Yes, it really is us: celebrities man the phones in aid of victims of Philippines typhoon

 
Press Association19 November 2013
The Weekender

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As evening drew on, a troop of celebrities arrived at the BT Tower to man the phones in a massive telethon donation appeal in aid of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Jamie Oliver, Amanda Holden, Daisy Lowe, Richard Madeley, Adrian Chiles and Frank Skinner are among those taking donations from callers for the Disasters Emergency Committee's (DEC) Philippines Typhoon Appeal.

The telethon officially began with a tweet from One Direction. Band member Liam Payne, who launched the telethon on Twitter, said: "The pictures I have seen of little children in between the ruins made my heart break.

"All of us in the band are shocked by how many people need help, so we're asking the public to continue to be as generous as they possibly can."

Oliver said it was a "pleasure" to take part in the fundraising event. "A lot of us that are in the public eye don't really know what we can do other than pledge ourselves, but also if we can get other people to pledge, that's kind of what our job is really - spread the word. It's a pleasure to do it," he said.

Britain's Got Talent judge Holden said the horror of Typhoon Haiyan has had a big impact on her. "I just think like most people when you're watching the news it's an absolutely horrific story.

"There's so many innocent people...it's really affected me.

"I feel I can't go about my normal day, so I actually was saying to my husband at the weekend I feel like I wanted to get on a lorry and go there with the Red Cross. And then I got an email asking if I'd come and help today and I thought 'that's perfect'."

"I think there's a real feeling when you see that kind of stuff and you want to help," he said.

Skinner said he thinks celebrity endorsement of the appeal is worthwhile.

"On one level I think I wish they didn't have celebrities, because people shouldn't care whether they're celebrities or not, but I don't know if you'd be interviewing me now if I was a plumber who'd come in and volunteered.

"Like it or not I think it probably gets more publicity and more publicity means more information, and more people put money it.

"It's a means to an end is what it is," he said.

Actor Nigel Havers said he was "heartbroken" by events in the Philippines.

"I was just heartbroken about what happened to all those people. As simple as that.

"I was just keen to do anything to help. So many people affected by this terrible tragedy," he said.

Other stars taking calls in the very noisy room at BT Tower include models Daisy Lowe and Poppy Delevingne, comedian Stephen Merchant, presenter Adrian Chiles, and Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt.

The DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal has already reached £39 million, helping to fund crucial aid in some of the worst-hit parts of the islands.

The telethon comes as the British effort to deliver aid to the Philippines continues apace - a plane loaded with 95 tonnes of water and sanitation equipment left East Midlands Airport last night, while a BA jet was also dispatched to the crisis zone, and warship HMS Daring arrived yesterday.

Previous DEC appeals have included the £392 million raised for the tsunami crisis fund in December 2004, as well as £107 million for the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake in January 2010. Britons also pledged £71 million for the Pakistan floods appeal in August that same year, and a further £79 million for East Africa a year later.

DEC spokesman Brendan Paddy described the £39 million raised so far - in less than a fortnight - as staggering.

He said: "The British public have - yet again - been so generous. They have seen the unbelievably shocking footage from the Philippines and are showing a staggering amount of support and compassion.

"I was concerned when Haiti happened that the UK doesn't have a strong cultural or historical link with it. It's the same for the Philippines, and I wondered whether people would still make the connection and donate quite the way they have.

"But I was wrong to have any concerns. People have been so generous, and hopefully will continue to help."

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