MTV Networks UK & Ireland today announced the return of its hugely successful car-makeover series, Pimp My Ride UK. Now in its 3rd run, the show will air on Sunday April 8th at 9.30pm with a Comic Relief Red Nose Day episode, entitled ‘Pimp My Red Nose Ride’, featuring Tim Westwood and some very special VIPs.

Comic Relief’s ‘Pimp My Red Nose Ride’ will feature an extra-special vehicle transformation that will provide the MTV mechanics with their biggest challenge to date. However, with extraordinary designs planned and their spanners to the ready – the team are all set to reveal the finished ‘pimped’ automobile, live on BBC 1 during Red Nose night with the full show kicking off the new series on April 8th at 9.30pm on MTV.

Says Michael Barry, SVP Managing Director MTV Networks UK & Ireland; ‘Every series we are inundated with requests from celebrities and VIPs to pimp their ride. Only last year we answered Madonna’s plea to ‘pimp’ a van for her video, ‘Sorry’. This year we’re thrilled to be helping Comic Relief on a very worthy project. Since its launch in 2005, Pimp My Ride UK has been phenomenally successful and has pretty much taken up residency at the top of our ratings chart. We’ve no doubt that series 3 will be as popular as ever’.

Hosted by legendary Radio 1 DJ, Tim Westwood, Pimp My Ride UK features the extraordinary transformation of decrepit bangers into gleaming cars laden with ostentatious gadgets and decorations. The series is one of MTV’s biggest shows – last year alone, the show pulled in 4.2 million viewers on the MTV Network Channels and a further 6.7 million viewers following its airing on Five.

Series 3, which will start production later this month, will feature 6 x 30 minute episode. Tim Westwood will return as host, and Jamie Shaw and his Colchester-based modifications garage ‘Carisma Automotive Design’ will also return to create the car redesigns.