Comic Relief 2023: Where can I buy a red nose?

Red Nose Day returns to our screens on Friday 17 March with millions of people expected to take part through various challenges and donation appeals.  

Money raised from the Red Nose Day appeal will help charity Comic Relief support people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems and food poverty. 

The crux of the campaign is a telethon broadcast live on the BBC to appeal for funds, with high profile celebrities taking part with last years appeal raising £42.8 million.

However another way to donate is to buy the charity’s famous red nose merchandise. Here, Femail reveals where to buy yours.

What are red noses made from?

The staple of the event is the red nose and this year’s was designed by former Apple guru Sir Jony Ive. 

Made from 95 percent plant-based materials, the new nose starts as a tiny, flat crescent that springs into a honeycomb paper sphere when opened.

Ive told The Independent : ‘We’ve grown up with Comic Relief and are proud to support their remarkable work.

‘This new and seemingly simple red nose has been a fabulously complex little object to design and make, and has involved our entire team. ‘We hope it brings a little moment of joy to everyone who wears one.’

The design of the red nose changes every year so that people keep buying it.

Jamie Dornan, Dermot O’Leary, Courteney Cox, Jonathon Ross, Graham Norton and AJ Odudu have all recently modelled the brand new nose. 

Where can I buy a red nose and how much does it cost? 

Red noses are on sale for £2.50 from the Comic Relief shop at shop.comicrelief.com. 

All profits from sales of the new red nose will go directly to Comic Relief. 

For the first time, the red nose is also being sold on Amazon, which Comic Relief says is the new home of the red nose.

Amazon is offering free shipping to all customers, regardless of your Amazon Prime status.

However another way to donate is to buy the charity’s infamous red nose merchandise, which is available for £2.50 from Amazon or the The Comic relief shop. Made from 95 percent plant-based materials, the new nose starts as a tiny, flat crescent that springs into a honeycomb paper sphere when opened

All profits from sales of the new red nose will go directly to Comic Relief. For the first time, the red nose is being sold on Amazon, which Comic Relief says is the new home of the red nose (Dermot O’Leary modelling the 2023 red nose) 

What other merchandise can I buy?

Although the charity’s red nose has been its main merchandise item since its creation, Comic Relief has also partnered with the Mr. Men and Little Miss brand and TK Maxx to create t-shirts, tote bags and other merchandise.

TK Maxx has pledged that at least £5 from the sale of every adult T-shirt and at least £2.50 from the sale of every kids’ T-shirt will go to Comic Relief. 

Celebrities including Amada Holden, Hugh Bonneville and Martin Freeman modelled the collection to encourage customers to fork out.

The staple of the event is the red nose and this year’s was designed by former Apple guru Sir Jony Ive

Jodie Whittaker modelling the Mr Men and Little Miss merchandise for 2023 which is available at TK Maxx

How much does Comic Relief raise for charity?

Due to its popularity, Red Nose Day became a yearly occurrence, and is a high profile TV event, watched religiously by millions across the country and worldwide. 

Charity challenges are also completed ahead of the televised events in order to raise more funds.

Comic Relief operates under the ‘Golden Pound’ principle, which means that the entirety of the money that gets donated is put toward charitable projects while the charity’s operating costs are funded by sponsors.

Some of the Red Nose Day supporters include the BBC, which is responsible for broadcasting the telethon each year, Sainsbury’s who sells the appeal’s merchandise, and BT, who handles the telethon.

In 2022, Red Nose Day fundraised nearly £42.8million pounds, and in total, the appeal has raised £1,068,416,012 between 1988 and 2022.

The most successful Red Nose Day appeal ever took place in 2013, where Comic Relief raised £100.3 million thanks to the event.