Former boxer Frank Bruno is just one of the celebrity heavyweights adding his voice to a festive single to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Frank, 63, who sings in an impressive baritone voice, has high hopes for the cover of The Beatles’ All You Need is Love, saying: “I want a No1 song to add to my CV!”
Formidable as factory boss Carla Connor in Coronation Street, actress Alison King, 51, told The Mirror: “My voice is awful, but maybe they can just dub over that with Frank Bruno!
“It’s a great cause. If GOSH wasn't there, things would be very different. It's a lovely thing to be part of. A bit of light cheese at Christmas!”
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David Dyson)The celebrity supergroup, also featuring EastEnder Charlie Brooks, who play Janine Butcher; Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace from The Chase; Hear’Say singer and ex-Emmerdale star Suzanne Shaw and panto favourite Christopher Biggins, among others, sang their hearts out for the single, proceeds from which will go towards the hospital’s new children’s cancer centre.
It was particularly poignant for Anne Hegerty - The Governess on the hit ITV quiz show - as her little brother was treated in the world famous London children’s hospital when he was younger.
“He’s fine now so they must have fixed him,” she joked.
And she impressed her fellow celebrities at the recording at the Metropolis Studio in Chiswick, West London, with her fabulous voice.
"It’s OK, I can carry a tune," Anne, 66, grinned, modestly. "I do enjoy singing. Whenever I do panto, which is nearly every Christmas now, I always go, ‘can I have a song?’. I sing in the shower mostly, so it's nice to come along and sing in a studio for charity. And to be taken even slightly seriously rather than people saying, ‘What are you doing here?’"
Ex-world heavyweight champ, Frank, added: “We are in a world where there are so many appeals for fundraising all over the world, but Great Ormond Street is a special place for me as they perform miracles.
“This song is a classic that has stood the test of time and now, hopefully, will have a whole new audience.
“The video was fun to make - though I was struggling with the balloons going in all the wrong directions! It was a great party atmosphere.”
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David Dyson)Charlie Brooks, 43, who brought her puppy, Flo, to the recording, agreed with his sentiments, saying: "I'm happy to be giving my time and my voice, even though they might not be thanking me!"
In the UK, cancer is the biggest killer of children aged one to 14 - claiming the lives of five children a week.
GOSH’s new Children’s Cancer Centre, which is currently in the planning stages, will offer 20% more capacity, meaning a greater number of children will be given life-saving treatment.
On-site accommodation will also be built for parents and siblings of children in the new critical care unit.
And there will be better educational opportunities, with dedicated areas for different age groups, so young patients don’t fall behind with their school work.
The hospital also wants to give a lifeline to families facing few treatment options, with better access to clinical trials and more effective treatments with less long-term side effects.
Ex-Sugababes singer Jade Ewen, 36, who represented the UK in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest before joining the girlband, has worked with GOSH before.
Recalling a time when she met some children from GOSH backstage when she was playing Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, she said: “I have a particular soft spot for children.
“I remember one little girl whose absolute dream it was to meet Princess Jasmine.
“She was an angel, I couldn’t stop hugging her. But the most touching thing was watching her mum and dad seeing her live her dream. They couldn’t stop crying, it was so emotional.”
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David Dyson)Christopher Biggins, 75, a long-term supporter of the hospital, said: “Great Ormond Street is a wonderful organisation that needs so much money.
“Nowadays, every charity needs to do something, as raising money is so difficult.
“Years ago, it was easy to raise a million pounds. But now it really is difficult, and charities suffer badly.
“But GOSH is such a good charity, so let’s hope we get a few pennies for them.”
Packing a punch with his appeal for donations, Frank Bruno added: “I’m urging the British public to download this song.
“It’s good to help kids who need a bit of special attention, especially at Christmas, so let’s get behind the song.”
Download The Celebs’ All You Need Is Love for 99p from Friday November 29 at https://li.sten.to/celebs24 . Every penny raised will go towards Great Ormond Street Hospital’s new Children’s Cancer Centre. Find out more at www.gosh.org/the-childrens-cancer-centre .
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