Look To The Stars News: Joanna Lumley

Celebrity Love Tokens To Be Auctioned For Charity

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:30:00 -0000

A British charity that works with vulnerable children and their families is to launch a celebrity charity auction this month featuring “love tokens” from some big stars.

Over 50 celebrities have donated items to the auction, including Annie Lennox, The Who, Lulu, Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Irons, Ian Rankin, Jason Donovan, Jacqueline Wilson, Blur's Damon Albarn, Jo Whiley, Jason Durr, Sebastian Faulks, Gordon Brown and Stephen Fry.

The auction has been organized by charity Coram, which has been working with disadvantaged children since 1739 when Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital, to care for abandoned babies dying on the streets of London.

The 50 celebrity ‘Love Tokens’ are a tribute to the Georgian mothers who, out of dire poverty, were forced to abandon their babies into the charities’ care – nearly 300 years ago.   Many of these mothers left ‘love tokens’ to identify their children in case they could come back for them. These were coins or scraps of ribbon, buttons, anything they had. But most were never able to return and so thousands of children lived their lives with only these simple items to remind them of their mothers.
 
Inspired by this legacy, 50 famous names are donating their own Tokens of Love for this very special eBay launch, which will raise funds for Coram’s work in helping the most disadvantaged children deal with loss and move on in their lives.

The auction starts on March 18, and can be accessed through the Coram website or eBay.

Gurkhas Arrive In UK Following Joanna Lumley Campaign

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Military charities in the UK are reporting a huge increase in the number of struggling Gurkhas arriving in Britain for help following Joanna Lumley's campaign to win them residency last year.

Col William Shuttlewood, director of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, said that there were some problems involving the numbers of the ex-soldiers and logistics, but the charities were working hard to resolve them. The trust will soon open a welfare centre in Salisbury for all Gurkhas in the UK to use.

Bryan Adams To Play Charity Concert On Friday

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The Born Free Foundation has announced that Bryan Adams will be joining a major line up of stars for Wild & Live, the UK’s biggest ‘for one night only’ event in aid of the planet’s threatened wildlife.

Born Free Wild & Live! will be a unique celebration of wildlife, raising funds to help save the lives of 25,000 wild animals, stop suffering, rescue individuals and protect rare species.

Born Free Founder, actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna, spoke passionately about the star-studded line-up and the cause,   "I am overwhelmed – so many talented performers willing to stand up and be counted for animals in need."

Stars already signed up for Wild & Live, include Peter André, Mark Austin, Gabriella Cilmi, Martin Clunes, Rolf Harris, Joanna Lumley, Graham Norton and many more.

Long-time Born Free supporter Bryan Adams has sent us a message of encouragement from LA, calling on the public to back the event, “Wild & Live is a concert to help Born Free to save 25,000 animals. I’ll be there to lend my support – hope you will too.”

With tigers facing imminent extinction, lion populations crashing, elephants being butchered for their ivory, rhinos relentlessly pursued for their horns and gorillas lucky to see out the next century, the clock is counting down for some of the world’s most endangered wild species.

  Virginia McKenna OBE, recognized by The Queen for her services to conservation, said, “It’s a desperate situation for so many animals and we have to do something about it. Wild & Live gives us the chance to really make a difference and save endangered species. If you care about wildlife and love great entertainment then I urge you to join us!”

Wild & Live takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 14th November at 7:30pm and will showcase an international line-up of top stars from the world of music and entertainment.

Tickets on sale now so visit www.royalalberthall.com or call the ticket hotline today to guarantee your place at Wild & Live or call 0207 589 8212. Tickets start from £45.

Stars Write Letters To Themselves For Charity Book

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

If you were to write a letter to your 16-year-old self, what would it say?

In the new book Dear Me, some of the world’s best loved personalities have written just such a letter. Their letters range from the compassionate, to the shocking via hilarity and heartbreak – but they all have one thing in common: they offer a unique glimpse at the teenager who grew up to be a house-hold name.

£1 from each copy sold will be given to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“We’ve all written a letter to our sixteen-year-old selves collected together in the fabulous new book, DEAR ME: A LETTER TO MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF,” said Sir Elton John. "It’s a wonderful, uplifting and poignant journey through the lives of some of the country’s best-loved personalities and would make a great gift for all your friends and family this Christmas.

