Uncharitable Thought

I have a grumble to make about Children In Need.

Some people wouldn't read that sentence and instantly become outraged at such sacrilegious behaviour, so let me make it clear that I'm not complaining about the charity itself, or the work that it does, or how it raises money or, indeed, anything of any importance.

No, my grumble is about all about dates and timing. This year's show is being touted as the 25th anniversary of the telethon. Everyone is saying that Children in Need has been going for twenty-five years and this just isn't true.

The first show was in November 1980. Twenty-four years ago. True, this is the 25th show but as such it is only the 24th anniversary of the first one. We haven't been celebrating the four-hundredth anniversary of the gunpowder plot this year, have we? So why do it for Children in Need?

In the grand scheme of things, of course, this is totally irrelevant and it shouldn't in any way stop you from donating but when it comes to dates and numbers, things like that just get on my nerves.