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Red Nose Day Actually
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| Red Nose Day Actually | |
|---|---|
![]() Promotional poster for the American version (Laura Linney, featured on the poster, does not appear in the original UK broadcast). | |
| Based on | Characters from Love Actually by Richard Curtis |
| Written by | Richard Curtis |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Fiona Neilson |
| Cinematography | Andrew Dunn |
| Editor | Marc Richardson |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 24 March 2017 |
Red Nose Day Actually is a 2017 British romantic comedy television short promotional film, following a dozen of the characters from Richard Curtis' Christmas film Love Actually, as part of the fundraising event Red Nose Day 2017.[1] Curtis returns with many of the cast members from the original film including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Martine McCutcheon, Bill Nighy, Thomas Sangster, Lúcia Moniz, Olivia Olson, Marcus Brigstocke, and Rowan Atkinson.[2]
The short film was first broadcast on BBC One on 24 March 2017, as a part of Red Nose Day. A slightly different version of the film, featuring Laura Linney reprising her role and Patrick Dempsey, was broadcast in the US on 25 May 2017.[3]
Plot
[edit]The film is set in March 2017, 13 years after the events of the original film.
Juliet is watching television with her husband Peter. When the doorbell rings and she opens the door, Juliet finds Mark, who, similarly to 13 years ago, communicates with her by using cue cards, having her pretend to Peter, this time, that Mark is a fund raiser for Red Nose Day. They tell each other that they are very happy with their respective lives, and Mark presents his new wife, who is none other than British supermodel Kate Moss, whom, 13 years prior, he jokingly said he was going to marry. Mark's final card proposes that they see what happened to the rest of their friends.
David, who has lost and recently regained his position as Prime Minister since the first film, dances in his official residence once again(this time to Hotline Bling, as opposed to Jump (For My Love) in the original), even continuing in great pain after falling down the stairs. His wife and former employee Natalie amicably reprimands him, and offers to make him tea. Later in a public speech, he states that although times are harder for a lot of people now, he still believes that love and the good in people will win in the end.
Billy Mack recently released a charity single, a cover of the 1983 ZZ Top song "Gimme All Your Lovin'". As the reporter interviewing him on radio tries to help him raise awareness for Red Nose Day, Billy openly admits to not caring about children (except for the ones that buy his discs) and that he only promotes the charity to, in truth, get free publicity for his upcoming autobiography, which he has admittedly neither written nor read. He then reveals with sadness that his manager Joe has died from a heart attack since the first film, before stating that the greatest sex he ever had was with one of the Kardashians, although he cannot decide which one.
Among salesman Rufus's products are red noses in honour of Red Nose Day. When a child in line buys one and agrees to have it gift wrapped, Rufus proceeds with great delight to take an absurdly excessive amount of time doing so. The waiting line soon becomes so long that it blocks car traffic outside.
Meanwhile, on their way to pick up their three children from school, Jamie and his wife Aurélia recall their first days together. Aurélia says in Portuguese that even though life makes it impossible to be completely happy, love sometimes makes you feel like you are. She then reveals to Jamie that she is pregnant with their fourth child, though he misunderstands her and believes she was telling him what was for dinner.
Sitting on a bench near the Thames, Daniel receives a surprise visit from his stepson Sam, who is now 26 and lives in New York City, New York, USA. When Daniel expresses concern because Sam had not been in touch, he is surprised to see Joanna, Sam's childhood crush 13 years ago who had left for US. She asks for Sam's hand in marriage, and Daniel, delighted, jokingly answers that he will think about it.
The film then ends with footage showing various people and actions supported by Comic Relief, and some of the film's cast wearing red noses.
Cast
[edit]- Hugh Grant as David
- Liam Neeson as Daniel
- Colin Firth as Jamie
- Andrew Lincoln as Mark
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Peter
- Keira Knightley as Juliet
- Martine McCutcheon as Natalie
- Bill Nighy as Billy Mack
- Thomas Sangster as Sam
- Lúcia Moniz as Aurélia
- Olivia Olson as Joanna
- Marcus Brigstocke as Mikey
- Rowan Atkinson as Rufus
- Kate Moss as herself
- Victoria Derbyshire as Journalist
- Charlie Stayt as Reporter
- Jo Whiley as herself (voice)
- Laura Linney as Sarah (US release)
- Patrick Dempsey as Sarah’s husband (US release)
- Louise Pentland as Journalist
Production
[edit]Shooting began in February 2017, with the film being announced at the same time.[1] The film was broadcast on BBC One as part of Red Nose Day on 24 March 2017. Among the returning cast are Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Andrew Lincoln, Thomas Sangster, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Marcus Brigstocke and Rowan Atkinson. Actors who did not return included Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Joanna Page,[4] Rodrigo Santoro, and Gregor Fisher. Emma Thompson explained her absence from the film: “Richard wrote to me and said, ‘Darling, we can’t write anything for you because of Alan,’ and I said, ‘No, of course, it would be sad, too sad,’” referring to the then-recent death of on-screen husband Alan Rickman.[5]
US version
[edit]An additional sequence with Laura Linney and Patrick Dempsey was shot after the UK airing, for the US broadcast on NBC on 25 May 2017.[3] It features Linney's character, Sarah, answering her cell phone as if it were her brother calling as in the film, only to reveal the caller is Patrick Dempsey, who remarks that he loves the way she always answers her phone and that she is a wonderful wife, thus giving her character a decidedly happy ending.