“Your purchase will also directly benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which works throughout the world to provide support to those affected with HIV and AIDS.

“DEAR ME made me laugh, cry and reminisce to when I was 16 – so I went and wrote a letter too. It starts ‘Dear Reg’ and ends ‘CHANGE YOUR NAME!’ I hope you enjoy it!”

Some of the stars featured in the book include Annie Lennox, Burt Bacharach, Alan Carr, Rosanne Cash, Julian Clary, Jackie Collins, Jenny Éclair, Tracey Emin, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Jane Fonda, Mark Foster, Stephen Fry, Rolf Harris, Debbie Harry, Peter Kay, Patsy Kensit, Lynda La Plante, Baz Luhrmann, Joanna Lumley, James Nesbitt, Yoko Ono, Jonathan Ross, Emma Thompson, Desmond Tutu, Suzanne Vega, Alfre Woodard, and Sir Elton John.

Dear Me is the perfect gift for anyone, mum, dad, cousin, aunt, nephew or perhaps someone who is turning 16.

To buy a copy, click here.

British Stars Record Poems For Charity

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A group of British stars – including Joanna Lumley, Samantha Morton and Lindsay Duncun – have set poems to music for a new charity album.

Words For You features 27 poems, and will raise money for I CAN – a charity that works to support the development of speech, language and communication skills in all children with a special focus on those who find this hard: children with speech, language and communication needs

Lumley will read Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, set to Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No 8, and a John Betjeman poem. Others on the album will include Honor Blackman, who will read Daffodils by William Wordsworth set to Tchaikovsky, and actor Geoffrey Palmer, who will read three poems. Buffy’s Anthony Head has also taken part.

The CD is available here.

British Stars Donate Dresses Fit For A Princess

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

In collaboration with the Princess Alice Hospice charity in the UK, The Bentall Centre in Kingston is hosting a star-studded fashion exhibition from 26th September 2009 until 19th October showcasing celebrity party attire in store windows, which will then be online at www.ebya.co.uk/charity from 19th October, to raise money for the Hospice.

Over forty personalities and luminaries, including; Dame Helen Mirren, Lynda Bellingham, Samantha Cameron, Beth Ditto, Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh, Helena Bonham Carter, Geri Halliwell, Paloma Faith, Joanna Lumley, Trinny Woodhall, Fearne Cotton, Twiggy and The Saturdays have all kindly donated dresses to the Fit For a Princess event.

Unique pieces include an Alberta Ferretti sequin skirt and top which was worn at The Planet of the Apes premiere by Helena Bonham Carter, Paloma Faith’s gorgeous green silk and lace prom dress, which she wore in her latest ‘New York’ music video and a Herve Leger gown from Beverley Knight. There is a wonderful two piece worn by Joanna Lumley at a James Bond gala, which in her letter given with the dress boasts that they have been ‘shaken and stirred’ by two 007 agents – Daniel Craig and Roger Moore!

Most of the attire donated comes with provenance from the celebrity patrons i.e. signed pictures and letters, which potential new owners will gain.

Garments from these celebrities amongst other musicians, actresses and fashionistas will be displayed exclusively in The Bentall Centre for one month. Visitors to the Centre will then be able to bid for their favourite idol’s outfit through an auction on eBAY, with all proceeds coming to Princess Alice Hospice.

The auction goes live on October 19 and runs until October 29. To be sure of getting your hands on a celebrity treasure visit www.ebay.co.uk/charity and type in Fit for a Princess as your search term.

Darran Hutchings, Communication Officer at Princess Alice Hospice, said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Bentall Centre on such a large and high profile project. Not only are they dedicated to supporting local charities, they are also able to deliver highly professional and rewarding events. Together we will be able to raise money for, and raise the profile of this vital local charity”.

Princess Alice Hospice is a registered charity based in Esher, Surrey. It provides specialist end of life and palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families both at the Hospice and in their homes. The Hospice catchment area includes Surrey, South West London and Middlesex serving a population in excess of 1 million. Over £7 million is needed each year to provide these vital and much needed services, with limited NHS funding over 75% of funding must be raised through voluntary donations and fundraising.

More info about the Princess Alice Hospice can be found at www.pah.org.uk.

Joanna Lumley Visits Nepal And Becomes Charity Patron

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British actress Joanna Lumley has become the new ambassador for a UK-based charity that helps disadvantaged children in Nepal.

