
Brands as diverse as TK Maxx, BT, First Choice Holidays and New Covent Garden Soup Company are linking to the organisation, which aims to tackle poverty and social injustice in the UK and Africa.
Promotional marketing agency Logistix is responsible for this year's version of the traditional Red Nose premium. In line with "The Big One" theme, it is made of sponge that expands when removed from its box.
For the first time, each of the eight million noses will come with a piece of Fairtrade white chocolate, produced by Chocpix, which reveals a 3-D photograph of Wallace & Gromit or Dr Who characters when held up to the light.
Among the marketers raising funds and running consumer promotions around the event, Sainsbury's, which will sell official merchandise such as the noses, pin badges and Big Smelly Nose Balls, is "painting the aisles red".
Walkers is producing a special limited edition box and encouraging consumers to wear a pair of giant Walk'ears - free via its website - which will feature on celebrities in a new TV ad.
Kimberly-Clark is running a "Blow £1" text promotion on Kleenex tissues.
Special packs offer the chance to be a Red Nose Day VIP and Red Nose blow-up seats are being given away. Kimberly-Clark is also creating a Red Nose Day Andrex Puppy, which will host its own charity auction lunch and provide online games. Both promotions were created by agency SMP.
Gala Bingo, meanwhile, will run a national game that it hopes will be called by a celebrity in a series of events created by Tequila/London.
Comic Relief has raised more than £425 million since its launch in 1985.
Red Nose Day is a biennial event.