me.

“Yes, I’ll bring the fun and keep everyone going, but I think I might need my team-mates to pull me through this one.

“I’m naturally competitive with myself, I don’t want to let anyone down, but what will really keep me going is the end goal of raising as much money as we can for Comic Relief, which will go a long way in helping change a lot of lives in the UK and around the world.”

Former I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here champion Pattison said: “Everyone assumes that because I’m from the North East, I’m going to be able to handle the cold and that’s a complete lie.

“Everyone also thinks that because I was in the jungle, I’m like Bear Grylls in a bra…but I’m not! I like my home comforts, so camping in minus 20 degrees is out of my comfort zone and it makes me a little bit nervous, but a little bit excited as well.

“There will be moments where I just want to give up, but I think what’s going to keep me going is the reason why I’m doing it.

“I was able to see first hand where the money that Comic Relief raises goes when I visited food bank and community hub Hebburn Helps, which receives food from the Comic Relief-funded organisation FareShare.

“I found volunteering there so illuminating; most of us associate poverty and hunger with something happening miles away, you don’t think it’s happening on your doorstep.

“But it is – I saw how the work of Hebburn Helps and FareShare is more important than ever. Donations to Red Nose Day are incredibly beneficial to charities like this and I saw that first hand.”

Money raised will help tackle poverty and provide food, essential healthcare or safe shelter for people in the UK and around the world.

A camera crew will capture the journey for a BBC One and iPlayer documentary to air in the lead-up to Red Nose Day, which returns on March 15.

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COMIC RELIEF REVEALS CELEBRITIES TREKING ACROSS THE ARCTIC FOR RED NOSE DAY

Get ready to see the remarkable power of women in changing the world in Comic Relief's coldest ever challenge.

Set over four days, Dragon's Den star Sara Davies, TV personality Vicky Pattison, Football Focus presenter Alex Scott and TV presenter Laura Whitmore will be taking on the freezing, treacherous landscape of the Arctic, all to raise money to tackle poverty and injustice around the world.

They will spend four days attempting to trek, ski and cycle to the finish line which will be locasted 50km away, with just eight hours of daylight each day and temperatures as low as -20c. They will pitch their own tents with limited food supplies and no running water, heating or electricity.

Alex Scott said: "This challenge is going to be so gruelling; I’ve never done anything like it before, I’ve never even been skiing, so just being out on the snow might be a problem. I’m used to having that captain’s arm band on and people seeing me as a leader because I was that athlete, but this is all new so I think you might see a different side to me...

"Yes, I’ll bring the fun and keep everyone going, but I think I might need my team-mates to pull me through this one. I’m naturally competitive with myself, I don’t want to let anyone down, but what will really keep me going is the end goal of raising as much money as we can for Comic Relief, which will go a long way in helping change a lot of lives in the UK and around the world."

Late last month, Sir Lenny Henry announced that he is to stand down as presenter of Comic Relief Red Nose Day. This March's telethon will be his last.

Lenny Henry said: "When we first started Comic Relief back in 1985, I never dreamed we’d still be here today. I thought we’d probably do three shows and that would be it, but fast-forward nearly 40 years, and that enthusiasm and determination to step up and help others has never wavered...

"As life president of Comic Relief, I’m excited to see some new and familiar faces come forward now to present the big night and lead us into the next chapter."

Before the day itself, on Monday 26 February, get ready for a belly-aching laugh with live performances from Aisling Bea, Joel Dommett, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Rosie Jones, Sara Pascoe, Mawaan Rizwan, and the Comic Relief legend himself – Sir Lenny Henry.

Comic Relief airs next month on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Please Give Now

In the UK and around the world people are facing the impact of poverty and injustice. Give what you can this Red Nose Day to help put food on plates, roofs over heads and keep little ones safe.

Watch the show on BBC iPlayer

Get your red noses on and catch up on a side-splitting night of fun, fundraising and epic adventures as big names push themselves to the limits. Do something funny for money!

You have raised an incredible £ 40,055,914 ...

But we can't stop there. There's still time to make a difference. Give what you can this Red Nose Day to help put food on plates, roofs over heads and keep little ones safe.

Make your impact go further

While we LOVE Red Nose Day, we’re looking for your love year-round to help change even more people’s lives. Whether you’re ready to commit to a new kind of beautiful, long-lasting relationship, or want to test the waters and see how things go, find out more and join today.