The US version also includes alternate versions of the two Rowan Atkinson scenes, set in the US. There are alternate exterior shots of the store he works in, which is now a Walgreens in Midtown Manhattan, replacing the unnamed suburban British store in the original. The US version has Walgreens signage and Red Nose Day banners with the US date, two months later than in the UK, behind Atkinson throughout his scenes. The young actor playing Atkinson's customer speaks slightly different dialogue, with an American accent this time, and Atkinson describes costs in dollars instead of pounds.
The US version also replaces The Beach Boys' 1966 song "God Only Knows" over the opening shots with a cue from Craig Armstrong's score for the original film.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Elvy, Craig (10 May 2017). "Love Actually Red Nose Day Sequel Poster". ScreenRant.com. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Travis, Ben (24 March 2017). "Red Nose Day Love Actually sequel: what happened to every character in the Comic Relief special". Evening Standard.
- ^ a b Erin Nyren (5 May 2017). "Patrick Dempsey to Join Red Nose Day Reunion of 'Love Actually'". Variety. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Stern, Marlow (27 May 2017). "'Love Actually 2': Inside the Star-Studded Sequel". Daily Beast.
- ^ "The Heartbreaking Reason Emma Thompson is Skipping the Love Actually Sequel". Vanity Fair. 24 February 2017.
External links
[edit]Red Nose Day Actually
View on GrokipediaBackground and Context
Connection to Love Actually
Red Nose Day Actually functions as a sequel to the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually, written and directed by Richard Curtis, which centers on an ensemble cast of British actors portraying multiple interconnected storylines about love and relationships in London over the Christmas period.[8][9] The original film's structure of parallel narratives involving diverse characters—from a Prime Minister to everyday professionals—established a foundation for revisiting and extending those arcs in the follow-up short.[8] Several character threads from Love Actually directly inform the sequel's returns, highlighting unresolved emotional tensions. For instance, Mark (played by Andrew Lincoln), a reserved filmmaker harboring unrequited feelings for his best friend Peter's wife Juliet (Keira Knightley), culminates his arc with a poignant, wordless doorstep confession using handwritten cue cards.[10] Similarly, Sarah (Laura Linney), an American executive at a London design firm, faces ongoing personal struggles as her potential romance with colleague Karl (Rodrigo Santoro) is derailed by incessant demands from her brother with a disability, prioritizing familial duty over her own desires.[11] These elements underscore the original's exploration of love's complexities and sacrifices, priming the narrative for later continuations. Richard Curtis, returning as writer and producer for both projects and co-founder of Comic Relief, conceived the sequel to reunite the Love Actually cast in a lighthearted, nostalgic update that reflects on their lives amid contemporary challenges.[12][13] Set 14 years after the events of the 2003 film, Red Nose Day Actually transposes the characters into a 2017 setting, maintaining thematic continuity while adapting to modern times.[14] The short was commissioned by Comic Relief for its Red Nose Day fundraising initiative.[14]Role in Comic Relief
Comic Relief, founded in 1985 by comedian Lenny Henry and writer Richard Curtis in response to the Ethiopian famine, organizes Red Nose Day as its flagship biennial fundraising telethon, held every other March since its inception in 1988.[2] The event combines live entertainment, comedy sketches, and celebrity performances to drive donations toward alleviating poverty and supporting humanitarian efforts in the UK and internationally, with the inaugural 1988 broadcast raising £15 million through viewer contributions.[2] Over the decades, Red Nose Day has become a cultural staple, engaging millions via BBC broadcasts that blend humor with calls to action, amassing more than £1 billion in total funds by 2017.[15] Red Nose Day Actually served as a major highlight of the 2017 Red Nose Day event, airing on BBC One on March 24 as a 10-minute short film designed to draw in audiences and amplify donations during the live telethon.[15] This sequel to the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually leveraged its returning star-studded cast to generate buzz and viewership, positioning it as a key attraction amid the night's lineup of sketches and performances.[14] By capitalizing on the original film's enduring popularity, the special aimed to boost participation in Comic Relief's fundraising efforts, encouraging viewers to purchase red noses and make pledges in real time.[15] Prior Red Nose Days had established a tradition of incorporating film and TV specials, including celebrity-driven sketches and short films, to sustain entertainment value and donor engagement—examples include the 1988 Blackadder special and later parodies like the 2007 Uptown Downstairs Abbey.[2] However, Red Nose Day Actually stood out as a particularly high-profile sequel, reuniting an ensemble of acclaimed actors in a narrative format that elevated the event's cinematic appeal beyond typical comedy bits.[15] The 2017 Red Nose Day ultimately exceeded its fundraising targets, raising over £71 million in initial pledges by the broadcast's end, with the Love Actually sequel credited for helping attract a broad audience and contributing to this success through heightened visibility and emotional resonance.[16] This total, bolstered by Gift Aid, underscored the event's impact in supporting Comic Relief's global poverty initiatives.[15]Film Content
