Text Santa 2013 raises a whopping £4.2m!

ITV thanks Text Santa viewers for generous donations in support of UK charities, including Age UK.

ITV has said a big 'thank you' to millions of viewers who watched Friday's 3-hour Text Santa live extravaganza and took proceeds for this campaign to £4.2m.

In 3 years of fundraising, Text Santa has now raised £13.9m from ITV viewers. This year's proceeds will directly benefit 6 UK-based charities, including Age UK.

A night of TV to remember

The star-studded show was packed with surprises for audience and presenters, music performances, and emotional true-life films.

From the spectacular cavalcade Waterloo Bridge opening with Robbie Williams playing Santa on his travelling sleigh followed by 200 dancers, marching bands, fire eaters, stilt walkers, choirs and bell ringers, to Ant & Dec's 25 metre high Christmas Tree challenge and Gary Barlow's live performance of ‘We Like To Love', it was a night to remember on ITV.

The entertainment extravaganza was presented by Ant & Dec, Phillip Schofield & Holly Willoughby and Christine Bleakley & Paddy McGuinness, who all got into the festive spirit with challenges of their own.

Other items in last night's show included:

• Prime Minister David Cameron interviewed by Little Ant & Dec;
• Emmerdale stars in a special Text Santa sketch;
• the cast of Coronation Street performing a special version of ‘Fairytale of Weatherfield';
• The Big Reunion performing ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday';
• and Robbie Williams singing the classic ‘Dream A Little Dream'.

Peter Fincham, ITV Director of Television said: 'A big thank you to everyone who took part and donated in this year's Text Santa. Their money will make a big difference to this year's nominated charities.'

How Text Santa is supporting some great causes

Friday's Text Santa appeal show was the exciting culmination of a month-long appeal.

Major ITV programmes and stars were at the forefront of the fundraising and helping the public to be aware of the work of the charities.

All money generously donated by ITV viewers goes directly to the 6 charities - Age UK, Barnardo's, BeatBullying, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent and Help the Hospices.

ITV directly funds all operating costs and 100% of donations get passed to the charities as soon as they receive them. So by March your money is already helping to make a big difference.

It's not too late to donate to Text Santa!

If you want to donate to Text Santa, but haven't already - don't worry, it's not too late! You can still donate to Text Santa until 10 January 2014 at 5pm:

• To donate £5 text SANTA to 70070 - and thanks to the JustTextGiving service of Text Santa partner Vodafone, you add Gift Aid easily to maximise your donation if you're a UK taxpayer.
• Call 0300 200 8000 to donate over the phone.
• You can donate online at itv.com/textsanta
• And you can also make a donation over the counter at a branch of Santander, Text Santa's banking partner.

100% of donations raised will be distributed equally between the 6 charities. 

Tom Wright, Chief Executive of Age UK, said: 'It's fantastic to see such an overwhelming public response to Text Santa. We are so grateful to everyone for getting involved and donating as the funds raised will make a real difference to the lives of many older people.'