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What your money does

Comic Relief supports incredible projects and organisations that are making a difference for people across the UK and around the world.

Ready to pay in your fundraising money?

It’s super easy to send in the money you’ve raised, either online, at a bank or by post. 

Read the terms and conditions for our open Prize Draws here .

Whoopi Goldberg Got A Ribbing From Star Trek: TNG's Cast In The Name Of Charity

N ichelle Nichols herself told the story in Roger Nygard's 1997 documentary film "Trekkies." It seems that a young Black girl, maybe 11 or 12, was watching "Star Trek" for the first time in the late 1960s. When that girl saw Nichols portraying the communications officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise, she leaped up and ran to her mother to share the good news. The girl yelled, "There's a Black woman on TV, and she ain't no maid!" That girl was Whoopi Goldberg . 

Goldberg was a "Star Trek" fan ever since, and would eventually be given a role on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" some 21 years later. Goldberg, it seems, was friends with LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge on the show, and requested that he do her a favor. Since Goldberg was a big movie star, the makers of NextGen were happy to have her on the show. According to the special features on the season 2 "Next Generation" DVDs, Goldberg proudly announced that she was successful now, and had the leeway to do whatever she wanted, including "Star Trek." Goldberg was given the role of Guinan, the chief bartender on the U.S.S. Enterprise and a confidant to the captain. She was more or less a secondary counselor on the show (in addition to Marina Sirtis' Deanna Troi). 

Goldberg was also, as many might know, one of the three hosts of Comic Relief, a charity founded by Bob Zmuda in 1986. Goldberg, Robin Williams, and Billy Crystal would co-host annual fundraising comedy shows to raise money for the homeless and other causes, often racking up millions. Comic Relief ran annually until finally dissolving in 2011. 

In 1994, however, it was still in full swing ... as was "Star Trek: The Next Generation." 

Some might recall a bizarre crossover between the two.

Read more: Celebrities You Didn't Know Were In Star Trek

Comic Relief: The Next Generation

As part of the 1994 edition of Comic Relief, several cast members of "Next Generation" filmed a segment on the Enterprise sets, all in full costume and in character, investigating several bizarre 20th-Century comedians. Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, and LeVar Burton all played along. Perhaps Patrick Stewart was busy that day. 

In the segment, Commander Riker , Counselor Troi, Worf, Data, Dr. Crusher, and Geordi all gathered in the Enterprise's observation lounge to discuss certain artifacts left over from 1990s Earth, mysterious salvaged from an away mission on a faraway alien world. Data holds up several Comic Relief t-shirts as well as a primitive Comic Relief videocassette. Geordi calls up a picture of Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg. The funny part: none of them know how to pronounce "Whoopi," falling back on "Hoop-Eye." It's Dr. Crusher who notices that Hoop-Eye Goldberg bears a striking resemblance to Guinan. For a moment, the crew thinks about the coincidence before collectively agreeing, "Nah." 

They also examine the t-shirts and sweatshirts on the table and note that they are made of synthetic materials that havd been banned in the 21st century. The Enterprise's transporters, it seems, couldn't handle a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester. They also manage to work in some of Comic Relief's earnings reports and stats and where viewers' donations may go. 

The "Star Trek" actors were clearly doing Goldberg a favor. Judging by the actors' costumes, the video segment was clearly filmed during the show's seventh and final season of "Next Generation."

Hoop-Eye Goldberg

Data also notes that in the first five Comic Relief telecasts, the organization earned over $20 million, although in the world of "Star Trek," those figures would be meaningless. "Star Trek" takes place in a post-capitalist system, and the measuring of success in a defunct Earth currency would be moribund. Regardless, Counselor Troi looks impressed at the stats. 

The "Star Trek" thing to do would, of course, be to comment that homelessness was a systemic problem in a capitalist world, and they would offer 24th-century solutions. Resources, they might posit, could easily be reallocated to shelter those without homes. Perhaps the economic injustice of ever-rising rents could be addressed, or the need to pass robust mental health legislation. Of course, offering stern, real-life lessons was antithetical to Comic Relief, a show that sought to raise money and hope through laughter, not through gentle chiding. Data repeats the show's slogan: Where there's laughter, there's hope. 

