Look To The Stars News: Gary Barlow

Children In Need Benefit From Charity Singles

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0000

British comedian Peter Kay will unveil a new single to raise money for the BBC’s Children in Need charity at the organization’s annual TV extravaganza on November 20.

Details of the single are being closely guarded, but the charity is promising over 100 faces from Britain and America will be involved in the video.

Also available from HMV and download and benefiting Children In Need is “All You Need is Love” – a reworking of the Beatles classic, recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios, featuring the talents of Terry Wogan, Bill Wyman, Brian May, Bryan Ferry, Sharon Corr, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Paloma Faith, Lee Mead, Hayley Westenra and more.

Last week, the charity benefited from a massive charity concert organized by Gary Barlow that saw a reunion between Take That and Robbie Williams, as well as performances by Lily Allen, Annie Lennox, Katherine Jenkins, Paul McCartney and many more.

Take That And Friends To Rock Children In Need Tonight

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Thousands of charity-minded people are expected to pack the Royal Albert Hall in London tonight, November 12, for a huge star-studded concert organized by Gary Barlow and Take That.

Every year, BBC Children in Need creates magic moments that raise huge amounts of money for disadvantaged children, and this year the UK’s finest musicians hope to help raise more than ever with a spectacular show at the Royal Albert Hall.

The star-studded bill includes; Lily Allen, Paul McCartney, Dizzee Rascal, Dame Shirley Bassey, Leona Lewis, Snow Patrol, Cheryl Cole from Girls Aloud, Katherine Jenkins and Muse. And of course Gary will also perform on the night with his Take That partners, Jason Orange, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, as they again show their unwavering support of the charity – there’s even rumors of a possible reunion with Robbie Williams.

“It’s fantastic to be able to kick off BBC Children in Need 2009 in such a special way,” said Gary Barlow, “I’ve always wanted to do something like this and I can promise a night to remember, a night that will, I hope, play a small part in changing the lives of disadvantaged children across the UK.”

Radio 1’s Chris Moyles will host the event and will be joined on stage by Peter Kay, Fearne Cotton, James Corden and the legend that is Sir Terry Wogan, who will help introduce the stars and remind us of the work that BBC Children in Need carries out in the UK.

The show will be broadcast on BBC One in the weekend before the main BBC Children in Need Appeal on November 20 and coverage of the concert will be repeated on BBC Three, Wednesday 18 November at 9.00pm with highlights, presented by Kate Thornton, on Radio 2, Thursday 19 November at 8.00pm.

Viewers and listeners to the show will be invited to donate to help raise even more money.

Paul McCartney Joins Charity Concert Line Up

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Ashley Parker

Paul McCartney will headline a gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall in aid of Children in Need. The concert was organized by Take That singer Gary Barlow and will take place on November 12.

McCartney will be sharing the stage with Muse, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol, Leona Lewis, Dizzee Rascal and Shirley Bassey.

Sir Terry Wogan, announcing the line up on his Radio 2 show, said, “This concert is helping to make a really special year for Children in Need.”

Tickets will be allocated by ballot. Fans can register for a max of 2 tickets per person at www.seetickets.com/childreninneed. Registration is open until noon on October 20, and those whose names are drawn will be notified by email.

The concert will broadcast on BBC One the weekend before November 20, which is the day of Children in Need’s main appeal.

Kaiser Chiefs Join Concert For CARE

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

British band the Kaiser Chiefs have been added to the bill for this year’s Concert For CARE.

The Kaiser Chiefs have had a whirlwind past five years; three Top 5 albums, numerous hit singles, and 2009 saw them sign off with a hometown showing at this years Leeds Festival. Since that performance, the band have decided to take some time away from the spotlight, slowly beginning work on album four. Having worked with David Arnold in the recent past, the Kaiser Chiefs are delighted to make an exception to their time off the road and lend a musical hand to ‘Concert For CARE’.

Music and Comedy giants – such as Gary Barlow, Rob Brydon, Damien Rice, David Walliams and more – will join together in a one off event for aid agency CARE International. This one-off live event will take place at London’s Brixton Academy on November 2.

‘Concert for CARE’ is the brainchild of David Arnold, one of Britain’s most successful film and television composers and ambassador for CARE International (CARE). CARE works in 70 countries and helps 55 million people to find ways out of poverty each year.