The Child Welfare Scheme (CWS) is committed to working in partnership with organizations supporting front line work with disadvantaged and vulnerable children, young people and their communities, transforming their lives and providing them with life opportunities and the confidence to succeed.

Lumley is currently visiting Nepal – where she was treated as a hero for her work with the Gurkhas – and hopes to help the charity continue their work in providing healthcare, vocational training and a safe haven for trafficked children in the country.

“I have been inspired by the work that CWS does supporting some of the most disadvantaged and marginalized children in Nepal,” she said. “I hope that my involvement with CWS will help to make a positive difference to their lives and future.”

The charity hopes Lumley’s support will help them raise awareness and cash in the current economic climate.

“Joanna will undoubtedly help to raise our UK profile and boost our fundraising efforts,” said Steve McCall, chief executive of CWS. “I am sure her involvement will help to take us to the next level and enable us to do even more for the thousands of disadvantaged children and their communities that we are trying to help in Nepal.”

More information about the charity can be found here.

Lumley is also due to visit the Gurkha Welfare Trust while she is in Nepal.

Stars Join Cyber Protest To Save Animals

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Celebrities are showing their support for an end to animal testing by joining an on-line virtual protest. Comedian Ricky Gervais, actress Joanna Lumley and rockers Brian May and Chrissie Hynde, are joining tens of thousands of people taking part in the virtual march to Brussels where the 20-year old law on animal experiments is up for review by politicians.

‘Mini-me’ virtual characters of Ricky, Joanna, Chrissie and Brian appear in the campaign cheering on the thousands of marchers from across the EU and they hope to persuade thousands more to take part at www.makeanimaltestinghistory.org/march.

More than 12 million animals such as rabbits, hamsters, monkeys, cats and dogs, are used in experiments in Europe each year. Many of the experiments can cause physical and mental distress to the animals. Animal lovers across the UK and Europe are taking to cyber-space to demonstrate support for improvements to the 20-year old law on animal experiments. Campaigners want greater restrictions on what the animals can endure, as well as a massive drive to develop non-animal alternative tests to ultimately replace the use of animals altogether with humane, 21st-century methods.

The virtual march at www.MakeAnimalTestingHistory.org/march was launched by the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, Four Paws and The Humane Society International.

Ricky Gervais says: "When I was asked if I’d like to back the campaign to Make Animal Testing History I said “Yes”, immediately, as it is a cause that I am very, very passionate about. When they said it involved a march, I said forget it. But when they said it was a virtual march and I would have to do very little except show my support and give a quote, I jumped at the chance. On a serious note, we need EU politicians to vote for more humane science. With all the non-animal techniques available now and in the future, we really don’t need to hurt animals to make medical progress."

Joanna Lumley OBE, said: "Join me fabulous walkers, in showing how much we care for the feelings of our fellow creatures, and how soon we long for all animal testing to become a thing of the past. Tell everyone you know how easy it is to sign up, pack some sandwiches and, as Nancy Sinatra so succinctly put it, “Start walking!!!”

Queen guitarist Brian May CBE said: “Humans do not have the right to abuse other animals in any way whatsoever. What on Earth makes us think we are that important? If we want to call ourselves civilised, a change is long overdue. No animal should ever be subjected to indignity or discomfort, far less, a painful death, in the name of science. Let’s make this despicable behaviour History.”

Chrissie Hynde said: “Animal experimentation just doesn’t make sense in the 21st century. It causes suffering to millions of animals and it’s hardly cutting-edge science. Thousands of people are cyber-marching right now to Make Animal Testing History and I’m right there with them cheering them on. Let’s stop filling our laboratories with monkeys and mice and use modern alternative research methods instead. See you on the march!”

Citizens from across Europe are being invited to get e-active by signing an online pledge of support to Make Animal Testing History and creating their own personalised character to join the mass cyber parade through Brussels towards the European parliament. The law will be debated during the coming months by politicians across Europe.

Click here to find out more and take part.

Stars Sign Mini For British Forces Morale

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A car signed by some of Britain’s favorite stars will go up for auction at Bonhams Auction House tonight, July 3, to raise money for the British Forces Foundation's Lap of Honour charity, which aims to boost morale in Britiain’s Armed Forces.