The clip then cuts back to Goldberg, on stage at the live 1994 Comic Relief show, embarrassed that the "Star Trek" actors would stoop to mispronouncing her name. She jokes that they needed aliens to sell t-shirts. 

Comic Relief may be defunct in 2023, but the website Donorbox has a list of charities devoted to ending homelessness. If the cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has inspired you to give, try one of the charities on that site . 

Read the original article on /Film .

• April 18, 2024 | Lost Original USS Enterprise Model From ‘Star Trek’ Returned To Gene Roddenberry’s Son
• April 18, 2024 | Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Gets The Timing Right In “Face The Strange”
• April 17, 2024 | Watch: Things Get “Odd” In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Trailer And Clip From “Face The Strange”
• April 17, 2024 | Alex Kurtzman On Streaming TV Challenges And How Shorter Star Trek Seasons Helps Avoid “Filler” Episodes
• April 16, 2024 | Watch: Did This Moment On ‘The View’ Just Accidentally Hint Whoopi Goldberg Is In The Next Star Trek Movie?

Robert Picardo Says The Doctor Isn’t Just Comic Relief In ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Season 2

| March 9, 2024 | By: Anthony Pascale 44 comments so far

Last summer at STLV, a clip from Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 revealed that Star Trek: Voyager star Robert Picardo is returning to his role as the EMH Doctor. In a recurring role, Picardo’s Doctor is taking on the role of managing the former Protostar crew as they try to find a place as Starfleet trainees on board Admiral Janeway’s USS Voyager-A in season 2. Now, for the first time, the actor is talking about his return to Star Trek.

Picardo states the nature of the Prodigy return

On Friday at the ST-SF convention in San Francisco, Robert Picardo got a question about Prodigy and he talked about how long he had to keep the secret:

“I am on season 2 of Star Trek: Prodigy .  I started recording almost two and a half or three years ago. So it’s been a long time. Animation moves slowly. It’s a secret I had to sit on forever. I had a lot of fun doing it.”

Robert Picardo at ST-SF 2024 (Photo: TrekMovie)

In response to a question about what it was like falling back into the character after two decades, Picardo said it was easy:

“For some reason the pitching of the character’s voice and the cadence and the speed at which I spoke as that character is still relatively easy to do. I don’t think it was difficult to sound like I was still a hologram in his mid-40s. And it was great.”

The actor also had high praise for the Prodigy  writing team’s understanding of the character:

“What’s wonderful about the writing of the show is that they maintain what I love most about doing Voyager itself, which was I could be a comic relief, but on a dime I could turn and it could get quite serious when it was a dire situation. [ Prodigy ] used me for comic relief, believe me, in a lot of scenes, in a lot of episodes. But there are some dramatic moments which was really a pleasure to do as well.”

Robert Picardo as The Doctor in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 (startrek.com)

Although season 2 reunites Janeway and The Doctor, Picardo said he didn’t get to reunite with his co-star Kate Mulgrew, or at least not when it comes to voicing their characters:

“I am still very good friends with Kate Mulgrew, I see here a lot socially, but I never recorded in the room with any other actors. It’s all done separately. So that’s kind of a shame. But the producers are great fun to work with. They’ll give you ideas and they let me ad lib—which I love—some of which will find their way into the show.”

Netflix released the first season on Christmas 2023, but they have yet to announce a release date for the second season. Picardo did venture a guess:

“I’m really happy that the work will finally be on Netflix, I think in the Spring, like in May? Is that true? Does anybody know a date?… We don’t know a date. It will be on sometime between now and death. But I’m looking forward to seeing it. It was great fun to play the character again.”

The Doctor gives the provisional cadets a briefing (startrek.com)

The first season of  Prodigy  had a successful launch on Netflix . The producers of the show have made it clear that if the second season performs well, Netflix could pick it up for a third or even more.

More to come from ST-SF

We are just getting started with our convention coverage, so stay tuned and follow along with our social media on Twitter and Threads .

Find more  Trek convention news and reports at TrekMovie .

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I am very excited to see the Doctor again!! He’s another one I was hoping to see on Picard with Seven but this is just as good. He’s still one of my top 10 favorite characters so can’t wait!

And I doubt it’s going to be in May because we should’ve had a trailer by now. But maybe one could come next month?

Would’ve been difficult in non CG-enhanced live action (which I doubt they’d have the budget for), unless you can come up with a plausible explanation for why a hologram would look twenty years older.