Announcing the line up David Arnold said: “I have wanted to do this concert from the day I met a 20 year old woman in Rwanda who was orphaned at 14, is HIV positive and has to look after her two younger brothers. Without CARE’s support she would be unable to keep them in school, feed them or keep a roof over their heads. I have asked my colleagues from the music and comedy world to get together to help raise money and awareness of the amazing work CARE does all over the world.”

Geoffrey Dennis, CARE International UK chief executive, said: “We are really proud to have David Arnold as a CARE Ambassador. The money raised from the concert will mean that we can continue to help some of the world’s poorest people.”

Tickets are priced £30 and can be purchased from www.ticketweb.co.uk.

To find out more, click here.

Take That Wins Award And Donates To Charity

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British boy band Take That has made a major donation to charity following winning a coveted award during the weekend.

Singer Gary Barlow announced they would be giving £50,000 to Nordoff-Robbins, the UK’s leading independent provider of music therapy service, after they took home their second Silver Clef award at the Intercontinental Hotel in London on Friday.

Hosted by Denise Van Outen, this year’s Silver Clef event raised more than £400,000 for the charity. As well as some memorable performances, the event featured an auction of one-off music memorabilia items, including a one-off Mini Cooper designed by former Silver Clef recipient Paul Weller, and a £10 note signed by Take That that was sold for £2,000. The annual event has raised over £7.5m for Nordoff-Robbins over the years.

Also honored at the awards were Queen, Brian Wilson and Madness.

Gary Barlow Organizes Charity Concert

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Take That singer Gary Barlow is planning a one-off charity fundraising extravaganza at the Royal Albert Hall.

Following his successful charity trek to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro earlier this year, the singer has now enlisted the help of Peter Kay, Leona Lewis, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin to put on the show.

“Gary’s been bitten by the fundraising bug,” reported The Sun. “He was amazed by people’s generosity during his Kilimanjaro climb. As soon as he got off the mountain he made the decision to lend his support to more charities. Take That are going to perform and there will be a whole host of surprises throughout the evening. It is shaping up to be a very special night.”

The gig, which is slated to take place in October, will raise money for Children in Need, the BBC’s charity established to provide practical and lasting support to thousands of youngsters aged 18 and under, including those who have experienced homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty.

Justin Timberlake To Climb Kilimanjaro For Charity

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Justin Timberlake is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.

The pop singer has been recruited – along with rapper Lupe Fiasco – by Ethiopian-born pop star Kenna for the mission, to raise awareness of the world water crisis.

This latest charity attempt on Africa’s highest mountain follows the successful climb carried out by a group of British and Irish stars earlier this year, including Take That’s Gary Barlow and Boyzone’s Ronan Keating. Their climb raised over £3,326,142 for Comic Relief.

Timberlake’s climb has a special significance for Kenna, whose hits include Out Of Control.

“My dad almost died as a child from waterborne diseases in Ethiopia, and he had talked to me about digging a well there, and I thought, ’I have too many friends who would be concerned with the subject of clean water,” he said. “Maybe I can help out.’”

And it is a challenge Lupe Fiasco is looking forward to: “I’m an adventure junkie. Part of the motivation is beating Kenna to the top. Sabotaging his tent, taking the lining out of his coat, lacing it with ants or something like that. [The water crisis in Africa] is a universal problem; it’s all mounting to the point where eventually there’s no clean water left. If I did a song, it would be jam-packed with so much information, it would almost be like we fit the substance of an entire interview in three and a half minutes.”

The climb is expected to take place later this year.

Red Nose Day TV Special Breaks Records

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

BBC’s Red Nose Day television extravaganza, Funny For Money, raised over £57 million (US$80 million) on Friday night, breaking the previous record of £40 million set in 2007.

Presented by David Tennant, Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross and others, Funny For Money aired on March 13 on BBC One and Two and featured comedy items performed by Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Robbie Williams, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Ricky Gervais, Harry Enfield, Peter Crouch, David Beckham, Ronnie Corbett, Sadie Frost, and Kate Moss.

A special version of Top Of The Pops featuring performances by U2, James Morrison and Oasis – as well as Tom Jones and Rob Brydon singing the official Comic Relief single, Islands In The Stream – also aired as part of the extravaganza. The Islands In The Stream single has just topped the UK charts, which will bring in more cash for the cause.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s – which sold the official Comic Relief merchandise – handed over a cheque for over £9 million to the show’s presenters during the evening, the single largest donation ever made in the event’s 11 year history. Another £20 million as donations keep coming in.

