Sir Terry Wogan pulls out of Children in Need due to 'health reasons'

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(Image credit: BBC)

Sir Terry Wogan has taken doctor's advice and withdrawn from tonight's Children in Need fundraiser on BBC1

The 77-year-old semi-retired TV presenter is having a procedure on his back and his doctor has advised against participating. It will be the first Children in Need he hasn't presented since it launched in 1980.

He told the BBC he would miss 'our wonderful, inspiring evening' but would still be 'watching, cheering and donating'.

He will be replaced as host by Dermot O'Leary.

The BBC said: "We are incredibly grateful to Dermot for stepping in at such short notice but know he'll do us and Sir Terry proud."

Dermot said: "It's a huge honour to be asked to step into Sir Terry's shoes tonight; he is one of my broadcasting heroes and has been a source of support for me down the years.

"I'd like to add my best wishes to Sir Terry for a speedy recovery, and I hope I do him justice and do my small part to make the night a success and make as much money as we can for disadvantaged children across the country."

Tess Daly, Rochelle Humes, Nick Grimshaw and Fearne Cotton will join Dermot in presenting Children in Need.

 

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.