A few years ago I would’ve agreed with you. But after seeing how they just made flimsy excuses for other non aging characters in Picard like Q, Guinan and especially Data I don’t think it matters. Fans didn’t seem to remotely care either. He could’ve just said he wants his program to age and no one would’ve thought twice about it.

I like how they did Q. it was very Q-like to show up in his original “sort of” form and then tease Picard about his age by making himself older.

I’ve always loved Guinan and it made sense that she be in 2024 Earth but honestly I think the way they did it with Ten-Forward was too much fan service to the point where her bar being called 10-Forward made no sense. I didn’t really love the casting for young Guinan either. The actress did a fine job with the role but reminded me nothing of Whoopi Goldberg in, say, her Ghost days.

Honestly as much as I love Brent Spiner I wish they never brought him back post Picard S1. He has gotten resurrected and changed so many times now that it stretches alll believability even if you take into account this is fiction.

If they ever did bring the Doctor back in live action I’m sure they could come up with a plausible reason for his age. He is just an image rather than a machine or flesh in blood after all. Maybe he got married and decided he wanted to age gracefully as his wife does or something like that.

Matalas didn’t seem to care how unconvincing Old Data looked, and how unconvincing Old Q looked, so why would he start caring now about how a much older version of The Doctor would look?

Data was supposed to look old and that’s Brent Spiner’s real face so you’re saying Brent doesn’t look like Brent.

“Data was supposed to look old.”

Data should never have aged – the retcon explanation was silly, and was just done so that Spinner could play him. They should have done CGI de-aging to preserve the integrity of the character. Same with Q.

Fan service in Pic S3 (and S2 with Q) though seems to be more about bringing back old actors than honoring the actual characters they are supposed to be playing. That also explains why so many fans don’t seem to care that the S3 story was more Star Wars-like than TNG-like.

Let me make it clear – despite all that I did enjoy the fan service reunion aspects of season 3, and the actors were fantastic. But let’s not kid ourselves and pretend that what we saw was a TNG science-fiction episode — no, it was a TNG reunion space opera fantasy.

he aged or tried to in ‘all good things’.

It is the Doctor in the end. He always experimented with stuff, like siging, writing, even daydreaming…. so why not just adjusting his parameters to look older, wiser, more mature. I wouldn’t see any complications here. He is a hologram, right? He can adjust his looks whenever he wants,

Yeah which I have seen people suggest in the past as well. So it’s not a big deal either way.

And I forgot that Robert Picardo said he was in talks to appear in Picard season 2 at some point. Obviously it didn’t happen and it may not had been a major role but I’m guessing if he did appear that would’ve been the excuse.

But when they keep coming up with these explanations for character after character when we the audience knows the real reason is it’s just because the actors are getting older, it just rings hollow for me and reduces my suspension of disbelief from watching the character.

I would prefer either CGI de-aging, or simply recasting the part. YMMV

Yeah May feels way too close. But would love to be surprised. Prodigy and Lower Decks are the shows I’m excited to see this year.

And I think with the Doctor back will get more people to check it as well if they were big fans of his.

I just love it’s feeling like a mini Voyager reunion. I would love to see Tom and B’Elanna make an appearance as well. 🙂

Yeah. When you take Discovery into account, May would seem like DISCO and PRO would overlap a bit. And I don’t even think the 2 shows will be back to back considering P+’s plans for year long Trek are dead. They will spread out the shows they do still have. Of course even all that is dependent on what ever ends up happening with Paramount.

Same. I’m not just a fan of the Doctor I am a fan of Picardo. I’ve been watching him since I was a kid on Wonder Years, then Star Trek of course and then all of the StarGate series.

“Netflix released the first season on Christmas 2024, but they have yet to announce a release date for the second season. Picardo did venture a guess:”

From the future.

Because all the kids out there who made this a Top 10 kids show on Netflix are demanding more of The Doctor and more Chakotay.

And I ran to an 8-year-old yesterday who said to me, “when in the hell are we going to get Harry Kim on the show? And I also want me some effing Neelix.”

Elements like legacy characters are more to introduce them to the greater world of Star Trek, which is partly the purpose of a show like Prodigy.

