Wet Nose Day is on Sunday, 12th March because Red Nose Day is on Friday, 17 March - and I'm joining people across the nation to show that laughter has the power to change lives. Your donation will make a powerful difference to people here in the UK and around the world. Today's the day! No time for any more registrations. Come all you good dogs and we'll see how we can help you. Donate and, if you can, tick off the Gift Aid option. Comic Relief can then claim an extra 25% from the government.

My name is Eva Griffith, and I am an entertainment historian with a background in drama. I don't even have a dog, but during the past few years, with the pandemic and other disasters affecting Britain and the world, meeting so many dogs of all shapes and sizes has certainly made me laugh! In my work I specialise in Shakespeare's time. This year, 2023, marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of many of Shakespeare's plays in an especially large collection called 'the First Folio'. Shakespeare often used the image of a 'dog' in his writing, at a time when dogs were used for all kinds of purposes. Today they are certainly 'Man's Best Friend'. I have a vision of the people of our land striding forth in colourful clothes with ribbons on the leashes of their dogs, and with happy hats on, raising money for Comic Relief. You don't have to own a dog to come. You don't have to know anything about Shakespeare or like him. You don't have to be a grown-up, although please make sure your grown-ups are with you as they can behave badly when 'home alone'. If you want to, you can dress up in something colourful, shiny or twinkly, or tweedy and dog-walker-like, and we'll walk the dogs around a special place for me - Clerkenwell. And this one is rounded off with a doggy competition called 'Ruffs' if you'd like to join that!

From us and everyone at Comic Relief, thank you. You're wonderful.

Huzzah!