Look To The Stars News: Richard Curtis

Celebrities Call On World Leaders For Urgent Horn Of Africa Funds

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A group of global artists, activists and business leaders have signed a joint letter urging world leaders to step up their response to the famine in the Horn of Africa. They call on them to act “without reservation, prevarication or equivocation” when they meet at an emergency summit in Rome.

Among the signatories are Annie Lennox, Bob Geldof, Simon Cowell, Richard Curtis, Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Kristin Scott Thomas, and representatives from charities such as Oxfam, the ONE Campaign, Comic Relief, CAFOD, ActionAid, Save the Children and many others.

“As we write, more than 11 million people are suffering the great agony of the worst famine in Africa for many years. It is incomprehensible that in 2011 anyone should die of starvation. $600 million* is needed now for our fellow humans. Not a great sum for the world, even in a time of great economic difficulty for some. Last week European leaders found over hundred times this amount to shore up the euro and bail out banks, yet countries like France, Italy, the Arab States and Germany have so far given miniscule amounts of money to prevent people dying from hunger. Surely this must be unacceptable? A true measure of strength is how one cares for the weak. A true test of power is how one protects the frail.

Celebrity Red Noses Raise Record Amount For Charity

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Comic Relief delivered another spectacular evening of top TV treats in the UK on Friday, as Red Nose Day 2011 entertained the nation while raising an incredible sum of money to help poor and vulnerable people in the UK and Africa. The TV event raised £74,360,207 (US$118 million) – the highest total reached on the night in Red Nose Day’s 23 year history.

“This is more than we ever believed we would raise,” said organizer Richard Curtis. “The generosity of the British public is staggering.”

The TV extravaganza featured appearances by Justin Bieber, Paul McCartney, David Tennant and Susan Boyle.

George Michael To Give Some Comic Relief To Charity

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Long-term Comic Relief supporter and pop legend George Michael is set to release a new single ‘True Faith’ in support of this year’s Red Nose Day.

The pop legend arranged and produced the single which was originally a hit for New Order in 1987, and the writers, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Hague are also giving their royalties to Comic Relief.

“Over the years, George has been the most tremendous supporter of Comic Relief,” said Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Comic Relief, Richard Curtis. "Out of the blue one year he gave us all the cash from the release of ‘As’, his single with Mary J. Blige. Then he did a brilliant Little Britain ‘Lou and Andy’ sketch – which ended with the inevitable insult slung at him – “I don’t like him.” But most excitingly, he’s giving Comic Relief all his royalties from his new single, ‘True Faith’.

Sienna Miller To Judge Robin Hood Tax Video Competition

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Earlier this year, LookToTheStars.org reported on Richard Curtis’ campaign to introduce a global tax on banks’ financial transactions to fight poverty. The Love Actually director has now launched a special video competition to help promote the idea.

Curtis will join Sienna Miller as a judge for the competition, which asks budding filmmakers to create a 60-90 second film highlighting the issues surrounding the “Robin Hood Tax”.

“We are looking for original and creative films that sell the idea of the Robin Hood Tax in new and exciting ways,” said Curtis. “We want anyone who watches the winning films to turn to the person next to them and say – ’I’m sure as hell supporting that!’”

Annie Lennox Introduces Celebrity Charity Shop

Mon, 10 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Annie Lennox has recorded a video introducing a temporary celebrity charity shop opening in London this week.

A selection of A-list stars – including Carey Mulligan, Elle Macpherson, director Richard Curtis and Colin Firth’s wife Livia – have joined Oxfam and Selfridges to create, set-up, stock and staff Britain’s biggest charity pop-up shop. The shop will be in the Selfridges’ Ultralounge (lower ground floor) for one week only from Friday 14th to Thursday 20th.

Funds raised by the shop will be supporting Oxfam’s women’s projects across the world including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, West Africa and South Africa. These projects protect, support and empower vulnerable women: campaigning against violence, empowering them to fight HIV and AIDS and offering the poorest girls the chance of education.

Annie Lennox To Open Celebrity Charity Curiosity Shop

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Eurythmics star Annie Lennox has teamed up with Oxfam to launch a celebrity charity store in London’s Selfridges department store.

The temporary shop will be stocked with clothing and memorabilia donated by celebrities and staffed by celebrity store assistants, with proceeds going to help fund Oxfam’s women’s projects around the world in countries such as Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

Jane Shepherdson of Whistles, who are helping launch the project, says, “More than two thirds of the world’s poorest people are women, yet they struggle to be heard. We saw an opportunity to bring together influential women with valuable skills and contacts to try and make a difference to their lives.”

British Stars Back Robin Hood Tax For Charity

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:30:00 +0000

British actor Bill Nighy is fronting a campaign to introduce a global tax on banks’ financial transactions to fight poverty.

The Robin Hood Tax is backed by charities such as Oxfam and UNICEF, and is led by writer/director Richard Curtis (Notting Hill).

“You could ignore the big problems facing the world … or you can work to find an innovative, modern, regular way of accumulating a fund of money,” the campaign wrote in an open letter to the leaders of the country’s political parties. “We would ask you to seriously consider the Robin Hood Tax as that radical new option – a small tax on bankers that would make a huge difference to the UK, to the poorest countries and to our planet. Let’s turn the crisis for the banks into an opportunity for Britain and the world.”

British Celebrity Show Benefits Malaria No More

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Malaria No More has revealed that it will be the sole benefactor of the current season of “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here” screening on the UK’s ITV.

The show features a group of celebrities as they try to survive living in the Australian jungle, and the new season includes famous faces such as former model and singer Samantha Fox and Dynasty star George Hamilton. Ex-EastEnder Lucy Benjamin and snooker ace Jimmy White are also taking part in the show.

Malaria No More will benefit from every phone vote made by members of the public as they choose their favorite celebrities on the show. And it is an initiative that is backed by the show’s contestants.

Eddie Izzard Completes 43 Marathons For Charity

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

British comedian and actor Eddie Izzard has completed his massive charity marathon challenge.

The actor set out in August to run 1000 miles and raise money for Sport Relief – a part of Comic Relief – and the 47-year-old finished his odyssey across Britain on Tuesday when he crossed the finish line at London’s Trafalgar Square.

“I feel dead!” he said as the London rain fell around him.

Red Nose Day TV Special Breaks Records

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

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.

The Spy Who Loved Me For Charity

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Ever fancy a kiss with James Bond? Or a cuddle with Hugh Grant? One lucky bidder did on Tuesday night, when they won the chance to do exactly that at a charity auction in London.

The Great British Movie Event, a dinner and auction to raise cash for the National Film and Television School, attracted a host of famous faces, including Richard Attenborough, Christopher Lee, Rowan Atkinson, Honor Blackman, Bill Nighy, and Richard Curtis. Hosted by Jonathan Ross, the evening raised over $800,000 for the school, which specializes in high-end media training.

The chance to kiss three living legends – Hugh Grant, James Bond actor Daniel Craig, and Harry Potter’s Robbie Coltrane – sold for a whopping $39,000, with the honor going to Barbara Broccoli, producer of the James Bond film franchise.