For the last year, the Mini cooper – adorned with a Union Jack on the roof – has been traveling around Britain, gathering autographs from well-known faces such as Michael Caine, Richard Branson, Sienna Miller, Simon Cowell, Terry Wogan, Joan Collins, Roger Moore, Michael Parkinson, Cliff Richard, Ranulph Fiennes, Tom Jones, Hugh Grant, Judi Dench, James Blunt, Katherine Jenkins, Jackie Stewart, Rod Stewart, Lewis Hamilton, Kate Moss, Joe Calzaghe, Elton John, David Beckham, Magaret Thatcher, Eric Clapton, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, Joanna Lumley, Helen Mirren, Gordon Brown, Paul McCartney and many more.

“This fantastic car has been on an amazing journey during our tenth anniversary year,” said Mark Cann, director of the BFF. “It will be a unique addition to any car collection and we’re delighted that Bonhams offered so generously to help us achieve the best bid and raise as much money as we can. The very act of demonstrating support will send a clear message of solidarity to those on the frontline, which will in itself be a significant boost to their morale.”

Proceeds will go to the well-being and esprit de corps of all serving personnel.

To find out more, click here.

British Celebrities Doodle For Charity

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A variety of British celebrities have completed unique drawings to raise awareness of a charity committed to helping the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential.

The Celebrity Journeys campaign asked stars to illustrate “the start and end of a personal transformation in their lives in a single, unbroken line”. The drawings are currently appearing on an online gallery for Action for Children.

Stars who have taken up the challenge include Rod Stewart, Joanna Lumley, Gemma Atkinson, Ranulph Fiennes, Jo Brand, Robbie Coltrane, Ronnie Corbett, Esther Rantzen, Alexi Sayle, Brian Blessed, Vanessa Mae, Peter Davison, Kim Wilde, Ben Elton, Amir Khan, and many more.

“[My] picture tells the story of how anybody can start from very little and with the right ingredients and determination, can rise to the top,” said celebrity chef Gary Rhodes.

Action for Children said the online gallery will highlight the support it gives to thousands of young people as they start their own personal journeys.

To view the gallery, click here.

Joanna Lumley Becomes Disaster Relief Charity Patron

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Joanna Lumley is to become a patron of a UK-based disaster relief charity.

The actress will take up the position for Cornwall-based charity ShelterBox, an organization set up in 2001 that has so far helped over 800,000 people in 57 countries recover from disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, wars, and volcanic eruptions. Established by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, the charity is supported by international affiliates set up by Rotary clubs in various other countries, including Australia, USA, Canada, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, France & Switzerland.

Lumley said she “really loves and admires the charity,” which sends boxes to disaster victims that contain blankets, tents, water purification and cooking equipment, tools and more. The boxes cost £490 each.

Lumley isn’t the only high profile figure to be associated with the organization – the charity’s President is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

More information about the charity can be found at the official website.

Joanna Lumley Continues Gurkha Battle

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British actress Joanna Lumley is reportedly furious over a new ruling regarding Gurkhas in the UK.

Lumley threw her weight behind the plight of over 4000 Gurkhas seeking residency in the UK last year. The Gurkhas are part of a famous regiment of Nepalese soldiers that has fought for Britain since 1815, most recently in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia. Although they have fought and died for Britain, a court ruling means those who retired before 1997 have no automatic right to live in Britain. All other foreign soldiers in the British Army can settle in Britain after four years’ service anywhere in the world.

She was brought to tears on Friday when the British government officially turned their backs on the former soldiers, allowing only 100 residency in the UK, and introducing tough rules and criteria governing their applications.

“The Gurkhas cannot meet these new criteria,” she said. “It makes me ashamed of our government. We will fight on. We don’t stop. This has set us back in its obtuse lack of understanding of any of the problems facing these men or, I think, of the conditions facing soldiers. I think this is inexplicable. I can only think they have no notion of the armed services. They have no direct experience of what it is.”

She also vowed to continue the campaign, saying: “This is a setback. We simply regroup and start again. We don’t give up the battle just because one of the tactics has failed.”

The sentiments follow statements she made earlier this year.

“It is disgraceful that our democratic Government has refused to listen to the will of the people. The ruling last year was clear and the way that successive governments have treated Gurkhas who retired before 1997 is truly offensive and a stain on our national character. These are men who have served in the British Army, sometimes for 20 years and more, and some have won our country’s highest honors for valor and service.

