2020-04-08_Daily_Express

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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