Together TV to broadcast Christmas Day show to connect people and tackle isolation this Christmas
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● Christmas Together premieres on TV and online at 1pm on Christmas Day.
● Hosted by Ria Hebden and featuring Danny John-Jules and more, the show will offer companionship, connection and warmth to viewers.
● Bringing chat, top tips, songs and festive joy to viewers to create a sense of sharing and connection for people isolating, shielding and alone this Christmas
● Christmas Together features two of six new films celebrating the great work of mutual aid groups across the UK
London, December 2020 - Stars including Ria Hebden and Danny John-Jules join Together TV to tackle loneliness at Christmas with Christmas Together, a Christmas TV show that will be broadcast both on TV and online on Christmas Day at 1pm to connect people across the UK.
Christmas Together is hosted by Ria Hebden (from ITV’s Lorraine) and features guests including Danny John-Jules (Red Dwarf, Death in Paradise) and fellow Easy Rider Steve Keys, Wendy Turner-Webster (Crafty Beggars), writer Nadine Wild-Palmer, Dave Wellman (New Home DIY), gardening expert Philip Turvil from Field Studies Council and physiotherapist Andy Lowden from ellenor hospice. Gary Williams (The Rat Pack) sings Christmas classics.
Christmas Together will premiere concurrently on Together TV and YouTube Premiere, enabling viewers to chat to the show online then meet up for Christmas greetings afterwards. The idea is to offer a shared experience and connection for people spending Christmas lunch alone.
The show follows a chat show format as Hebden interviews her guests and tries out practical tips and demonstrations about gardening, DIY, crafting and light exercise, along with everyone sharing personal stories and Christmas anecdotes.
The work by mutual aid groups across the UK will be highlighted during the show through short videos featuring groups in Barry (Wales), the WHoo Peninsula (Kent), Camden (London) and Leicester.
Host Ria Hebden said: “I am happy to be involved with Together TV as it addresses topics that are close to my values. Christmas Together is a great initiative for TV to positively impact viewers whilst tackling bigger societal issues.”
Actor Danny John-Jules said: “It’s been a complicated year for us all. It’s great to get together for a good cause, and Christmas Together will be one not to miss.”
The global pandemic has harmed the mental health of millions across the UK (source: British Red Cross, Nuffield). The number of adults reporting feelings of loneliness more than doubled from one in 10 to one in four during the first weeks of the lockdown. Studies have shown that neighbourhood projects where reconnecting with people was a benefit, primarily through social groups and activities, were the most successful mechanisms for helping older people make new connections.
Together TV has been campaigning to connect communities throughout the COVID-19 lockdowns. Its “You Are Not Alone” campaign supported thousands of people in the initial lockdown through a helpline, email, social media and online resources which over 20,000 people accessed to get or give support.
Christmas Together is part of Together TV’s Christmas campaign to fight social isolation. The TV broadcaster joins the Great Winter Get Together, an initiative of the Jo Cox Foundation to face loneliness together by building meaningful connections. The campaign introduces five ways to connect this winter for a less lonely world with weekly themes, including thanking, reaching, showing, understanding and helping.
Alexander Kann, CEO of Together TV said: “As the leading TV channel for inspiring positive change, we knew we had to do something to bring people together, even whilst apart, this Christmas. So we are trying our best to bring some festive cheer by entertaining and inspiring the nation, with guests and experts who can bring a smile to our viewers, inspire our viewers to get involved and make a difference in their lives.”
Together TV is on Freeview 87, Sky 170, Virgin 269 and Freesat 164, along with being on-demand on My5 and social videos on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and DailyMotion.
ENDS
For further information, photos, videos or an interview with a spokesperson, please contact:
Francesca Aita
Head of Marketing, Together TV
07482 251 330
Notes to Editors
About Together TV
Together TV is the UK’s broadcaster inspiring positive change. We run a national TV channel and digital platform, which inspires people to do good in their lives and communities.
We programme entertaining shows that focus on wellbeing and creativity and we champion diverse voices while highlighting the great work of the charitable and voluntary sector. In doing so, we open our audience’s eyes to the opportunities around them and motivate them to take part.
As a result of watching, our viewers change attitudes, gain confidence and do more for themselves and their community, from volunteering for a charity to getting involved in a creative project or fundraising for a cause close to their heart and to getting help and support. Our vision is a world where people and their communities thrive together.
Together TV broadcasts on Freeview 87, Sky 170, Virgin 269 and Freesat 164, and is available on-demand throughwww.togethertv.com, Daily Motion, YouTube, Facebook and My5.
Together TV is owned by over two hundred individual shareholders with a wider group of funders and donors alongside the media and digital industry.
It is a charitable Community Benefit Society and its board includes representatives from the broadcasters and charity sector alongside elected Members.
The Community Channel operating as Together TV is a charitable Community Benefit Society registered with the FCA (RS007400).
