Comic Relief bosses do not know whether a group of celebrity climbers has reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro because they have been unable to make contact.
TV presenter Dan Walker, Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas and former shadow chancellor Ed Balls are among the stars trying to conquer Africa’s highest mountain.
Hey @mrdanwalker, u ok hun?
Tonight is summit night. The #ReturnToKili team are doing a 9 hour climb, in the dark, in sub-zero temperatures to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Pounding headaches are only part of the package…
Last few chances to donate: https://t.co/qQmPLA319H pic.twitter.com/jptJJRG1tt
— Comic Relief: Red Nose Day (@comicrelief) February 28, 2019
The 19,000ft (5,791m) ascent is being documented for a special programme to air on BBC One.
The celebrities were said to be on the final stretch and expected to reach the summit in the early hours of Friday morning UK time.
Love Island’s Dani Dyer, Little Mix singers Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, presenters Alexander Armstrong and Anita Rani, and NFL star turned BBC pundit Osi Umenyiora have also been taking part.
Any words of love, support and encouragement our darling @Dani_MasDyer?
They are so. close. to. the. top. It's been the most gruelling task climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for #RedNoseDay, but tonight is the last night they'll have to walk the final stretch and green the sun at dawn. pic.twitter.com/DM8G5ddoCv
— Comic Relief: Red Nose Day (@comicrelief) February 28, 2019
Their climb comes as Labour MP David Lammy accused Strictly Come Dancing star Stacey Dooley of perpetuating “tired and unhelpful stereotypes” after she travelled to Uganda for a documentary ahead of Red Nose Day.
The politician said “the world does not need any more white saviours” after Dooley posted a snap from the trip with a child on Instagram.
Dooley hit back, saying: “Is the issue with me being white? (Genuine question) … because if that’s the case, you could always go over there and try raise awareness? Comic relief have raised over one billion pounds since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with the money. Kids lives.”
– Kilimanjaro: The Return is taking place 10 years after the original climb led by Take That star Gary Barlow, which raised £1.5 million for Comic Relief.