Text Santa was a charity initiative set up in 2011 by ITV to support UK-based charities during the Christmas period. The appeal to the public is to donate money mainly via text donation and profits from merchandise. The telethons have been hosted by popular ITV presenters including Phillip Schofield, Christine Bleakley, and Ant & Dec. The 2015 appeal show was the last after ITV decided to axe the show to make way for an all-year appeal.[1][2][3]

Text Santa
Presented byHolly Willoughby
Phillip Schofield
Janice Long
Declan Donnelly
Michelle Visage
Ant McPartlin
Christine Lampard
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Brian Dowling
Caroline Flack
Olly Murs
Opening theme"Text Santa" theme by A-MNEMONIC Music
ComposerJonny Vere
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationsThe London Studios
Television Centre, London
Production companyITV Studios
Original release
NetworkITV
Release11 December 2011 (2011-12-11) –
25 December 2015 (2015-12-25)
Related
From the Heart,
ITV Telethon

Music edit

The Text Santa 2015 appeal theme music was created by London-based music production company A-MNEMONIC Music Official Website. In previous years, the theme music that was used was created by British composer Leigh Haggerwood of The Florin Street Band, who re-worked his Christmas song "My Favourite Time of Year" especially for the appeal, creating theme and background music along with various other original compositions. The song – with its sweeping string melodies and critically acclaimed Victorian-themed music video has gained worldwide popularity and was recently performed by the United States Army Band in Washington D.C. Leigh Haggerwood is proud of the songs association with the Text Santa campaign and has pledged to support it each year. "My Favourite Time of Year" was not used for the 2015 appeal.[4]

Official single edit

In 2013, the cast of The Big Reunion released a cover of "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", with all proceeds going to the Text Santa charities. The single peaked at 21 in the UK singles charts.

Charities edit

All of the money raised gets split between the charities supported by the appeal. In 2011, there were nine chosen charities, in 2012, 2013 and 2014, there were six and in 2015, there were three.

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Age UK Macmillan Cancer Support
Crisis Anthony Nolan BeatBullying The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Make-A-Wish Foundation
Carers UK Save the Children Carers UK Save the Children
Samaritans Marie Curie Cancer Care British Heart Foundation Teenage Cancer Trust
WRVS Together for Short Lives CLIC Sargent Together for Short Lives
Great Ormond Street Hospital Whizz-Kidz Help the Hospices WellChild
The Noah's Ark Appeal
Helping Hand
Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Overview edit

Presenters edit

No. Broadcast date Total raised Presenters ITV rating (millions)
1 11 December 2011 (launch show)
24 December 2011 (main show)
£4,200,000 Phillip Schofield (launch show)
Christine Lampard (launch show)
Anthony McPartlin
Declan Donnelly
Holly Willoughby
3.79 (launch show)
3.87
2 21 December 2012 £5,500,000 Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
Anthony McPartlin
Declan Donnelly
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness
4.82
3 20 December 2013 £5,100,000 4.41
4 19 December 2014 £6,200,000 Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
Anthony McPartlin
Declan Donnelly
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
3.86
5 18 December 2015 £11,000,000 Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Stephen Mulhern
Amanda Holden
Caroline Flack
Olly Murs
3.23

2011 appeal edit

The 2011 appeal aired in two parts. The launch show aired on 11 December 2011 and was hosted by Phillip Schofield and Christine Lampard. The main show aired on Christmas Eve (24 December 2011) with Ant & Dec and Holly Willoughby as presenters.

Show Date Timeslots Presenters
Launch show 11 December 2011 21:30–22:35 Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
Main show 24 December 2011 19:30–21:00 Ant & Dec
21:00–22:00 Holly Willoughby
Events
  • On 27 November 2011, at The Kia Oval Cricket Ground, thousands of people attempted a Guinness World Record for the largest Santa gathering. entertained the participants. However, not enough people turned out for the record attempt of 13,200 Santas.

2012 appeal edit

The 2012 telethon aired live on 21 December 2012. The first hour of the telethon was hosted by Ant & Dec, the second by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby and the third by Christine Lampard and Paddy McGuinness, all from The London Studios.

Show Date Timeslots Presenters
Text Santa Starts Here!
(launch show)
21-22 December 2012 18:55–19:00 Ant & Dec
Main show 20:00–21:00
21:00–22:00 Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
22:00–23:00 Paddy McGuinness
Christine Lampard
Text Santa:
One More Time

(highlights show)
00:00–01:15 Ant & Dec
Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness
Christine Lampard
Within other shows
Events
  • On 2 December 2012, around 8,500 people took part in a 'Santa Dash' in Liverpool, attempting a Guinness World Record for the largest Santa gathering whilst raising money for Text Santa, however, they didn't break the record of 13,200 santas.[5]
  • On 6 December 2012, the Biggest Bag Pack Ever took place in 200 Asda stores nationwide, celebrities including Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford helped out in the Watford branch.
  • eBay auctions took place to raise money for Text Santa, items sold included This Morning's sofa which sold for £1,200 and a tour of the Daybreak studios in London which sold for £510.[6]

2013 appeal edit

The 2013 telethon aired live on 20 December 2013. The first hour of the telethon was hosted by Ant & Dec, the second by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and the third and final hour by Christine Bleakley and Paddy McGuinness, all broadcast live from The London Studios.

