# Amelia Dimoldenberg & Joanna Lumley star in Red Nose Day 2025 launch sketch; & more celeb news

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/01/31/amelia-dimoldenberg-joanna-lumley-star-in-red-nose-day-2025-launch-sketch-more-celeb-news/
- Published: 2025-01-31T12:23:48+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**A round up of recent celebrity news – from new ambassadors and patrons, to Amelia
Dimoldenberg and Joanna Lumley helping to launch this year’s Red Nose Day.**

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/01/Chris-with-chefs-at-Whos-Cooking-
Dinner-Credit-Richard-Young-.jpeg)

Chris with chefs at Who’s Cooking Dinner (Credit Richard Young)

#### Ivy & Le Caprice restauranteur Chris Corbin becomes Leukaemia UK patron

Restauranteur Chris Corbin OBE has been announced as a patron for [Leukaemia UK](https://www.leukaemiauk.org.uk/)–
coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the stem cell transplant that saved his 
life, after he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The transplant
put Corbin in full remission and he has since become friends with his donor, Stewart
North, who he was matched with and later introduced to by Anthony Nolan.

Corbin previously volunteered as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Leukaemia
UK, recently stepping down but accepting the lifelong role of patron.

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![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/01/asma-khan.jpeg)

#### Asma Khan becomes Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s first patron

Chef and women empowerment advocate Asma Khan has joined the [Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation](https://uk.sodexo.com/social-impact/places/stop-hunger)
as its first patron to support its mission to tackle food insecurity and support
local communities across the UK and Ireland. 2025 marks the 20^(th) anniversary 
of the foundation.

Khan is the owner of the Darjeeling Express restaurant in London, and is also a 
UN World Food Programme advocate. Passionate about female empowerment, she champions
women from diverse backgrounds through her restaurant, which has an all-female Indian
kitchen. She has published a number of cookery books and in 2019 was the first British
chef to feature in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Chef’s Table. In 2024 Khan was featured
in the TIME magazine’s Top 100 most influential people.

---

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/01/Fiona-Bruce_-new-National-Garden-
Scheme-ambassador.jpg)

#### Fiona Bruce becomes National Garden Scheme ambassador

The [National Garden Scheme](http://www.ngs.org.uk/) has announced that journalist
and presenter Fiona Bruce is joining the charity as an ambassador. Bruce joins existing
ambassadors Emma Bridgewater CBE, Danny Clarke (aka the Black Gardener), Alan Gray,
Rachel De Thame, Joe Swift and Jo Whiley.

On her appointment, Bruce said that she had been visiting NGS gardens for as long
as she could remember, and that she was a keen gardener. With the charity’s centenary
approaching, she added: _“To be part of this as the charity heads towards its centenary
in 2027 is a great honour and a privilege. I am genuinely thrilled to be part of
the National Garden Scheme.”_

---

#### Amelia Dimoldenberg & Joanna Lumley star in new sketch marking official launch of Red Nose Day 2025

Red Nose Day returns on Friday 21 March, with this [Comic Relief’s](https://www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday/)
40^(th) year. The sketch sees Joanna Lumley – who has volunteered to star in some
new content to launch the upcoming Red Nose Day campaign – awkwardly interrupted
by Chicken Shop Dates’ Amelia Dimoldenberg. Unbeknown to Joanna, Amelia has been
entrusted with the tongue-in-cheek role of ‘vibes check’ by Comic Relief – to ensure
the charity remains ‘as fresh and relevant in 2025 as it has done for the past 40
years’.

In addition, this will be Amazon’s third year as the official Home of the Red Nose
and exclusive stockist of this year’s [Red Nose range](http://amazon.co.uk/comicrelief2025),).
Comic Relief’s new collection for 2025 includes four nostalgic noses from the 80s,
90s, noughties and 2010s as well two new additions to the Red Nose line up: a celebratory
cupcake nose and a Rare Ruby Nose to celebrate 40 years of Comic Relief.

---

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/01/Gordon-and-Billy.jpg)

#### Gordon Smith and Billy Davies join forces to support disability charity

Two of Scotland’s most recognisable football figures have been appointed as ambassadors
for disability charity [Capability Scotland](https://www.capability.scot/). Former
football star and SFA Chief Executive, Gordon Smith, and ex-Rangers and Motherwell
midfielder and Derby County manager, Billy Davies, will use their influence to champion
the charity’s work across Scotland.

Both ambassadors will play a key role in campaigns to raise funds to provide support
for disabled people and their families. Smith’s track record of advocacy includes
his position as Chairman of the Variety Club, where he has worked to improve the
lives of disabled and disadvantaged children. Davies, a midfielder in his playing
days for clubs such as Rangers and Motherwell, also managed clubs including Motherwell,
Nottingham Forest and Derby County and is regarded as one of Scotland’s top football
managerial talents.

 * **[Fundraising and charity leadership appointments in December 2025](https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/12/09/fundraising-and-charity-leadership-appointments-in-december-2025/)**(
   9 December 2025)
 * **[Bagging the limelight](https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/10/07/bagging-limelight/)**(
   7 October 1999)
 * **[Exclusive! Eurythmics Peacetour tickets available](https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/11/16/exclusive-eurythmics-peacetour-tickets-available/)**(
   16 November 1999)
