IF you find yourself sitting in a bath of cold baked beans today, console yourself with this thought - you are not alone.

Across Britain, folk are immersing themselves in various foodstuffs, waltzing around the place in every colour of wig and generally behaving in a manner to frighten the horses. It must be BBC Children In Need day.

Almost anything goes. In York, don't be surprised if you are accosted by a Star Wars imperial stormtrooper or witness a mob smashing their mobile phones in the street. Tremendous fun, and all in a good cause.

Updated: 10:19 Friday, November 18, 2005