The appeal has raised £400m for disadvantaged children in the UK

While Terry Wogan fronted the 28th appeal night in London, Aled Jones and Sara Edwards were hosting an evening of live music and appearances in Cardiff.

As a 30ft version of mascot Pudsey travelled around the nation, more than £614,175 had been raised in Wales by 2150 GMT.

More than £700,000 was raised in Wales for BBC Children in Need last year.

The money raised goes to disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

So far this year, BBC Children in Need has awarded grants worth more than £2.5m to registered charities, voluntary and community groups in Wales.

Impersonating Elvis

Among those raising money were Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest on their ladders - that's 9,000ft - and raised £3,000.

The crew of bmibaby at Cardiff International Airport collected £40,000 from passengers on their flights over the past couple of months, including unused foreign change.

Milford Haven Comprehensive raised a grand total of £18,000 and Magor Church in Wales school collected £1,000.

Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge raised £3,000 by holding a talent contest.

The RAF in St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, collected £600 by holding a sponsored Ju Jitsu throw.

The Crown Prosecution Service in Colwyn Bay 'arrested' a member of staff for impersonating Elvis Presley and raised £400 by charging staff to throw wet sponges at him.

And 64 schools in Carmarthenshire raised £9,000 by holding road safety awareness days.

Meanwhile, Tarantula collector Peter Cullen will be revealing his unusual pets in Lion Stores, Lower Cwmtwrch, on Saturday to those willing to make donations.

As part of the TV show, the BBC Wales Today team performed a rap song and the cast of Welsh language soap Pobol Y Cwm will be reviving a West End blockbuster.

Since 1980, the fundraiser has collected more than £400m for disadvantaged children in the UK.