Age UK Mid-Mersey to feature in ITV's Xmas Reunion

Age UK Mid Mersey is excited to be featuring on The Big Christmas Reunion on ITV2 on 12 December and on ITV on 14 December 2013 as part of ITV's annual Text Santa charity appeal.

You can catch Age UK Mid Mersey on The Big Christmas Reunion, which airs at 9pm on 12 December on ITV2, and again at 5.30pm on 14 December on ITV.

Big Reunion singers launch a charity Christmas single

This year '90s and early '00s pop bands Atomic Kitten, Blue, Five, Liberty X, 911, Honeyz and B*Witched (pictured above) all reunited for ITV's show The Big Reunion.

Now these former chart-toppers are hoping to reach number 1, but this time with a Christmas single to raise money for ITV's annual Text Santa charity appeal. The song will be released on 15 December, and is a cover of Wizzard's Christmas classic 'I wish it could be Christmas every day.'

ITV's Big Christmas Reunion behind-the-scenes documentary follows these singers as they record the single and meet with Text Santa's beneficiary charities, including Age UK, to learn about the good causes the single's proceeds will fund.

Five join Age UK for a tea dance

As part of ITV's The Big Christmas Reunion, the band Five visited Parr Hall in Warrington (pictured above) to join in a weekly tea dance organised by Age UK Mid Mersey.

Ritchie from Five commented, 'To be given the chance to help raise money for the amazing charities that ITV's Text Santa appeal help, to bring attention to their causes and the plight of the real people they help, aiding them to make lives better really is the icing on the cake for me after this "Big Reunion" year.'

Footage of the band's tea dance steps have been used in the offical video for The Big Reunion's Christmas single.

Mark Lunney, Age UK Mid Mersey's Chief Officer, said: 'We are really excited to be part of Text Santa and see our big moment on national television on Thursday 12 and Saturday 14 December. It's all for a great appeal so we want to encourage everyone to dig deep in their pockets and donate to Text Santa. We hope you will be as glued to your TV as we will be here at Age UK Mid Mersey.'

Text Santa

Now in its third year, Text Santa raises money and awareness for 6 UK-based charities in the run-up to the live TV show at 8pm on ITV on Friday 20 December. This year's chosen charities are Age UK, Barnardo's, BeatBullying, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent and Help the Hospices.

Funds generated by the Text Santa appeal will help Age UK to ensure vital services are available to keep older people warm and well this winter.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: 'Winter can be a difficult time for many older people and Text Santa is incredibly important as it raises funds for the vital services Age UK's national and local partners deliver that help to keep older people warm and well in the winter.'

To make a donation to Text Santa:

• visit itv.com/textsanta,
• call 0300 200 8000,
• or text the word SANTA to 70070*

(* Texts cost £5. Full details, charity numbers and terms can be found at itv.com/textsanta, stv.tv & u.tv. You should be 16+. Please ask the bill payer's permission.)