Morrisons, Santander and Vodafone were Text Santa's official partners for the 2013 appeal.[7]

An official charity single by the cast of The Big Reunion, performing a cover of "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" was released in December 2013 to raise money for Text Santa.[8]

Show Date Timeslots Presenters
Text Santa Starts Here!
(launch show)
20-21 December 2013 18:55–19:00 Ant & Dec
Main show 20:00–21:00
21:00–22:00 Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
22:00–23:05 Paddy McGuinness
Christine Bleakley
Highlights show 23:50–01:05 Ant & Dec
Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness
Christine Bleakley
Within other shows
Events
  • On 5 December 2013, Text Santa broke the Guinness World Record for the largest number of pantomime horses in a race over 100 metres.
  • eBay auctions took place to raise money for Text Santa, items sold included Phillip Schofield's face made of chocolate.

2014 appeal edit

In May 2014, it was announced that Text Santa would return for a fourth year in December 2014. The telethon aired live on 19 December 2014, a couple of weeks after the launch show, hosted by Phillip Schofield.

The presenting line-up changed slightly. With Holly Willoughby off on maternity leave, Alesha Dixon joined Paddy McGuinness for a segment of the show, while Phillip Schofield was reunited with his former Dancing on Ice co-host Christine Bleakley. Ant & Dec returned to the show as well.

On 19 December, the first part of Text Santa was hosted by Ant & Dec, the second by Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley, and the remainder of the show by Paddy McGuinness and Alesha Dixon. It was broadcast from The London Studios.[9]

Show Date Timeslots Presenters
Phillip's Live 24-Hour TV Marathon
(launch show)
1 December 2014 11:00–23:59 Phillip Schofield
2 December 2014 00:00–11:00
Main show 19-20 December 2014 20:00–21:20 Michelle Visage
Ant & Dec
21:20–22:15 Phillip Schofield
Christine Bleakley
22:15–23:20 Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Highlights show 00:05–01:25 Ant & Dec
Phillip Schofield
Christine Bleakley
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Within other shows
Events
Phillip's Live 24-Hour TV Marathon

Phillip Schofield presented a live 24-hour long programme on ITV3 for Text Santa. It was broadcast on 1 December through to 2 December 2014 and recorded in Studio 3 at The London Studios.

Phillip's JustGiving page has raised £101,924 for the Text Santa charities.[10]

He also abseiled the tower at The London Studios for Text Santa.[11]

The 24-hour show was nominated for a 2015 Broadcast Digital Award in the category of "Best Sports or Live Event Coverage".[12]

Running order

1 December 2014

2 December 2014

2015 appeal edit

Text Santa returned to ITV on 18 December 2015, with a new line-up with Stephen Mulhern, Amanda Holden, Caroline Flack and Olly Murs joining the presenting team.[14]

Phillip Schofield, Christine Bleakley, Holly Willoughby, Alesha Dixon and Paddy McGuinness all returned this year. Ant & Dec didn't return to host Text Santa in 2015. The 2015 show was the last ever after Text Santa's cancellation in 2016.

Appeal videos were hosted by Ant & Dec, Bradley Walsh, Julie Walters, Martin Clunes and Myleene Klass.

Show Date Timeslots Presenters
Pip Knit
(launch show)
1 December 2015 06:00–22:30 Phillip Schofield[15]
Main show 18 December 2015 20:00–20:30 Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
20:30–20:50 Caroline Flack
Olly Murs
20:50–21:20 Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
21:20–21:35 Amanda Holden
21:35–21:50 Stephen Mulhern
21:50–22:20 Christine Bleakley
Phillip Schofield
22:20–22:40 Amanda Holden
Alesha Dixon
22:40–22:55 Christine Bleakley
Phillip Schofield
22:55–23:05 Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Text Santa 2015 – The Best Bits
(Highlights show)
18–19 December 2015 23:55–01:10
Text Santa Update 25 December 2015 13:35–14:45 Holly Willoughby
Within other shows
Events

References edit

  1. ^ "Nine charities to benefit from ITV1's Text Santa campaign". UK Fundraising. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ^ "JustTextGiving to power ITV's Text Santa campaign". UK Fundraising. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Paddy McGuinness joins Ant, Dec and Schofield for second 'Text Santa'". Digital Spy. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. ^ florinstreet (12 November 2010). "(New Christmas Songs) My Favourite Time of Year - The Florin Street Band" – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Thousands turn out for Liverpool Santa dash". ITV News. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Text Santa: Bidding for TV history". ITV News.
  7. ^ "'Text Santa' will return to ITV for third series". Digital Spy. 24 June 2013.
  8. ^ "ITV2's 'The Big Reunion' cast record Christmas charity single". Digital Spy. 23 October 2013.
  9. ^ "Alesha Dixon joins this year's Text Santa as a presenter". Digital Spy. 25 September 2014.
  10. ^ Eames, Tom (23 October 2014). "Phillip Schofield to attempt 24-hour TV broadcast for Text Santa". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Phillip Schofield abseils down ITV Tower for Text Santa challenge". Digital Spy. December 2014.
  12. ^ "Shortlist - Broadcast Digital Awards".
  13. ^ "Phillip Schofield starts 24-hour live television broadcast for Text Santa". Digital Spy. December 2014.
  14. ^ "ITV's Text Santa 2015 total is a record £8.3 million". Digital Spy. 18 December 2015.
  15. ^ Baillie, Katie (1 December 2015). "Phillip Schofield appears on every ITV show today in #PipKnit Text Santa challenge". Metro. DMG Media. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  16. ^ Greenwood, Carl (3 December 2015). "Sir Bruce Forsyth joins Downton Abbey for Text Santa special". Daily Mirror.
  17. ^ "Richard Branson goes Back to the Future for Corrie skit". Digital Spy. 18 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Text Santa: Corrie stars are going back to the future". Digital Spy. 3 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Mark Wright and Torvill & Dean take on Ninja Warrior". Digital Spy. 18 December 2015.
  20. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (26 August 2015). "A host of stars film TV special for Text Santa".