Characters from Strange New Worlds or Discovery would make more sense then rather than a 25-year-old show that’s still in SD 4×3 fornat, with semi-retired actors. You want to tie them into the franchise today, not 25 years ago.

I’m fine with the Janeway hologram by the way. But now we’ve got live action Janeway too, Chakotay and The Doctor? Like, WTF? This has to be one of the dumbest strategies to expand a shows market that I’ve ever seen for a TV show.

They’re dooming this to “second season and done” on Netflix, because the kids want to see the younger crew, not this cast from the past.

I would think the main characters of Prodigy will remain the main characters. I would suggest waiting to actually see the season before complaining about its execution.

I’m talking about expanding the audience to save this show, which I really like. So I think we should see if a S3 gets ordered before determine whether my criticism is valid. If it doesn’t get another season, then I strongly believe that this will be have been one of the predominant factors that doomed it. Similarly, if it gets another season, then OK, I will have been proven wrong.

So, you’re right — let’s get into the season and then see if it has legs, even with my concerns that this overdoing the old fan service is going to hurt market expansion among kids.

PS: Why not make the holographic doctor, M’Benga! Then you tie into SNW, which older family members and maybe your parents are watching? That would make a hell of a lot more sense, marketing-wise. I mean, they run Chicago Fire and Chicago PD back-to-back for a crossing marketing reason….can you imagine instead if they instead ran the 1980’s Emergency Series in SD right after Chicago Fire? That’s what they are doing here with Prodigy and Voyager…makes no sense. And then, instead of Chakotey, find a way to get Mary Wiseman/Tilly (have it be her great grandaughter in Starfleet) in the series instead of Chakotey — kids would love her character!

Yep. I don’t remotely get the issue. And it’s great to have the real Janeway back.

Pretty much! Can’t wait to see them all back, especially on the Voyager A. That alone has me super excited! Prodigy and Lower Decks is what I’m most excited to watch this year.

Let’s be honest; kids aren’t watching this. Hence, the whole continuation drama.

Kids don’t even really watch cartoons anymore, they are all into gaming and youtube.

It is clear that Prodigy is for older fans who love Voyager.

I am assuming the same conclusion, but obviously have no facts to back that up.

It did land in the kids top 10 shows on Netflix which is great. But I’m still guessing the majority of them are parents who are Trek fans who got their kids to check it out and probably more adults still watched it regardless.

But the Hageman brothers have made it clear it’s a family show obviously so they expect both kids and adults to watch. I think advertising it strictly as a kid’s show put a lot of people off.

I think in season 2 the family aspect will be marketed more but I don’t doubt in the end it will probably be old fans watching it vs kids.

They should’ve made it clear this show was for adults as it was for children, but animated shows still scare a lot of adults away. But LDS doesn’t have that problem obviously so I do think how they marketed Prodigy was certainly an issue.

But Paramount cancelling it might have been the best thing for the show because people seem way more aware of it now. And it’s on a service most people actually have lol.

Nope. See above please

Same as well. I’m happy more kids are watching it and can hopefully become bigger fans in time.

But I’m pretty sure it’s all the old fans that is keeping this show and all of NuTrek alive. And most who are watching this show is because of Janeway. Hopefully next season more fans will watch now that it’s on Netflix.

NO, you are actually being dishonest with that comment.

It made the ‘Kids Top 10” in Netflix shortly after this season one was put on the platform — and those ratings are substantiated in that they are tied to kids user profiles.

Kids will be the key to any order by Netflix for a season three, because that is the only way they’re going to significantly expand the market, because they’ve obviously already maxed out the market of older fans who are excited about animated Voyager characters from 25 years ago.

If they were smarter, The holographic doc would be M’Benga, and instead of Chakotey, have Mary Wiseman voicing a descendent from Tillys family.

So you tie it into the new shows for crossmarketing purposes to build excitement, given you’ve already maxed out the Voyager connection with Janeway anyway.

Franchise Cross Marketing 101 — Dick Wolf would know better.

They are watching it but the adults probably still outnumber them by a wide margin. Star Trek doesn’t really attract younger fans these days like ironically Voyager did back in the day. And that was still more teenagers like myself at the time.

I don’t care who is watching, just whatever it takes to get us another season. I want to see Janeway and Voyager A have more adventures with the kids!