Plot Summary
Red Nose Day Actually consists of interconnected vignettes that update the lives of characters from the 2003 film Love Actually, set fourteen years later in March 2017, structured to highlight their personal developments while promoting Comic Relief's fundraising efforts. The narrative unfolds through brief, humorous segments in a single short film, emphasizing lighthearted resolutions and tying individual stories to the charity's mission of alleviating poverty and hardship. With a runtime of approximately 15 minutes, the short prioritizes witty brevity and comedic timing over extended dramatic tension.[17][18] The story opens with Mark's return to Juliet and Peter's home, where he uses cue cards for a public-style declaration echoing his original unrequited affection; this time, however, he affirms his own marital bliss with a supermodel wife (played by Kate Moss)—who dislikes his beard—and inquires about the group's status, proposing a reunion in support of Red Nose Day. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, having endured a political downfall that sidelined him in opposition for five years following his standoff with the U.S. president in the original film, celebrates his re-election by dancing exuberantly to Drake's "Hotline Bling" despite a recent back injury, before delivering an inspiring speech on enduring love and charitable action. Sarah's arc resolves the phone-interrupted challenges from her Love Actually backstory, where calls from her disabled brother Michael repeatedly disrupted her life; she receives an affirming call from Michael expressing love and pride in her, symbolizing her fulfillment in her family role. Other threads include rock star Billy Mack promoting a charity single tied to his autobiography on a local radio station, mourning the recent death of his manager Joe from a heart attack; former salesman Rufus causing chaotic delays at a supermarket by elaborately wrapping Red Nose purchases; author Jamie and his wife Aurelia, fluent in each other's languages after years together, managing three children and announcing a fourth pregnancy; and widower Daniel warmly approving his adult son Sam's marriage proposal to childhood sweetheart Joanna during a surprise visit.[17][18][19] The vignettes converge in a unifying Comic Relief appeal, illustrating the charity's real-world impacts—such as providing aid to children in need—and featuring the characters donning red noses, underscoring how personal bonds of love can inspire broader generosity and support for global causes. (Note: A US version includes an additional scene resolving Sarah's storyline romantically with a new husband, played by Patrick Dempsey.)[17][18][20]Cast and Characters
Red Nose Day Actually reunites several principal cast members from the 2003 film Love Actually, providing updates on their characters' lives fourteen years later.[14] The short film features returning actors reprising their roles, with brief glimpses into personal and professional evolutions, while noting the absence of key originals due to real-life circumstances. (Laura Linney appears only in the US version.)[21] The cast includes:| Actor | Character | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Grant | David (The Prime Minister) | Has served two terms as Prime Minister, having lost and regained office. |
| Martine McCutcheon | Natalie | Remains in a relationship with David, supporting his political career.[22] |
| Andrew Lincoln | Mark | Married to a supermodel (Kate Moss) and sporting a beard.[22] |
| Keira Knightley | Juliet | Still married to Peter, raising a family.[22] |
| Colin Firth | Jamie | Married to Aurelia with three children; she is pregnant with a fourth.[22] |
| Lucia Moniz | Aurelia | Married to Jamie, mother of three, pregnant with a fourth; fluent in English.[23] |
| Liam Neeson | Daniel | Widowed stepfather to adult Sam, maintaining a reflective demeanor.[17] |
| Thomas Brodie-Sangster | Sam | Now 26, living in New York as a young adult, proposing to Joanna.[17] |
| Olivia Olson | Joanna | Has become a successful singer.[12] |
| Bill Nighy | Billy Mack | Aging rock star who has dated celebrities like the Kardashians; mourns his late manager.[22] |
| Marcus Brigstocke | Radio DJ | Interviews Billy Mack on the radio about his charity single.[23] |
| Rowan Atkinson | Rufus | Works as a gift wrapper in a supermarket.[22] |
| Laura Linney (US version) | Sarah | Receives affirming call resolving family challenges (UK); married with children (US).[24][20] |