“My father served alongside the Gurkhas for 30 years. I am a daughter of the regiment. He would be absolutely overwhelmed with shame and fury that we have behaved this way to the Gurkhas, our most loyal and constant friends. I am never ashamed to be British, but I am ashamed of the behavior of the British legal system towards these brave men. We have discriminated against them dreadfully. It is a stain on our relationship.”

Eric Clapton Signs Guitar For Leukaemia Children

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A guitar signed by Eric Clapton was just one of the items that were featured in a charity auction held in the UK last weekend that raised over £6,000 (US$8,500) for Children With Leukaemia.

The guitar – which was also signed by Mike Rutherford from Genesis and Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker – went under the hammer for £500 at the event, held in Norwich. Also up for auction was a guitar signed by Green Day, which sold for £840, and a Clapton-signed DVD of a Cream reunion at the Albert Hall that sold for £200.

Children With Leukaemia is the UK’s leading charity dedicated exclusively to fighting Britain’s biggest childhood cancer. For more than 20 years, they have been helping children affected by leukaemia. They fund research into causes and treatments, support families through welfare programmes and campaign on their behalf. Their current fundraising campaign is being fronted by British celebrity Chris Tarrant, and the charity also enjoys support from Jonathan Ross, Judi Dench, Phil Collins, Joanna Lumley, Paul McCartney and many more.

To find out more about the charity, check out their website.

Stars Donate Underwear To Charity Auction

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of stars are going commando for charity this week by donating their underwear to a new charity auction.

Stars such as the Black Eyed Peas' Fergie, Emma Thompson, Helen Mirren, Katie Price, Tilda Swinton, and Joanna Lumley have donated their autographed underwear to the auction, which will benefit the New North London Synagogue, an institution that offers a wide range of educational, cultural, social action, and other communal activities for both its membership and the wider Jewish and non-Jewish community, including a monthly drop-In for destitute asylum seekers.

A wide range of signed underwear is going under the hammer, from the extremely small to the strangely old-fashioned. Also up for auction are pants autographed by Ricky Gervais, Jarvis Cocker, Alex Kingston, Daniel Day Lewis, Nick Cave, Nick Hornby, Ray Winstone, Sacha Baron Cohen, and many more.

Money from the auction will go to buying food and other essentials required by asylum seekers. The organization explains: “Destitute asylum seekers have had their asylum claims refused. They live here in fear, terrified of being forcibly returned home where they face more of the persecution they originally fled from. Many are survivors of torture and have lost loved ones in conflicts back home. They are not allowed to work and in most cases are not eligible for housing or benefits. Many go hungry and some have been diagnosed with malnutrition. They don’t even have the money to buy underwear which is basic to human dignity, and so our celebrities have signed underwear to both raise funds for them and draw attention to their plight.”

The auction runs until March 31 and can be accessed here

Joanna Lumley Shows Support For Nepal And Tibet

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Last September, Look to the Stars brought you a story about Joanna Lumley's support of hundreds of elderly Nepalese Gurkhas seeking to retire in Britain. The actress is now slamming the British government for failing to honor a court ruling allowing the veterans the right to remain in the country.

The Gurkhas are part of a famous regiment of Nepalese soldiers that has fought for Britain since 1815, most recently in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia. Although they have fought and died for Britain, a court ruling means those who retired before 1997 have no automatic right to live in Britain. All other foreign soldiers in the British Army can settle in Britain after four years’ service anywhere in the world. The Gurkhas won a ruling at the High Court in London in October that allowed up to 2,000 of them to stay in Britain, but the U.K. government has so far failed to honour the ruling, and Lumley has launched a new legal campaign to see justice done.

“It is disgraceful that our democratic Government has refused to listen to the will of the people,” she said on Tuesday. “The ruling last year was clear and the way that successive governments have treated Gurkhas who retired before 1997 is truly offensive and a stain on our national character. These are men who have served in the British Army, sometimes for 20 years and more, and some have won our country’s highest honours for valour and service.”

The sentiments echo her statements last year, in which she said: “My father served alongside the Gurkhas for 30 years. I am a daughter of the regiment. He would be absolutely overwhelmed with shame and fury that we have behaved this way to the Gurkhas, our most loyal and constant friends. I am never ashamed to be British, but I am ashamed of the behavior of the British legal system towards these brave men. We have discriminated against them dreadfully. It is a stain on our relationship.”