The only way in which this makes sense is that VOY is seen as an approachable entry point for young viewers into live-action Trek. As a parent of kids in the target range, I think that’s pretty accurate, though VOY is held back a lot by its low-quality footage. Do a remaster, and many kids would likely follow a pipeline from Prodigy to Voyager to Picard etc.

Voyager’s special effects may be outdated, but they are certainly not low quality.

I don’t mean the effects. I mean the low-resolution footage that’s also a little choppy when streamed from P+. The physical media is a bit better (no choppiness), but getting it to look good on a modern screen takes some manual work in an upscaler or editor. Paramount could benefit a lot from offering an enhancing viewing experience, but yes people have been saying that for years and it’s been called cost-prohibitve.

Yeah, and many kids are going quickly reject that poor quality viewing experience.

However it’s the same kids were to see M’Benga and Tilly on Prodigy instead of more VOY characters from 25 years ago, then they both start getting interested in SNW, DSC and the upcoming SFA — plus, if their older siblings and parents are also watching The current Star Trek shows, it’s gives you that GOLDEN marketing goal of family viewing — and that’s how you get Netflix to fund a season 3 of Prodigy.

Agreed! Besides, with the Janeway as Teacher hologram, they’ve already maxed out any VOY connection anyway. It’s unfortunate at the show’s creators have not taken advantage of cross-marketing this with the shows that are actually going on TODAY to try to up the viewership among kids and adults. What they should be doing is tying in the other current series to get those audiences to watch more — for example, have holographic doc be M’Benga, and instead of Chakotey, have Mary Wiseman voicing a descendent from Tillys family — that’s what they should be doing now instead of doubling down on the 25- year old VOY who’s audience they have already kind of maxed out with Janeway anyway,

I really hope one day they remaster Voyager and Deep Space 9.

I don’t think it matters for Prodigy though. The show is meant to be a gateway for all of Star Trek not just Voyager. But hopefully many will watch Voyager if they fall in love with the real Janeway, the Doctor and whoever else shows up.

These shows can use all the classic characters they can get, especially since I doubt anyone else is really watching them but old fans. But it’s great younger kids get to know who Janeway and the Doctor is on this show too.

I’m surprised the Doctor never got any pips after returning to Earth given he has rights of personhood. He doesn’t even have so much as an NCO pin. Every last one of those kids can pull rank on him. And we thought Harry Kim had it bad being stuck as an Ensign.

OH YEAH!! The DOCTOR IS ON THE HOUSE!

Can not wait to see him back. I think second season will be better than the first and that’s saying a lot.

I’ve never seen this show but others have encouraged me to give it a try.

Now that I know the Doctor is on it has convinced me to watch it. That’s really exciting and maybe even more people will watch it now.

NuTrek shouldn’t forget classic Trek.

I’m so glad to hear that Legacy! 😀

And your post is exactly why legacy characters are used. I know it’s a big sticking point with old and hardcore fans but the reality is they do draw people to give something a chance they may not otherwise, especially casual viewers.

It doesn’t mean they will keep watching it but it does prove it can be a gateway nonetheless. But I do hope the show itself will get you invested and not just Janeway and the Doctor but it helps lol.

Thank you dear! Since you and others told me how much you like it and everyone says it’s really good, especially because Janeway is there I want to try it. And everyone says it’s much better than Discovery and more like classic Trek, so that’s good news.

Robert Picardo is one of my favorite actors and he has a fantastic singing voice. I wish he4 were used more.

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Emma Willis, Rylan Clark and Oti Mabuse’s Red Nose Day trek halted by weather

The trio have been warned that any attempt to push ahead to the final peak currently could pose a danger to life., article bookmarked.

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Emma Willis , Oti Mabuse and Rylan Clark’s mountain trek for Red Nose Day has been brought to a halt due to dangerous weather conditions closing in on the Scottish Highlands.

The trio had planned to reach the summit of the snow-capped Cairngorm mountain on Friday after spending the last two days climbing and wild camping.

However, they have been warned that any attempt to push ahead to the final peak currently could pose a danger to life due to 70mph winds and gusts up to 100mph expected at the summit.

The expedition team are now trying to find a new safe route for the trio to re-attempt the summit and complete their challenge in 24 hours’ time – if it is deemed safe to resume.

The celebrities set off from the village of Braemar, near Aberdeen , on Wednesday morning and made their way through the foothills of the Southern Cairngorms before setting up camp in windy conditions.

