Sir Terry Wogan is a national treasure. With a broadcasting career that spans up to five decades – and still going strong – he has grown into one of Britain’s most-loved celebrities.

Best known for fronting perennial favourites such as Blankety Blank, Points of View, Auntie’s Bloomers, the Eurovision Song Contest and his own chat show Wogan, he is the undisputed king of the airwaves.

Fresh from his Radio 2 breakfast show Wake up to Wogan, the veteran presenter arrives all smiles at today’s official launch of a special album – Bandaged – musically crafted to inject a little fun, razzmatazz and a mountain of cash to this year’s BBC Children in Need appeal.

And one can immediately see why Sir Terry is a household favourite.

He’s as easy-going as a pint of Guinness and his eyes light up as he enthuses about the appeal which he has hosted for 26 years, helping to raise hundreds of millions of pounds for good causes.

Last year the appeal raised £19 million during the televised event, rising to a record £37 million in total.

Asked if the credit crunch might hinder this month’s event, he replies: “Last year was a record-breaking year. This year people tell me it is going to be tougher.

“But I think on the contrary, it is the kind of circumstances that the British people will rise to. They will rise to the challenge and dig deep into their pockets.

“Pudsey Bear is the best-known charity icon in this country.

“I hope people will buy the album in millions because it is for Children in Need.”

As well as tunes from Sir Terry himself, including a duet with ex-choirboy and presenter Aled Jones of Litte Drummer Boy/Peace of Earth – their version of the former Christmas special sung by Bing Crosby and David Bowie – the 18-track CD also features a song penned by Wolverhampton-based band Rang-A-Tang.

Band members Darren Noden, 37, of Mill Croft in Bilston; Mike Craine, 45, of Strathmore Crescent in Wombourne; Will Hall, 18, of High Green and Ritchie Hynes, of Blakeley Avenue in Tettenhall, wrote the song Very Terry Wogan to mark the 70-year-old’s illustrious career in the entertainment industry.

They will be joining Sir Terry on a fundraising cruise around the Mediterranean a couple of weeks after the appeal, organised by the TOGs, also known as Terry’s Old Geezers or Gals, a group of devoted fans.

Despite his golden image, Sir Terry has been at the centre of occasional controversy surrounding his princely wage packet. He is reported to earn £800,000 a year for his radio show.

And the issue concerning the BBC’s stars’ salaries reared its ugly head again last month in the wake of the storm dubbed Manuelgate over abusive calls made by its high-paid DJs Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.

Sir Terry was one of the most vocal BBC presenters on the affair.

Ross was suspended and both Brand and Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas resigned following the furore, which drew tens of thousands of complaints. 

Pressed further about the prank incident, he says: “I think it is a shame that our controller of programmes – a brilliant controller – had to leave.

“It will be interesting to see what happens when the suspension ends.”

He continues: “Most of the resentment seemed to focus at the end, not on Russell Brand, not on the severe misjudgment that they made, but on Jonathan Ross’s salary. 

“But come on – if your agent negotiates £18 million in a contract for you, are you going to turn round and say: ‘I’m not going to take that’? 

“It’s not his fault he’s paid that money. Don’t criticise him for taking the money, because all of us would.” 

But he adds: “The incident was unforgivable of course, absolutely unforgivable”.

He says he had not spoken to Ross recently but whether he chose to come back to BBC radio or television would be entirely up to him. 

Sir Terry also backs ITV executive chairman Michael Grade’s calls earlier this week to cut bad language in broadcasting generally. 

He says: “Absolutely I agree. I’m an old geezer and I’m like Michael Grade. 

“I don’t think it’s ever acceptable and I think there will be a backlash against it. 

“There is already a backlash and I think it’s not right. 

“The F word is bad enough, it’s just an example of people who are inarticulate. You can bleep it out. 

“I think it’s unprofessional. I think some people think they will have more street cred with the youth if they eff and blind.” 

Sir Terry says it was a problem in television and to a certain extent radio, “trying to appeal to an audience that is not there”. 

In contrast to such broadcasting, Children in Need was a family event. 

* This year’s Children in Need Appeal will take place on Friday, November 14.