Earlier this month, Lumley also launched the Tibet Film Festival in Tibet, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising against China’s rule and 50 years in exile for many Tibetans including the Dalai Lama.

She said she hoped the film festival would “help keep Tibet in the front of people’s minds,” and that it would remind the world of pledges of action made prior to last year’s Olympic Games in China.

“We made all these what seem to be now hollow insistences before the Games were to take place in Beijing that we wanted to see improvement in human rights. There was no improvement but we still went. I wish our country was doing something. We have so many Tibet supporters here and within the House of Commons and the House of Lords, but somehow once we get to senior administration it’s back to nothing at all and appeasement of the Chinese.”

The Dalai Lama also sent a message of peace to the festival opening: “Film is a highly effective means of providing information and education. It is my sincere hope that the films on show at this festival will enable viewers to broaden their understanding and appreciation of Tibetan culture and the problems currently facing the Tibetan people, and that such an understanding may yet grow into support for our just cause.”

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.

British Stars Get Really Naked For Charity Calendar

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The National Osteoporosis Society in Britain is giving you the chance to see some of the nation’s favorite stars as you have never seen them before – completely and truly naked.

Joanna Lumley, Michael Parkinson, Joan Rivers, and Bruce Forsyth are among the celebrities that have shed their clothes – and their skin and organs – for the new calendar, which features x-ray photos taken by Nick Veasey of the stars’ bones.

The Really Naked Calendar is part of Love Your Bones, a campaign to raise awareness of the steps people can take in younger years to increase their chances of bone health as they age.

“Before I got involved in this project I had believed osteoporosis to be a frail old woman’s disease – which I’m pretty sure is what the population seem to think, too,” said Veasey. “Well it’s not – it’s hugely common in men and women of all ages and is a painful and debilitating disease. This is why I’m pleased to work on this project. The inspiration for the collection of images was to peer beyond the sometimes superficial celebrity image, highlighting that beauty is more than skin deep, and that essentially, what we all share is the need to care for our bones inside.”

Other stars baring all for the calendar include Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood, Lorraine Kelly, James Martin, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Steve Williams.

The calendar is available from the National Osteoporosis Society website.

Give Landmines The Boot With Charity Auction

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A British charity for victims of landmines has launched their annual online celebrity shoe auction.

The Mines Advisory Group has gathered footwear from over 50 celebrities for the auction, which will raise vital funds for their projects and draw attention to the part of the body most vulnerable to landmines.

The auction was launched by model Kelly Knox, the glamorous winner of BBC 3’s best disabled model competition, at Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London.

“We are extremely honored to have Kelly launch our shoe auction this year,” said MAG’s Chief Executive Lou McGrath OBE. “Despite being born without a left forearm, Kelly has proven disability is not a deterrent to success. She should be an inspiration to the many thousands of people who have been cruelly maimed by the thousands of landmines still threatening lives and communities worldwide.”

Celebrities who have donated their soles to the cause include Judi Dench, Geri Halliwell, Chrissie Hynde, Beverley Knight, Ian McKellen, Shirley Bassey, Russell Brand, Jarvis Cocker, Heather Mills, Joanna Lumley, Susan Sarandon, Pete Townshend, KT Tunstall, Chris Martin, Rolf Harris, and many others.

The auction ends on December 4 and can be accessed via the MAG eBay site.

British charity auction site Buy Once Give Twice also currently has some exciting opportunities for philanthropic bargain hunters.

Rays of Sunshine – a charity that grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children in the UK – have a whole bunch of VIP tickets up for grabs on the site right now, including concert experiences with Coldplay, Madness, and the Kaiser Cheifs. There is also a Fender guitar signed by Sting up for grabs, as well as a Chelsea football shirt signed by the whole team, and the chance to hang out with Emma Thompson on the set of the new Nanny McPhee movie.

But you better be quick, this auction ends tomorrow, November 26.

British Stars Sign Favorite Books For Africa

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of Britain’s best loved stars have signed editions of their favorite books for a new charity auction.

Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley, and Ian McKellen are amongst the celebrities to sign the books, which cover a wide variety of genres.