Over the last two days, they have battled blustery winds, ice, rain and freezing temperatures in their bid to raise funds for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.

Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two host Clark, 34, admitted that if he was told two days ago they could not get to the summit he would be “delighted”, but now they have gotten so close he was “absolutely gutted”.

He added: “I know it’s the right decision but we’re gutted. Even if there’s the smallest chance of us being able to carry on tomorrow then I’m staying. I didn’t start this challenge to only make it halfway.”

The Circle presenter Willis, 46, was also frustrated by the situation and said she was determined to see the challenge through to the end if it was at all possible.

She said: “I feel like the rug’s been pulled from under us. If there’s even the smallest chance of us trying again tomorrow then I’m staying. I’m not going home today. No way.

“I feel like I’ve only done 50% of the challenge and I always give 100% to everything I do. But it’s out of my control.

“I can’t get lost in my own disappointment though. I need to turn my annoyance into determination.”

Dancing On Ice judge Mabuse, 32, added: “It’s not the result we were hoping for and I’m not good with change. It doesn’t matter what we want now. It’s up to the mountain whether this challenge carries on tomorrow or not.”

Expedition lead Graeme Douglas, who has been with the trio throughout their journey, emphasised that safety with all Comic Relief challenges was their “number one priority”.

He added: “We have been closely monitoring the weather over the past 24 hours and due to 70mph winds and gusts up to 100mph expected on the summit of Cairngorm today, we have reluctantly made the decision to pause the climb until tomorrow.

“We have revised the proposed route and weather permitting, we will press on to the summit on Saturday.”

The trio’s adventure has been filmed for a documentary, Frozen: Emma, Oti and Rylan’s Red Nose Day Challenge, which will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the run-up to Red Nose Day.

Money raised for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day will help the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, and food poverty in the UK and across the world.

A portion of the money raised will also go towards the emergency response to the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

– Red Nose Day returns to BBC One on March 17 with hosts AJ Odudu, David Tennant, Joel Dommett, Paddy McGuinness and Zoe Ball.

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The big bang theory’s most important pairing wasn’t sheldon & amy or leonard & penny.

Although the relationships between Penny and Leonard and Amy and Sheldon were great, neither of these were The Big Bang Theory's most pivotal pairing.

• Penny and Sheldon had the most crucial relationship on The Big Bang Theory, evolving from hostility to a deep friendship.
• Sheldon's growth was largely thanks to Penny, who helped him with social skills and even faciliated his scientific breakthroughs.
• Leonard's pursuit of Penny wouldn't have been as entertaining without Sheldon's contrasting views and comic relief on the show.

While Penny and Leonard and Sheldon and Amy were The Big Bang Theory ’s central couples, the show’s most important relationship was another pairing entirely. The Big Bang Theory began life under the working title Lenny, Kenny, and Penny . While The Big Bang Theory ’s entire cast of characters was popular among viewers, it is easy to see why the show’s original moniker was chosen. It was Leonard’s infatuation with his new neighbor Penny, and his roommate Sheldon (originally Kenny)’s contrasting inability to adjust to her presence, that originally drove the show’s comedy and conflict. This changed before The Big Bang Theory ’s series finale .

Leonard and Penny hooked up surprisingly early and, although the couple went through many breakups and subsequent reunions, the pair stayed together for much of the show’s run. As such, The Big Bang Theory needed to move past its initial focus and expand the show’s world. The Big Bang Theory abandoned its original premise as the sitcom turned Howard and Sheldon’s love interests Bernadette and Amy into series regulars. Despite this change, its most important relationship did not change. Interestingly, this pivotal relationship wasn’t the romance shared by Leonard and Penny, or even Sheldon and Amy’s story.

Sheldon And Penny Were The Big Bang Theory’s Most Important Relationship

Sheldon and penny changed each other more than anyone else.

As strange as it may seem, the mismatched Penny and Sheldon had the most important relationship in The Big Bang Theory . Although Leonard did change a lot as the show progressed and Amy’s character also grew, Penny and Sheldon underwent the most dramatic growth, and the pair owed their positive changes to each other. Penny and Sheldon’s initially hostile relationship soon defrosted into a mutual understanding, but this then eventually grew into a friendship that was stronger than many of the show’s central romantic pairings. The Big Bang Theory gang needed Penny , but the show proved that Penny also needed Sheldon.

