Stars shine at Christmas for our

A GALAXY of stars last night threw their weight behind the Daily Express Christmas Appeal for Dame Esther Rantzen’s charity The Silver Line.

Celebrities lined up to back our campaign to raise funds and awareness for a helpline that has become the emergency service for older people struggling with loneliness and isolation.

The UK’s only free, confidential and 24-hour telephone service receives a staggering 10,500 calls a week from isolated pensioners. But that number will rocket when Christmas arrives and winter bites.

Generous readers, many of them pensioners themselves, have already donated £13,272.20 to keep the helpline running during the busiest time of the year. But with your help we can raise a lot more and make sure every call is answered.

Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid, 48, issued a plea for the cash to keep rolling in after hearing about the life-saving work the charity undertakes.

Her mother, former nurse Sue Smith, volunteers for The Silver Line making weekly phone calls as a Silver Line Friend.

Mother-of-three Susanna said: “My mum has been a Silver Line volunteer and I am always moved by the stories I hear about their work. Christmas is such a difficult time for older people who are on their own.

“Well done to the Daily Express

readers for helping this very special charity answer all their calls at Christmas time.”

Tireless campaigners and former That’s Life! presenter Dame Esther, 78, set up the charity, which is

backed by the Daily Express Respect For The Elderly Crusade, in 2013 to help older people who rarely speak to anyone. Hollywood star Dame Joan Collins, 85, said: “I am delighted to support the Daily Express

Christmas Appeal for The Silver Line. It is tragic that so many older people are without their families on Christmas Day and have to rely on The Silver Line for a kind voice and a chat. As an ambassador for the

charity I want to help the Daily Express raise the profile of this lifesaving service.”

Great British Bake Off finalist Andrew Smyth, 27, said: “I’ve always had a really close relationship with