Tom Fletcher, best known as a member of McFly, has announced that he has teamed up with BBC Children in Need and publisher Puffin ahead of this year’s charity appeal show
A “special collaboration” has been announced this week. It comes ahead of this year’s Children in Need appeal show in less than two months, with a host of celebrities expected to be involved in the televised fundraising event.
It has now been revealed that Tom Fletcher, 40, is teaming up with BBC Children in Need and publisher Puffin for the occasion. The McFly singer has written a new picture book, Pudsey and the Thread of Hope, that features illustrations by Joris Bergmans and is due to be released in November.
Tom, who has written numerous books for children in recent years, is supporting the Challenge Yourself campaign for this year’s appeal. He’s said to have taken on the challenge to create “something truly special” and worked on a story embodying “the spirit of the charity and its iconic mascot”.
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His “magical and moving” new book is said to celebrate 40 years of Pudsey’s legacy as well as the charity’s “vital work supporting children and young people across the UK”. The BBC has shared that for every paperback sold in the UK and Ireland, £1 will be donated to Children in Need.
Pudsey and the Thread of Hope follows Jai, a child navigating grief after the loss of his father. He’s said to embark on a journey of “healing and hope” with Pudsey. A synopsis teases: “Along the way, they meet other children connected by a golden thread of kindness, discovering the transformative power of friendship, courage and love.”
Tom said: “I was so excited to be asked to write this magical story that brings Pudsey and his wonderful qualities to life on the page. Across the UK, children and young people are facing impossible challenges without anyone to turn to.”
The musician expressed hope over raising money through the project. He said: “But everyone needs a thread of hope, and I hope that, together, through this book, we can raise money that helps provide support, connection, and care – when it matters most.”
Claire Hoyle, Chief Campaigns & Engagement Officer at BBC Children in Need, said: “Pudsey has always been a symbol of hope and resilience for children across the UK. Pudsey and the Thread of Hope beautifully captures the spirit of what we stand for – helping children feel seen, supported and empowered. We’re thrilled to see Pudsey’s story brought to life in such a heartfelt way.”
Joe Marriott, picture-book publisher at Puffin said: “Puffin is thrilled to be publishing this magical story from the imagination of beloved storyteller Tom Fletcher. We’re proud to be working with Tom to help raise awareness of the wonderful and important work that Children in Need do, and to be sharing this heartwarming and hopeful story.”
It isn’t the first time that Tom has collaborated with Children in Need. Last year, he designed the official t-shirt for the 2024 appeal with his wife Giovanna Fletcher, with the couple transforming the t-shirt into a “band-style tee”.
Tom said at the time: “When myself and Gi got the call to design this year’s BBC Children In Need T-shirt, we jumped at the opportunity. It was so fun to reimagine what the iconic Pudsey tee could look like if we transformed it into a band-style tee celebrating all the ‘best bits’ of this amazing charity.”
Pudsey and the Thread of Hope will be released in paperback on November 6, with the book now available to pre-order. BBC Children in Need 2025’s appeal show will then be broadcast on November 14.
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