Penny and Sheldon clashed when they first met, but Penny was quicker at warming to her neighbor than the infamously obstinate Sheldon. During their friendship, Penny went from not caring about academia to asking Sheldon if he would help her bluff an understanding of Leonard’s job in season 3. Later, her interest became genuine as Penny secretly began to attend a history course and went on to study psychology. Penny’s interest in psychology was clearly influenced by her interactions with Sheldon , as evidenced when Penny used a borrowed parenting book to shape Sheldon’s behavior in season 11, episode 5, “The Contamination Collaboration.”

Sheldon and Penny’s Best Plots Show That They Improved Each Other

Penny helped sheldon make a breakthrough with string theory.

Although Sheldon claimed Penny held up the gang’s potential , the inverse was true for him. Not only did Penny teaching Sheldon about pop culture make him more relatable to his peers, but her conflicts with him also proved invaluable when it came to Sheldon’s interpersonal skills. Sheldon learned to apologize thanks to Penny and some of his earliest displays of genuine kindness were offered to her, whether it was providing her with care when she dislocated her shoulder or presenting her with a lavish Christmas gift and a hug in season 2, episode 11, “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis.”

Furthermore, Penny also helped Sheldon make breakthroughs in his scientific work despite her limited understanding of his field. In season 11, episode 13, “The Solo Oscillation,” the unlikely pairing made a vital discovery after Sheldon spent months struggling with dark matter. Penny referring to dark matter as his “ Rebound ” after quitting string theory research seemed like a goody comedic aside, but this insight ended up propelling Sheldon into his next vital epiphany. The Big Bang Theory ’s finale proved how much Sheldon respected her contributions when he referred to her as one of his “ Dearest friends ” in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech.

Leonard and Penny’s Relationship Needed Sheldon

Leonard’s pursuit of penny wouldn’t have been funny without his roommate.

Although Leonard’s attempts to woo Penny were central to the first three seasons of The Big Bang Theory , there is a reason that the sitcom’s original title included a third name. Leonard’s pursuit of Penny would have been dull without Sheldon , and his infatuation could have come across as creepy if it weren’t for Sheldon’s contrasting take on Penny. Sheldon’s pronounced disdain for Penny provided the show with a lot of laughs in its early seasons. Meanwhile, Sheldon’s everyday struggles, both professional and personal, proved that Penny’s street smarts and social knowledge were more valuable than he cared to admit.

Sheldon Made Penny More Mature

Penny took care of sheldon more than he would ever admit.

Broadly speaking, Penny was far kinder to Sheldon than Sheldon was to her. Since season 5, episode 11, “The Speckerman Recurrence,” saw Penny realize that she had been a bully in high school, dealing with Sheldon provided her with many opportunities for character growth. Although Young Sheldon dropped Sheldon’s history of bullying , the show’s antihero repeatedly said that he was a frequent victim of bullying in his youth. Penny’s willingness to take care of Sheldon when he was sick, help him when he was scammed by a hacker, and defend him against bullies redeemed her past mistakes and made her more mature.

Penny and Sheldon’s Relationship Illustrates An Awkward Young Sheldon Problem

Both penny and sheldon were too one-note without each other.

Although Penny and Sheldon’s relationship made The Big Bang Theory work , this underlines an awkward problem with the central premise of the show’s spinoff. Penny made Sheldon a better person, meaning Young Sheldon ’s version of Sheldon is inherently less compelling. Young Sheldon ’s title character is a more straightforward, uncomplicated, and often annoying protagonist, since he has not yet learned the empathy that Penny taught him later in life. Young Sheldon worked around this by making Sheldon’s family the show’s main characters as the series continued, but this meant that the spinoff’s title was a misleading artifact in its later seasons.

While Young Sheldon season 7 made Meemaw a more central and significant character than Sheldon himself, this was an imperfect way of dealing with the spinoff’s in-built flaw. The reality is that Sheldon isn’t a particularly compelling character without Penny’s influence, since the insufferable genius stereotype has been done to death already. The contrast between Sheldon and Penny made their relationship the show's strongest story, but this means that its spinoff was always destined to struggle. Unfortunately, it was impossible for any follow-up to recreate the chemistry that The Big Bang Theory ’s Penny and Sheldon shared in the original series.

The Big Bang Theory

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