Exclusive: Benedict Cumberbatch Set for NBC's 'Red Nose Day'

ESQUIRE
BY MATT PATCHES



Clowns, rejoice: The plush schnozz is about to become Hollywood's fashion accessory of choice.

May 21 marks America's first "Red Nose Day," a live-entertainment event that recruits famous faces for a night of foolery and fundraising. Originating in the U.K., the annual escapade has raised more than $1 billion for charity over the last 30 years. NBC will air the first stateside "Red Nose Day," a three-hour circus of musical performances, sketch comedy, and new videos produced by Funny or Die. The shorts are often high-caliber wish fulfillment; March's U.K. show saw a James Bond-themed short film that paired Daniel Craig with Roger Moore.

Who should you expect at the show? Esquire can exclusively announce that Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Ian McKellen, and Orlando Bloom will be on hand, lending acting services to whatever hair-brained schemes Funny or Die has cooking. Just because "Red Nose Day" is jumping the Atlantic doesn't mean the British aren't coming with.

Joining the trio on "Red Nose Day" are the previously announced Will Ferrell, Jack Black, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Michelle Rodriguez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Smith, John Legend, Matt Lauer, Carson Daly, Bill and Melinda Gates, Nick Offerman, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pine, Jeff Goldblum, Billy Eichner, Martin Short, Laura Linney, Anna Kendrick, and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

FROM GREAT BRITAIN'S RED NOSE DAY, March 13...

read more here; http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/news/a33647/daniel-craig-roger-moore-james-bond-short-comic-relief/

Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern: White House State Dinner: John Legend, Mumford And Sons Invited To Perform For President Obama (HUFF POST ENTERTAINMENT)

WASHINGTON — Wednesday's giant state dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife_ the biggest ever thrown by Barack and Michelle Obama – dished up a potent mix of celebrity glam, corporate heft and political money under a giant party tent on the South Lawn.

It is an election year, after all.

 The entertainment lineup also included a little something special for both couples: The Obamas are big admirers of Grammy-winner John Legend, and David and Samantha Cameron are huge fans of Mumford & Sons, a British folk rock band also performing.

Obama, for his part, also is a big fan of "Homeland" actor Damian Lewis, who said on his way into the huge party tent that he planned to ask the president how he ever finds time to watch TV. Among the 360 people who scored golden tickets to the dinner were actor George Clooney, billionaire Warren Buffett, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, businessman Richard Branson, Apple's Jony Ive and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, a big fundraiser for Obama's re-election campaign.

Others who made the list: Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern, both of "Downton Abbey" fame, and Rory McIlroy, the new world No. 1 golfer. In advance of the big night, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland was so excited he tweeted a photo of himself being fitted for his dinner suit.


READ MORE ABOUT THE DINNER:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/white-house-state-dinner-john-legend-obama_n_1345035.html