“Education offers a route out of poverty and books are the foundation of lifelong learning, yet the majority of people in Africa cannot afford books of their own,” said Lesley Pinder, Book Aid International spokeswoman. “The proceeds from this online auction will help Book Aid International support reading and learning in some of the world’s poorest countries by getting books into libraries, universities, hospitals and refugee camps.”

The range of books chosen as favorites by the stars is vast and revealing. Mirren has signed Suite Francais by Irene Nemirovsky, Sir David Jason has chosen Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows – which he voiced for a BBC series in the 1980s – and Gary Lineker has inscribed A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein. Joanna Lumley has chosen Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, while Robbie Coltrane has signed Huckleberry Finn. Other names to take part include Twiggy, Alexander McCall Smith, Alan Rickman, Sue Townsend, Frederick Forsyth, Tim Rice, and Julian Fellowes.

Book Aid International is a non-profit organization that sends over half a million books to sub-Saharan Africa every year to support literacy, education and development. The books are almost always new books donated by UK publishers, and are distributed to national libraries, local and regional libraries, community libraries, schools, prisons, refugee camps, and NGO resource centers in 12 African countries. They also provide grants for purchasing books locally (especially those in local languages), and training and advice to ensure that books are targeted to the right groups of people and are well used.

The auction runs until October 27, and can be accessed through eBay.

Joanna Lumley Supports Gurkha Battle

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British actress Joanna Lumley has pledged her support to hundreds of elderly Nepalese Gurkhas seeking to retire in Britain.

Lumley – who was born in India – joined a protest outside the British High Court yesterday, where the soldiers’ case is being heard.

“My father served alongside the Gurkhas for 30 years,” said the 62-year-old actress. “I am a daughter of the regiment. He would be absolutely overwhelmed with shame and fury that we have behaved this way to the Gurkhas, our most loyal and constant friends. I am never ashamed to be British, but I am ashamed of the behavior of the British legal system towards these brave men. We have discriminated against them dreadfully. It is a stain on our relationship.”

The hearing is expected to last two days, although the ruling will not be released for several weeks.

EDIT: For an update about this story, click here.

JK Rowling Kept Busy With Charity Work

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows will be the big attraction in a charity auction in Scotland next week.

Author JK Rowling has donated the book to the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS), to be auctioned off as part of their Touch of Tartan charity ball on August 29.

“We were really excited to receive this donation from JK Rowling and to have her support,” said Helen MacKinnon, marketing and development co-ordinator for the organization. “As the prize is so outstanding and tickets have sold out, we have decided to open up the bidding on the Harry Potter novel to anyone interested.”

The Ball will take place at the Salutation Hotel in the Scottish town of Perth, and will include a civic reception hosted by Perth and Kinross Council, fine dining, and Scottish melodies from local band the Gallivanters.

PKAVS has been helping people and families across Perth & Kinross for over 30 years, and run a range of projects supporting the community of Perth & Kinross. Their projects help over 5,000 local people every year, supporting the elderly, the disabled, individuals with mental ill health, and the family members who care for them.

The book has been estimated to be worth over £500 (US$1,000), and anyone interested in bidding should contact Helen MacKinnon at helen.mackinnon@pkavs.org.uk before August 28.

Rowling is also involved with a charity-based competition being run in Britain. St. Martin-in-the-Fields, a London landmark currently undergoing a more-than $70-million upgrade, has invited stars to design panes of stained glass which will then be given away as prizes in the competition. Joining Rowling in flexing her design muscles are Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, and Bill Bryson.

People interested in entering the competition can choose whose design they want to win, with entries costing £10. To take part, visit the competition website.

Joanna Lumley Wants China Out Of Tibet

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:55 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

British actress Joanna Lumley, peacefully campaigning for a free Tibet, is having a hard time getting heard.

Born in Kashmir, Lumley was deeply touched by the plight of Tibetans making the perilous journey across the mountains into India and meeting the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala when he spoke to the newly arrived refugees. Today, she’s a spokesperson for the Free Tibet movement.

“There are people in the most ghastly straits in that country,” said Lumley. “The suffering there is indescribably dreadful and it’s been going on for so long that we’ve deafened our ears. It’s called Tibet. If it was part of China, it would be called China.”

Lumley told The Guardian that while she was rallying for a Free Tibet in London, the press only followed the protesters who were chasing the Olympic torch.

