Children In Need mascot Pudsey Bear will break his silence in a short film to help raise awareness of children’s mental health.

The 30-second film, Pudsey Finds His Voice, will be released as part of a BBC Children In Need campaign for Mental Health Awareness Week.

It will feature a conversation between Pudsey and actor Dexter Sol Ansell.

BBC Children In Need mascot Pudsey will speak for the first time in over 40 years in a new short film (Image: PA Wire)

BBC mascot Pudsey to speak for first time in over 40 years

The new short film was co-produced by BBC Creative and Blinkink and will urge adults to support children’s mental wellbeing by listening and engaging in meaningful conversation.

Claire Hoyle, interim chief executive at BBC Children In Need, said: “Our research makes clear that far too many children and young people are carrying their worries alone, and that silence can have serious consequences for their mental health.

“We know the difference one trusted adult can make.

“When a child feels heard, it can change everything – helping them cope earlier and stopping problems from becoming more serious.

“Pudsey has stood alongside children for over 40 years, and now, for the first time ever, he’s finding his voice.

“Pudsey is finding his voice because too many children feel they can’t share what they’re going through, and too many adults aren’t sure how to start that conversation.

“This campaign is a call to adults.

“It’s on all of us to create the moments, ask the questions, and really listen – so children feel safe to open up.”

Pudsey Bear, created in 1985 by BBC graphic designer Joanna Lane, has long served as the face of Children In Need and its fundraising efforts.

The new campaign follows research by BBC Children In Need, indicating that children who often have someone to talk to are around nine times more likely to say they feel happy than those who do not.

Additional research commissioned by the charity revealed that 24% of children keep their worries to themselves, while 38% say those worries have made life less enjoyable or caused them to stay silent out of fear or embarrassment.

In support of the campaign, BBC Children In Need has announced it will be investing £1.24 million in mental health support for children and young people.

The funding will benefit charities including Mental Health Innovations and The Children’s Society.

Pudsey Finds His Voice will air across BBC television and radio from Monday, and will premiere on BBC One’s The One Show at 7pm.

Have you donated to Children In Need before? Let us know in the comments.

The hit travel competition show returned to screens last month, seeing new pairs travelling more than 12,000km across Europe and Asia.

So far, the pairs have travelled across countries, including Italy, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The final destination brings them to the shores of Lake Khovsgol in northern Mongolia, where the first to cross the finish line will snap up the £20,000 reward.

However, viewers of Race Across The World are facing a slight shift in schedule this week, as the BBC makes room for Eurovision.

Race Across The World faces a major schedule change this week

Since it started last month, Race Across The World has been airing episodes every Thursday at 8pm.

However, this week, the BBC has brought the show forward by a day, with the penultimate episode now airing on Wednesday, May 13th at 8pm.

The move comes as the BBC prepares to air the second round of the semi-finals at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The upcoming episode of Race Across The World will see the pairs take on their eighth and final country, Mongolia.

It’s not just Race Across The World that is being moved to its usual spot, as MasterChef will not air on its normal Thursday spot.

Instead, the cooking show will air on Friday, May 15 this week, to also make way for Eurovision.

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When is Eurovision 2026?

The Eurovision 2026 semi-finals will be broadcast on May 12 and 14, with the grand final taking place on May 16 at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle.

UK viewers can watch all shows live on BBC One and iPlayer, or listen on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, with the coverage beginning on TV at 8pm.

Have you been watching Race Across The World? Let us know who you want to see win in the comments.

The display features 680 golden blooms, each representing how many people it is caring for in the community at any one time.

A symbol of remembrance, celebration and community, the flowers have been sponsored by supporters and will form a reflective centrepiece at the charity’s Spring Stroll event.

Emma Hope, social value lead at ODS, one of the sponsors helping to fund and assemble the display, said: “At ODS, we’re dedicated to making Oxford the best it can be, and Sobell House plays a vital role at the heart of our community.

“The Forever Flowers event is a meaningful opportunity for people to reflect and remember, and we’re proud that our volunteers are supporting it.

“Sobell House continues to push the boundaries of what compassionate, high-quality palliative care can look like, and we’re pleased to support them as a sponsor so they can continue to do what they do best.”

The display will be open throughout the weekend, as Sobell House marks its 50th anniversary.

It will feature prominently during the Spring Stroll on Sunday, May 10, offering a moment of reflection along the walking route.

The event starts at 10am and includes two fully accessible routes of either 2.5 or four miles.

Dogs on leads are welcome, and parking is free.

Sobell House has provided end-of-life care since 1976, supporting people in their homes, hospitals, and at its inpatient unit.

The charity raises around £4 million annually.

Darke & Taylor also co-sponsored the installation.