Daily Express Wednesday, April 8, 2020 9
PLEA FOR CHARITIES
TO BRING CHEER IN TV SPECTACULARS
Pictures: GETTY; PA
By Mark Jefferies
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Curbs have starved
charities of cash Axed London Marathon is a big fundraiser
both tested positive for Covid-19.
Lady Gaga, who will also perform,
said: “We will raise the money before
we go on air, so when we do go live
you can put your wallets away and
sit back and enjoy the show you all
very much deserve.”
Lorna Clarke, BBC’s controller of
pop, said: “I’m thrilled that BBC One
is to broadcast coverage of this very
special event.”
show will celebrate acts of
kindness and community
support in these
difficult times.
The BBC says it will
include big surprises,
money-can’t-buy prizes
and live music performed
from the homes of artists.
Viewers will also have the
opportunity to donate to
help support vulnerable
people of all ages and
backgrounds across
the country.
Charlotte Moore,
director of BBC Content,
said: “BBC One will bring
the nation together for
this special one-off live
charity event, an
unmissable night of
entertainment when the
country needs it most.”
UK Culture Secretary
Oliver Dowden said: “The
Big Night In is a fantastic
way to channel the
amazing outpouring of
generosity we are seeing
from the British people.
●The Big Night In, 7pm on
BBC One, Thursday April 23
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Comic Relief’s Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. Inset, Kay
COMEDIAN Peter Kay
makes his first TV
appearance in two years
in a live three-hour
charity spectacular later
this month.
Children in Need and
Comic Relief are
combining for
star-studded The Big
Night In on BBC One.
Phoenix Nights
creator Kay will be one
of the stars bringing
cheer to lift the nation’s
spirits during the
coronavirus lockdown.
Kay, 46, was last seen
on screens when the
second series of Car
Share ended in 2018,
though repeats of some
of his work repackaged
as Peter Kay’s Comedy
Shuffle are currently
being watched by
millions on BBC One.
Other big names on
The Big Night In include
Catherine Tate and
Gary Barlow.
A source said: “We
are delighted to get
Peter involved as we
know how many millions
of fans he has.
“Peter is always keen
to help out charities and
we can’t wait to see what
he is lining up for the
show. Fans will love
seeing him back on TV.”
The star-studded
Sir-iffic...
Elton John
and Paul
McCartney,
inset, will
appear
not enough to confidently
protect our future: we must also
reduce our research funding.
Cancer Research UK funds
nearly 50 per cent of the UK’s
cancer research. So, while
this is not a decision we’ve
taken lightly, we are cutting
existing grants and institutes
by up to 10 per cent, and
centres and infrastructure by
around 20 per cent this year
- about £44million. Ultimately,
our research delivers benefit
to the people who matter
most to us – people affected
by cancer, and they remain
our priority.
We’re working hard to provide
support and information to
everyone affected. We’re
incredibly proud of our
research community, who have
been very quick to respond to
the crisis, using their kit, skills
and talent to support the NHS’s
Covid-19 response. While
there will be difficult choices
ahead, I believe the tenacity
and resourcefulness of
Cancer Research UK will
mean we come out more
united than ever.
Cancer doesn’t go away
during or after Covid-19. Today
our researchers are helping
to beat Covid-19 so that
tomorrow we can get back to
beating cancer.
Research, has forecast a 50 per
cent shortfall in annual income,
from £4million to £2million.
And the financial hit to
Alzheimer’s Society is estimated
to be more than £20million.
Last year it raised £7.2million
from mass events, including mem-
ory walks backed by celebrities
including Line Of Duty actress
Vicky McClure, Blackadder star
Sir Tony Robinson and former
Strictly Come Dancing judge
Arlene Phillips.
Around £4million was raised
between April and September.
Sporting events provided a fur-
ther £12.2million, with £3.8mil-
lion from the now-postponed
London Marathon alone.
Another £2.7million was
received from
community events,
which cannot now go
ahead.
Alzheimer’s
Society CEO Kate
Lee has written to
Mr Sunak and Health
Secretary Matt
Hancock. Her letter
urges the Government to support
the sector through the pandemic
with emergency funding for
frontline charities – especially
where they are back-
ing up the work of
the NHS.
The society and the
NCVO have called
for a stabilisation
fund to help charities
stay afloat, pay staff
and continue operat-
ing during the crisis.
They also want
charities to qualify
for similar interrup-
tion measures to those announced
by Mr Sunak for businesses.
Ms Lee said: “While we cannot
accurately predict the length and
scale of the crisis we suspect the
financial impact will be significant
- we’re talking millions.
“The demands on our broken
social care system will only
increase as many of our care
workers become ill or are forced
to self-isolate, not to mention the
1.8 million unpaid carers in
the UK who now face uncertainty
over who will take care of their
loved ones.
“A quarter of hospital beds
are occupied by people with
dementia – there is a risk that
people may be discharged with-
out support in place.”
Meanwhile The Care Workers
Charity has launched a £1million
emergency fund for sidelined key
workers, with grants available
within 48 hours.
Last night it had raised a
remarkable £200,000 towards
its target.
The charity’s executive director
Karolina Gerlich said: “Most
care workers are on low pay and
are living month to month.”
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