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Children In Need set for 10pm finish due to filming restrictions

‘Children In Need’ is reportedly set to finish at 10pm due to filming restrictions.

The BBC’s annual charity fundraising telethon will still mark its 40-year anniversary on November 13, but the coronavirus pandemic means the broadcast will have to end earlier than usual.

A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "The show is happening this year, as everyone wants to mark 40 years.

"But it’s going to be impossible to have hundreds of famous faces traipsing through Elstree and doing slots. So they’ve decided to pare it back a bit and end it at 10pm rather than go on into the early hours.

"All the usual ways to help the cause, such as Pudsey merchandise, will be available as normal, but the telethon will be slightly smaller scale."

The reports comes after Tess Daly revealed she was stepping down after 11 years hosting the show, as he has decided to "pass the presenting baton over".

Announcing the news, she shared a series of photos of her taking part on the programme including one with her with late long-time host Sir Terry Wogan, another with co-presenter Ade Adepitan and cuddly mascot Pudsey Bear on her Instagram.

The accompanying post read: "For the past 11 years I’ve had the great privilege of presenting ‘Children In Need’ alongside brilliant presenters and an amazing team.

"Pudsey and what he represents will always hold a special place in my heart but it’s time to pass the presenting baton over as the show reaches it’s amazing 40-year milestone. That’s four decades of the British public donating and heroically fundraising over £1bn towards changing children’s lives for the better."

Although she did not give a reason for leaving the show, Tess will continue to support the charity’s various initiatives that help disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

She continued: "But ‘Children In Need’ isn’t just an annual event, it works tirelessly all year round and I’m excited that I will continue to work alongside some of the vitally important projects that this extraordinary charity supports, seeing first-hand what a profound affect these unprecedented times have had, and to find out what more we can do to help."