X

Watch celebrities compete to be biggest Star Wars fan for a cause

"Sherlock" actor Martin Freeman tries his best Yoda impression in a sketch for charity Children in Need. It features Warwick Davis and many other British celebrities, as well as R2-D2, C-3PO and BB-8.

Bonnie Burton
Journalist Bonnie Burton writes about movies, TV shows, comics, science and robots. She is the author of the books Live or Die: Survival Hacks, Wizarding World: Movie Magic Amazing Artifacts, The Star Wars Craft Book, Girls Against Girls, Draw Star Wars, Planets in Peril and more! E-mail Bonnie.
Bonnie Burton
2 min read
martinfreeman2.jpg
Enlarge Image
martinfreeman2.jpg

"Sherlock" actor Martin Freeman tries to use the Force on R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET

Who needs a Mind Palace when you have Jedi mind tricks? This weekend, "Sherlock" actor Martin Freeman took on the case of proving he's a Star Wars superfan during the annual BBC Children in Need fundraising special.

Actor Warwick Davis, who played Wicket the Ewok in "Return of the Jedi," stars in a skit full of famous droids and humans alike on a quest to find the ultimate geeky fan for an important mission during the BBC Children in Need program.

In this Star Wars sketch, droids R2-D2 and C-3PO join up with Davis to locate a worthy superfan to introduce the BBC Children in Need's first "totalizer" of the night. That person gets to push a giant button that reveals how much money has been raised so far in the program.

As you'd expect, everyone Davis and the droids run into wants to be chosen for the honor, with celebrities competing to show their Star Wars enthusiasm.

One of the highlights of the sketch is "Sherlock" actor Martin Freeman having a Yoda-impression battle with Davis and attempting to use his Jedi powers to levitate R2-D2.

bb8.jpg
Enlarge Image
bb8.jpg

Even newcomer BB-8 makes a special appearance in the BBC Children in Need skit.

Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET

Other notable moments in the sketch -- especially if you know your British celebrities -- involve comedian Stephen Merchant, Lord Alan Sugar, "EastEnders" actors Danny Dyer and Barbara Windsor, "The Great British Bake Off" hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, Sir Terry Wogan, rapper Will.i.am and radio presenter Fearne Cotton, just to name a few.

Even Kaiser Chiefs lead singer Ricky Wilson plays the part of a security guard. After interviewing Kaiser Chief guitarist Andrew White about their love for Darth Vader and the gang, I have it on good authority that all the band members are big Star Wars fans.

It turns out the droids have their own ideas what makes a Star Wars superfan -- and in the end it's the new droid from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," the rolling BB-8, who reveals that the charity drive's first total of the evening was a whopping £15,171,304 (about $23,052,645 and AU$32,470,635). Overall, the program raised over £37.1 million (about $56.3 million and AU$79 million.)

See if you can identify all the celebrities trying to convince Davis of their Star Wars-fan worthiness in the video below.