Sheridan Smith, Idina Menzel and more: the 5 best Children in Need performances

The annual TV broadcast of Children in Need takes place this evening on BBC One at 7pm hosted by Graham Norton.

In the past there have been a stonkingly great array of comedy, stage and screen performances and this year you can expect to be entertained by the cast of Aladdin, currently playing at the Prince Edward Theatre, and the recent West End hit School of Rock. Want to see them in the flesh? Click here to buy tickets for Aladdin and here for tickets to School of Rock.

Click here to find out how to donate to Children in Need

Here are five past Children in Need performances we loved.

Sheridan Smith in Legally Blonde in 2009

Everyone loved Smith as the not-so ditsy Elle and her Chihuahua Bruiser. Here she wows the nation on prime time TV alongside Duncan James from Blue.

Idina Menzel in Wicked 2006

Here the dearly departed Terry Wogan introduces those great witches – played by Idina Menzel and Annalene Beechey – from Wicked singing "What Is This Feeling". We got an uber thrill from watching our screens going green.

Hairspray in 2008

No introduction from Terry Wogan on this video, but do they need it? The cast of Hairspray perform "Can't Stop the Beat" with an excellent amount of sass. Wait for Michael Ball, who was a hilarious Edna.

We Will Rock You in 2002

Roger Taylor from Queen turned up to introduce this rousing snippet from We Will Rock You. First Sharon D Clarke sings "Another One Bites the Dust" and then Tony Vincent comes on to sing "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You". All accompanied by Brian May and Taylor themselves. Bliss.

Matilda in 2013

Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly's brilliant musical was a guest on Children in Need in 2013 and it absolutely deserved the air time. This is a great medley of the revolting maggoty children who made up the cast. It's an awful lot of fun.