News

Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Clara Amfo has launched the King's Cross United We Shop campaign, encouraging people to 'shop physical’ and support Britain’s shopping streets and retail destinations. Over 30 brands, including Samsung, SpaceNK and Sweaty Betty, with stores at King's Cross and Coal Drops Yard, are backing the initiative, highlighting how retailers are looking to 'capture two months of Christmas shopping spend in just three weeks' following the second national Covid-19 lockdown, and will offer customers exclusive offers including discounts and gifts to get Londoners shopping again.

Captain Sir Tom Moore has collaborated with Otterbeck Distillery to launch his own gin, described as 'herbaceous and smooth’ with notes of rosemary and thyme. Proceeds from the sale of the gin will be donated to The Captain Tom Foundation, established by the British war veteran earlier this year and supporting charities including Mind and The Royal British Legion. Nicola Lampkin, co-founder of the Yorkshire based distillery, commented 'We’re delighted to be able to do our bit to help support such worthwhile causes. Captain Sir Tom has captured the imagination of the world and we’re proud to have distilled a very special gin with a very special man'.

Personalities including Roman Kemp, Kurupt FM, Chris Robshaw, Tom Grennan, Dr Zoe Williams, Kelly Sotherton, and Tom May, have joined forces with War Child UK, encouraging people to get involved with the Peace Band challenge by walking, running, wheeling, or skipping to raise money for children growing up in conflict as part of the charity's Torn From Home appeal. The challenge launches on January 1, 2021, and TV and radio presenter Kemp commented 'The work that War Child do is so vital and very close to my heart - so I am delighted to be showing my support for the Peace Band challenge. This January you will mostly find me running, jumping, skipping and cart-wheeling my way towards doing my bit to that target - and I hope others will do the same in support of this amazing charity'.

Archie Manners, who's created some of 2020's most notable viral content, made a name for himself with pranks including flying Katie Hopkins to Prague to collect a fake award and pranking Tiger King’s Carole Baskin into giving her first ever broadcast interview. The British magician, YouTuber and TV presenter, who wrote and starred in his own online series, Archie Asks, performs his magic at a range of private events worldwide and is recognised for presenting E4’s Look Into My Eyes and MTV’s The Royal World, gaining praise from Time Magazine, TMZ, The Hollywood Reporter, The Daily Mail, Tatler, and The Late Late Show. He now collaborates with Josh Pieters on their eponymous YouTube channel, which made the headlines in September after they successfully nominated reality star Gemma Collins for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The BBC has confirmed Prue Leith, Margaret Atwood and Evan Spiegel will guest edit Radio 4's Today programme between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, as part of BBC Radio's festive schedule, which also includes bonus episodes and special Christmas editions of BBC Sounds podcasts and festive mixes from artists including Paloma Faith and Rita Ora. Great British Bake Off judge Leith will discuss her attempts to improve food in hospitals and explore issues around assisted dying, also celebrating hobbies and crafts Brits have explored during lockdown when she takes over the current affairs programme, and Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, said 'In what’s been a difficult year, millions of people have turned to our stations and Sounds for company through long periods of isolation and so we want to give our listeners schedules filled with special treats and surprising guests to celebrate the festive season'.

Laura Whitmore has teamed up with Westfield London, curating and launching A Very Rental Christmas pop-up store, where customers can 'rent everything they need for the festive season', after research revealed 44% of UK millennials were looking to give their homes rental makeovers for Christmas. The shop launches virtually today (November 30), and opens for consumers December 3-13, and British TV presenter Whitmore said 'I'm so excited to have curated A Very Rental Christmas at Westfield London, the first ever Christmas rental store, to bring together the most amazing seasonal trends in one place. I love the idea of renting things we only use once a year - it’s more sustainable and also means you can try out new styles of decorations each year, which I love to do'.

The Sister star Russell Tovey and London based artist Sophie Tea have launched a competition with the British Red Cross to 'search for the UK's hidden lockdown artist, raising money to support the most vulnerable this winter'. The winner of the competition will have their artwork featured on the charity's latest 'I Have The Power' merchandise range, with proceeds going to the British Red Cross, and Tovey commented 'So many of us have felt powerlessness during this crazy year, so it’s great to see art being used as a way to empower and inspire people - and help everyone realise that they too are equipped to help others. Whether you choose to submit an entry or buy something from the online collection, you’ll really be helping someone who needs it. I’m excited to see what everyone will submit'.

The London Evening Standard has announced the launch of its Future Theatre Fund, in association with TikTok and in partnership with the National Youth Theatre, aiming to 'support the next generation of theatre makers' who've struggled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recipients of the fund, selected by a panel including Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Helen McCrory, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Lynette Linton, Nadia Fall, Matthew Xia, and Giles Terera, will be awarded £10k to assist with their chosen career paths, and will also be allocated a mentor from the industry to 'provide support and guidance'. Deborah Rosenegk, the newspaper's Chief Client Officer, said 'We are delighted to be in a position to support the theatre industry at such a crucial time with the launch of our Evening Standard Theatre Fund in association with our partner TikTok'.