“The truth is, peaceful protest hasn’t worked,” Lumley said in the interview. “It’s the people who did that [violence] who got into the papers. We didn’t. Our rally at the weekend was completely ignored… because they were looking for trouble; because protest is what gets in the paper.”

Students for a Free Tibet have used the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a unique opportunity to expose atrocities of Chinese rule in Tibet and are vehemently against allowing the Olympic torch being run through their country.

“People say, oh what a shame, the [protestors] have spoilt the running of the torch,” Lumley told the paper. “Well I’m sorry, hang the torch, it’s not an age-old tradition – it was only invented in 1936, wasn’t it? … Please don’t pretend that a couple of people running out with a bicycle is the most dangerous stuff that’s ever happened. …But if it hadn’t happened, Tibet again would have been ignored.”

Celebrity Portraits Up For Auction

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:25:15 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Autographed portraits of some of Hollywood’s brightest stars are up for auction on the internet this month, as part of the “Stars For A Cause”: charity Gala to be held in September.

George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are just some of the legends who have been immortalized in the works by acclaimed artist, Nicolosi. Painted using acrylic on canvas, these pop-art style portraits are both colorful and dynamic, and have been exhibited in London and Los Angeles, as well as at the Cannes Film Festival and on the cruise liner, the Queen Mary II.

Proceeds from the auction will go to The Prince's Trust, a UK based charity that helps young people overcome barriers by providing training, mentoring, and financial assistance. Joanna Lumley, an ambassador for the Trust, is one of the stars featured in the collection. The Hollywood Museum will also benefit from the auction.

The pictures were personally autographed by the stars during Entertainment Tonight interviews held backstage at events such as the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, and the 58th Primetime Emmys.

“We are always eager to support the charitable endeavors of celebrities,” said Linda Bell Blue, executive producer for Entertainment Tonight. “So we readily embraced the opportunity to get involved with Stars For A Cause.”

The online auction will run until September 27, when a VIP Gala will be held at The Hollywood Museum. Many of the stars featured in the portraits are expected to attend the event, and the evening will bring bidding on the paintings to a close.
Other celebrities whose portraits are for sale include Angelina Jolie, Alan Alda, Mariska Hargitay, Kyra Sedgwick, Jane Kaczmarek, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Geena Davis, Candice Bergen, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Debra Messing, Forest Whitaker, Kiefer Sutherland, Meryl Streep, Charlie Sheen, Jack Nicholson, Eddie Murphy, Helen Mirren, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Craig, Beyoncé Knowles, and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen.
Bids start at $500, and can be viewed at www.juliensauctions.com.

Stars Read Stories for Charity

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:41:12 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Joanna Lumley and Tony Robinson have lent their voice talents to a series of downloadable stories for children. Recordings of the Mr Men and Little Miss books from Roger Hargreaves’ best-selling series benefit the Variety Club, a charity which works with underprivileged children.

Lumley reads Little Miss Sunshine, Robinson reads Mr Tickle, and Wendy Richard tells the story of Little Miss Splendid.

Ben Shephard, Neil Fox and John Simm also tell stories from the beloved series.

Wendy Richard OBE said at her podcast recording: “I was delighted to be asked to read a Little Miss story for the celebrity podcast. It is a great way to raise money for the invaluable work Variety Club does to help underprivileged children have a better quality of life.”

There are seven recordings in all, costing £1.50 ($3) each, or £5 ($10) for the entire set. All of the proceeds go to the charity.

Joanna Lumley Helps Darfur Appeal

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:31:48 -0000

Written by Gavin Fearnley

British actress Joanna Lumley has joined calls to help save lives whilst the conflict in Darfur and Chad continues to wreak havoc.

The 61-year-old is working with the UK’s leading aid charities through the Disasters Emergency Committee in making an appeal to hundreds of thousands of newspaper readers.

In a letter written to local papers in Britain, the former Bond girl said, "We are seeing one of the greatest concentrations of human suffering right now in Darfur and Chad with 4.5 million people affected.

“The impending rains will make the situation worse, bringing the risk of deadly conditions like diarrhoea and malaria especially for children, pregnant mothers and the elderly.”

Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee said, “We have been keeping people alive but access is already severely hampered by conflict and the rains will make it much harder for us to respond if we don’t act now.”

Joanna Lumley is heavily involved in charity work including The Druk White Lotus School in Kashmir and mental health charity Mind.

To donate to the Darfur and Chad Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk

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