Celebrity Kilimanjaro climbers Alesha Dixon, Ben Shephard, Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Denise Van Outen, Fearne Cotton, Gary Barlow, Kimberley Walsh and Ronan Keating also made an appearance, and it was revealed that their efforts had raised £3,326,142 for Comic Relief.

‘It is just incredible to see such a huge amount of money given by the public again on Red Nose Day," said Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis. "Red Nose Day is 21 years old this year and its success is down to the unrelenting support and ingenuity of our supporters – it belongs not to the comedians, but to the people who give. It’s wonderful that, in more difficult times, people seem to understand that the need increases for people whose lives were impossibly tough in the first place. The work this money funds helps change and save lives all over Africa and the United Kingdom. A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped to make this year’s Red Nose Day such a memorable and brilliant campaign."

The evening also featured appearances from Annie Lennox and Take That.

Red Nose Day TV Special To Tickle BBC Funny Bones

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Today, March 13, is Red Nose Day in Britain – the major fundraising event of the year for Comic Relief. And to celebrate, celebrities young and old will appear in a TV extravaganza being screened tonight on BBC One and Two.

Presented by David Tennant, Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross and others, Funny For Money will feature the last ever French & Saunders film parody – a version of Mamma Mia! performed by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders – plus comedy items performed by Robbie Williams, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Ricky Gervais, Harry Enfield, Peter Crouch, David Beckham, Sadie Frost, and Kate Moss. There will also be an appearance from Annie Lennox.

As part of the show, Comic Relief will also present a special version of Top Of The Pops that will feature performances by U2, James Morrison and Oasis, as well as Tom Jones and Rob Brydon singing the official Comic Relief single, (Barry) Islands In The Stream.

The show will also a special appearance by the celebrity climbers who scaled Mount Kilimanjaro last week. The group – including Take That’s Gary Barlow, Ronan Keating, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Cole, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles – reached the summit of the 19,300ft (5,900m) peak as dawn broke on Saturday, March 7. They featured in their own BBC One documentary last night, and also met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has pledged £2 million to the charity.

“It has been a privilege for the whole team to meet the Prime Minister … and under such special circumstances,” said Barlow. “To think that our efforts on the mountain and the incredible generosity of the public have inspired school children and have now been supported by the Government is unbelievable. If the money raised can help control malaria and also help poor and vulnerable people in the UK, it will all have been worthwhile. What an unforgettable day.”

The Funny For Money TV special runs from 7pm to 1:30am. Viewers will have the chance to pledge money to go towards helping people in the UK overcome poverty, mental health issues, domestic violence and other issues, and people in Africa affected by AIDS, malaria, conflict and more.

Celebrity Climbers Summit Mount Kilimanjaro

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The group of celebrities attempting to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro have reached their target.

The group – which includes Gary Barlow, Ronan Keating, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Cole, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles – reached the summit of the 19,300ft (5,900m) peak as dawn broke on Saturday, March 7.

The group climbed the mountain to raise awareness and money for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day, which will take place on March 15.

Several members of the team suffered from altitude sickness during the ascent, with Barlow being hampered by a back injury he suffered during training for the climb. According to Comic Relief, they endured sleepless nights and aches and pains due to the lack of oxygen.

“Cheryl for one has already said she’s never done anything so mentally and physically demanding and I doubt anyone in the team will disagree,” reported the official blog of the climb. “A temperature of minus 15 and air so thin your lungs positively burn with disappointment every time you take a breath means you can’t stop long.”

The climbers raised over £1.4 million for Comic Relief, and the climb will feature in a documentary to be shown on Red Nose Day.

Support The Stars As They Climb Kilimanjaro

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

As reported earlier by Look To The Stars, a group of celebrities have just set off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa for charity, and they need your support.

Ronan Keating, Gary Barlow, Cheryl Cole, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles are currently taking part in the climb up Africa’s highest peak to raise money for Comic Relief.

“I went to Africa for Comic Relief 18 months ago and the images from that trip have stayed with me and made me want to do something big to make a difference and raise money,” said Take That’s Gary Barlow. “The other people on the climb feel similarly, so it made sense to ask them to join me. I have chosen the people I want to be stuck on the side of a mountain with, even if we are the least likely you would expect to find there.”

