IT doesn't seem two years since we last anticipated a night of Comic Relief fun.

But, here we are, ready to take whatever laughter Lenny Henry and his fund-raising celebrity mates can throw at us, and preparing to give in return.

No matter what's left for good causes after Camelot's taken its profit, it's as undeniable now as it has ever been that many people prefer to spend £1 on the six Lotto numbers which could change their lives than drop it directly into a collecting tin and make a difference for others.

Like Children in Need, Comic Relief's the one event which appears to have survived the revolution, a biennial trigger for anyone who doesn't need an excuse - and those who do, too - to dress stupidly and rattle cans. Unlike Children in Need, though, the night won't seem interminably long.

We make despairing sounds every November about how uninspiringly predictable and dull Terry Wogan's annual marathon outing has become.

Comic Relief manages to maintain a freshness and vibrancy which grabs our attention. Long may it do so.

The fact that so many children are desperate for the £20m-plus raised by Children in Need every year is the best reason for BBC Director General Greg Dyke to order a revamp of it.

While he watches Lenny and Pals tonight, and hopefully digests that thought, let's all do what we can to carry on giving and bring some light into the lives of those who find it tough simply to make it through the day.