BBC Children in Need is the BBC's UK charity for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. Between 1980 and 2023, it raised over £1 billion.

An annual telethon is held in November and televised on BBC One and BBC Two. Pudsey Bear has been BBC Children in Need's mascot since 1985, whilst Sir Terry Wogan was its long-standing host for 35 years. A prominent annual event in British television, Children in Need is one of two high-profile British telethons. It is the only charity belonging to the BBC, the other telethon being Red Nose Day, supporting Comic Relief.

Following the closure of the BBC Television Centre, the telethon broadcasts took place at the BBC Elstree Centre from 2013 to 2020. The telethon previously lasted for up to 7 hours, but since 2020, it has been reduced to a 3-hour programme from 7pm to 10pm. In relation to the event having content designed for family viewing, the watershed is delayed until 11:30pm.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the telethon was reduced to a singular programme with only four presenters: Mel Giedroyc, Alex Scott, Chris Ramsey and Stephen Mangan. As of November 2021, the annual telethon takes place at Dock10, MediaCityUK in Salford. In October 2023 it was reported that for the first time in Children in Need history, the BBC's 2023 appeal broadcast would have its first child co-presenter, with children's TV star and upcoming Doctor Who actor Lenny Rush taking on the role.