Stars and Charles in jab drive
A STAR-PACKED video urging people from ethnic minority communities to get the vaccine was aired across TV channels last night.
It came as Prince Charles also urged people on a webinar to take the jab.
England cricketer Moeen Ali teamed up with Olympian Denise Lewis, singer Beverley Knight, actor Adil Ray, TV historian David Olusoga, comedians Sanjeev Bhaskar, Romesh Ranganathan, and Meera Syal and actress Shobna Gulati in the advert.
The landmark broadcast went out on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, a host of Sky TV channels and STV at 9.56pm.
It was also screened on the BBC throughout the day and was expected to be seen by 10 million people.
Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, said: “We know there is lots of misinformation online and elsewhere. That’s why the BBC will be looking at the issues raised so extensively.” Adil Ray, who has led the
campaign, said: “We are in unprecedented times and the fact remains this pandemic disproportionately affects people from ethnic minority communities.
“The message is simple: take the vaccine, save lives.”
Earlier, the Prince of Wales, pictured inset left, the royal founding patron of the British Asian Trust, joined its webinar promoting vaccine take-up.
He praised the “extraordinary achievements” of those who produced the vaccines
He and told the online conference: “It is surely a tragedy that the benefits of such an extraordinary achievement should not be experienced by everybody.”