OUR LIVES IN THEIR HANDS

Amanda Holden, Shirley Ballas and Lenny Henry lead a line-up of stars paying tribute to the NHS heroes who healed them

It’s been called our national religion: the one institution that unites the country. Now a galaxy of stars are offering up their praise for the NHS and its workers, at a time when so many frontline medical staff have risked their lives and even died in the battle to save others.

This heart-warming rallying cry has been inspired by the book Dear NHS: 100 Stories To Say Thank You, edited by Adam Kay, the former doctor whose memoir This Is Going To Hurt will soon be seen in an adaptation starring Ben Whishaw. Presenting this week’s show, Kay explains: ‘It’s a joyous celebration of our greatest achievement as a nation, a huge and heartfelt thank you to the 1.5 million people we all owe our lives to,’ adding: ‘and a harrowing demonstration of what closing hairdressers for three months does to the hair of celebrities.’

When it comes to medical matters, there are no divas, even among the A-listers. ‘We were treated with such care,’ recalls Amanda Holden (above), whose life was saved after a traumatic birth eight years ago that left her in a coma.

Sir Lenny Henry received a sobering diagnosis of diabetes – prompting his successful battle to slim down.

For TV presenter Katie Piper, the NHS was her sole refuge after a horrific acid attack that left her needing extensive reconstructive plastic surgery. As she sums it up: ‘It was the place I felt safe.’

Among those also appearing are news presenter and breast cancer survivor Victoria Derbyshire, Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and dancers A.J. and Curtis Pritchard.

There’s a terrific line-up of comedy stars, with Jack Whitehall, Kevin Bridges and former psychiatric nurse Jo Brand. Plus Shirley Ballas, still brimming with gratitude, having broken her ankle aged 12 and then being helped to heal so she could go on to a brilliant career as a dancer and now judge on Strictly.

But doctors, nurses, midwives, porters and all the other NHS staff can rest assured: for them, it’s maximum points all round from these celebrity judges – and from the public vote.