The nine famous climbers have already garnered the support of celebrities, and now they need your help. To sponsor the team and raise awareness and funds for those in need, head over to the official Mount Kilimanjaro Climb website.

Here’s what your sponsorship will help:

£1 could pay for a personal safety alarm to help protect a woman against being raped or attacked. For women who have been through this trauma, an alarm can help to restore their confidence when out on the streets.

£2 is all it takes to provide 20 lonely older people with a cup of tea when they get together at a special project that helps them feel far less alone.

£5 could buy a toy for a child who has nothing after fleeing their home with their mum because of domestic violence.

£10 could pay for emergency food vouchers and toiletries for a vulnerable young homeless person.

£30 could pay to take a young carer on an outward bounds activity day, giving them a much-needed break from their caring duties and allowing them to simply be children having fun together for a day.

£50 could pay for the delivery of a school workshop that teaches young people how to use the internet safely and protect themselves from sexual exploitation or abuse.

So get behind the team and support them today.

Coldplay Joined By Bono For Charity Gig

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

After attending the annual Brit Awards in London last night, Coldplay raced across town to play a special charity gig with some very special guests.

The British band joined The Killers and members of U2 for a concert at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire to benefit War Child.

The concert kicked off with a loud and exquisitely played set from The Killers, who took the crowd through renditions of songs such as Spaceman and Human. Then it was Coldplay’s turn, who weaved songs from their entire back catalogue into a seamless set.

But it was the encores that raised the biggest interest. Coldplay returned to the stage to play Take That’s Back For Good with special guest Gary Barlow, and then were joined by The Killers and the one-and-only Bono for a rendition of All These Things That I’ve Done.

The exclusive gig celebrated the launch of Heroes, the new album that aims to raise money for War Child and features a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation.

“In our eyes, War Child is one of the world’s most important charities, and The Killers are one of our favorite bands, so playing this concert is an absolute pleasure for us,” said Coldplay singer Chris Martin.

British Stars Voice Talking Clock For Charity

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A group of British celebrities have donated their voices to charity in a unique way. Callers to British Telecom’s talking clock this month will have the time read to them by members of Girls Aloud and Take That.

Among the stars to take part in the campaign to raise money for Comic Relief are Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, Gary Barlow, Chris Moyles and Fearne Cotton.

BT will donate 10p from every speaking clock call made from a BT fixed line in the UK up to March 23. British callers should dial 123 for the service.

Some of the stars are also taking part in a charity challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro later this month.

Along with Ronan Keating, they will take part in an eight-day trek in Tanzania to raise money for Comic Relief, which will be filmed and aired in the run up to Red Nose Day on 13 March.

The celebrities leave at the end of February.

British Stars To Climb Kilimanjaro For Comic Relief

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ronan Keating, Gary Barlow and Cheryl Cole are to join a host of other British celebrities to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief next year.

According to reports in Britain’s The Sun newspaper, the stars will join Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles for the climb up Africa’s highest peak.

4,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro every year, although only 1,400 actually reach the top of the 5,895 meter peak. Around 100 climbers die of altitude sickness on the mountain every year, so it will be no walk in the park for the stars.

“Since visiting Africa with Comic Relief a year ago, I haven’t been able to forget how easy it is for someone in my position to help change the lives of poor and vulnerable people by raising money,” said Kimberly Walsh. “When Gary approached me and Cheryl about doing the climb, I didn’t think twice.”

These Boots Were Made For Charity

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The native people of North America have a saying: “Before you judge someone, first walk a mile in their moccasins.” Well, now you can, because a group of celebrities are donating their footwear to a special auction to raise money for charity.

The Roy Castle Lung Foundation is launching the auction as part of their De-Feet campaign, which hopes to defeat lung cancer through research and education. And they have already gathered shoes from Harry Potters’ Daniel Radcliffe, James Bond’s Dame Judi Dench, Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton, the Spice Girls’ Melanie C, and Take That’s Gary Barlow for the sale.

“I lost my husband, Michael, to lung cancer in 2001, which is why I believe so passionately that this is the way forward,” said Judi Dench. “I am one of the thousands of people affected by this injustice. Please join me in this fight against lung cancer. Together we can make a profound difference.”

Bidding starts on September 12 and can be accessed via De-Feet’s website. Make a bid – it will be good for your sole.

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